Reddit Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ve_part_lviii/
FFXIV Discord: https://discordapp.com/channels/1004...58839005741056
From Reddit:
Key points
A letter sent by a player was shared
"Dear Yoshi-P, I am working at the frontline fighting corona irus, I was playing a lot of FFXIV before the pandemic began, I was looking forward to playing FFIXIV with my friends every day. The friends I met in the game are what give me strength every day, it is my job to fight for all the patients affected by corona virus and I am truly grateful for FFXIV because I feel like it is giving everyone strength to get through all this. Thank you for all you are doing and keeping your team safe."
YoshiP: "I am the one who needs to say thank you, thank you for fighting. We will try to keep doing out best at the dev team as well"
Due to COVID-19, the development team is largely working from home and experiencing some difficulties in adjusting their workflow for development and security, additionally due to space limitations and internet quality. Because of this, there is a delay to the expected arrival of Patch 5.3, which is now expected in mid-to-late June.
Patch 5.3
Reflections In Crystal
Mid to late June tentative release
New MSQ
Shadowbringers MSQ conclusion
New Dungeon
The Heroes' Gauntlet
New Beast Tribe
Dwarves
Focused on crafting
New Chronicles of a New Era
The Sorrow of Werlyt
New Trials
New Alliance Raid
YoRHA: Dark Apocalypse Chapter 2
The Puppet's Bunker
Job Adjustments
PvE
PvP
Frontline roulette changed to include all FL modes.
Resistance Weapons
First step for upgrading weapons
Large-scale instance: The Bozjan Southern Front
DoH/L updates
Trial Synthesis
Recipe search using materials in your inventory
New custom delivery NPC
Collectable changes
Fixed list of items for turn-ins
Ishgardian Restoration
Third phase
New ranking period which rewards special achievements & titles
Skysteel tools upgrades
A Realm Reborn changes (A Realm Revamped?)
Streamlined MSQ quests
Approximately 13% content removed
Other quest content streamlined, much less grindy/bloated and less steps, better for new players
EXP boost and more gear rewards from quests. No need to do side quests to reach level 50 and beyond for HW.
Crystal Tower quest series and "My Little Chocobo" quest are now required for MSQ progression
Mounts can now fly in ARR areas
Requires completion of "The Ultimate Weapon" quest
Companions can fly at that point, but mounts cannot enter bodies of water
Unreal Trials and Faux Hollows
New trial difficulty (Unreal)
Old trials adjusted for level 80 gameplay at this difficulty, 1 per major patch
Complete the trial to play the Faux Hollows mini-game
Misc updates
Parties can now 'merge', via PF. An existing party can join a different party.
Can set no duplicate job requirement in PF.
Can use World Visit whilst in a cross-world party.
New NG+ chapters
Parasols will get a new menu
New token exchange NPCs