Letter from the Producer, XLV (05/10/2013)

[Elona]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/61825

Hello again to all of you eagerly awaiting FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn. I know I haven't been pumping out letters as often as I used to, but we've all been working feverishly in preparation for phase 3 of the beta test. Nevertheless, I couldn't let another day go by without bringing you the forty-fifth Letter from the Producer!

We recently attended the Niconico Chokaigi 2 event here in Japan, and I'd like to give a big thanks to everyone who showed up in person, as well as all of you who tuned in from afar. After traveling overseas to events last year like E3, Japan Expo, and Gamescom, it was nice to finally have one here at home. In case you haven't heard through the grapevine yet, we made two important announcements at the event, which I'd like to go over in this letter.

First and foremost, FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn will be released in summer 2013. It will be a worldwide release for the PC and PlayStation 3, available in Japanese, English, French, and German. At the end of the month we'll announce the release date, along with pricing and details on the collector's edition. We'll also start accepting preorders at the end of the month.

Our second important announcement was that phase 3 will start at the beginning of June. Phase 3 will include a multitude of changes based on feedback from the first and second phases, as well as the long-awaited commencement of PlayStation 3 testing. But that's not all—we're also adding Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa, nearly one hundred new FATE encounters, four additional dungeons, main scenario quests up to level 20, grand companies, provisioning missions, free companies; we're making revisions to the battle system, testing the transfer of characters from version 1.0—the list goes on and on. I've been working around the clock, double and triple checking everything along the way, so sit tight and phase 3 will be here before you know it!

It's not just me though—the whole team has been working at full throttle to ensure the game will be ready for a summer release. It won't be long before you can mark your calendars and begin the final countdown!

With phase 2 of the beta test now at an end, I know our beta testers are feeling a bit anxious waiting for phase 3. If the forums are any indication, a good number of you seem to be going through withdrawal, which is a good thing...I think. Anywho, since you all still have a while to wait until phase 3, I found a little something that might help tide you over.

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to.../08/9403_0.jpg

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to.../08/9403_1.jpg

Well, that's all I can give you for now. I'll see you all next time in my seventh LIVE letter. And not long after that, I'll be headed to E3. If you're in America, make sure to drop by!!

[Waraji]

That Gobbue model, fkin awesome. Wish they would do more of that, they could have done so much with Coblyns in each of the different mines. I suspect they are shooting for original September release date of 1.0 for 2.0.

[Hyan]

This reminds me of the 1.0 release in a way. Announce the release date before phase 3 even begins? It's filled with new systems without any public testing. Hopefully this ends up being a PR disaster at worst, with Yoshida delaying the release after having already announced it with fanfares.

[Waraji]

Which reminds me, they better have a roll in queue for logging in come launch. Kind of how they did with GW2 no? Where logins were sort of appointment based or something?

I would hate the first 2 days to be nothing but servers going down to address stress issues from simply login issues.

[Katlan]

That Gobbue model, fkin awesome. Wish they would do more of that, they could have done so much with Coblyns in each of the different mines. I suspect they are shooting for original September release date of 1.0 for 2.0.

Terrible thing to say. Early August or bust

[Waraji]

September 30th bro, mark that shit on your calendar, its gonna happen.

[Takiwaki]

Doesn't seem there will be any high level content (dungeons) in phase 3, lots of disappoints are going to be had. Maybe there will be a couple FATE nms

[solracht]

Phase 3's cap is level35, did anyone seriously expect high level content?

[Fievel]

Phase 3's cap is level35, did anyone seriously expect high level content?

This, we've known it's still 35 cap for a long, long time. Anybody expecting end-game content set themselves up pretty hard for disappointment.

[Hyan]

Phase 3's cap is level35, did anyone seriously expect high level content?

Yoshida has stated many times that the cap could be raised for p3. Seems like it stays at 35 but don't act like this shit was set in stone...

EDIT: It even says so on the roadmap. "The level cap will be set to 35 or above (TBD)"

[Alkar]

Yoshida has stated many times that the cap could be raised for p3. Seems like it stays at 35 but don't act like this shit was set in stone...

EDIT: It even says so on the roadmap. "The level cap will be set to 35 or above (TBD)"

Yes but it's still set at 35 right now so who exactly would expect endgame content? We won't even be able to reach Coerthas and Mor Dhona where the majority of endgame content will be. You'll probably see some FATE events but nothing more than that.

[Takiwaki]

Phase 3 caps at 35 if you are leveling a new job. If you have a level 50 job imported, it should be level 50. Unless there is new info somewhere I missed, this was the last confirmed info. Its even on the roadmap. My point was its weird allowing all those level 50s to run around with nothing to do. Although if level sync is in place it would solve that, kinda

The level cap will be set to 35 or above (TBD).
- Version 1.0 characters can be used.
* In this case, the level cap will be that of the Version 1.0 character’s.

[Azull]

i *THINK* they said level sync would be in place. It would seem sillier to me to put end game stuff in, not even, the final beta. Even though i can see the need for working out bugs some stuff should be left for the release.

[Raldo]

If I had to reason why they're letting people be lv50, I'd guess this:

They want to test the conversion of 1.0 data to 2.0 data. It just so happens that people will exceed the current cap set for beta. They could either do some extra work to make sure that everyone is actually capped at 35, or they could just leave well-enough alone because they have more pressing things to implement.

I do not expect content for people over 35. Honestly, I'd be surprised if they even had very many(any?) crafting recipes or gathering points designed for people beyond 35.

[Waraji]

I could give a shit about real content to do even during Phase 4. I'm more concerned perfecting my skills on each and every class/job with the new system by the time launch comes than realistically playing the game. I'll be on the boat of people grinding high level mobs in parties for no good reason other than testing/getting used to the new system at 50. Will also be using the free phase 3/4 time to level Arcanist if available, or getting crafts to 35 that aren't already 50, once I'm good and sufficiently adequate at the new combat system. Guns blazing come launch.

[Takiwaki]

No Arcanist until launch confirmed . I don't think the new combat system is gonna need that much skill perfecting lol.

[Carraway]

I could give a shit about real content to do even during Phase 4. I'm more concerned perfecting my skills on each and every class/job with the new system by the time launch comes than realistically playing the game. I'll be on the boat of people grinding high level mobs in parties for no good reason other than testing/getting used to the new system at 50. Will also be using the free phase 3/4 time to level Arcanist if available, or getting crafts to 35 that aren't already 50, once I'm good and sufficiently adequate at the new combat system. Guns blazing come launch.

I'm done with crafts but holy shit I loathed DoL in 1.0, so phase 4/open beta will be good for that. I expect to spend a great deal of time theorycrafting and collecting data out in the field against various levels of mobs as well.

No Arcanist until launch confirmed . I don't think the new combat system is gonna need that much skill perfecting lol.

Gameplay-wise, no, it won't be very difficult to nail down your 1 2 Shift+1 3 1 2 4 Ctrl+1 5 Shift+2 6 1 2 3, but I'm still hoping for enough depth in the ability sets and mechanics to allow me to min/max beyond the rotation.

[Takiwaki]

I agree, but I wont be bothering about min maxing until release and end game gear and encounters are available. I will however be thoroughly exploring everything and trying every single class/job to see how the changes are, to get a taste as to what I will definitely be rolling first as main. Since I do not have one level 50 character to my name, I will def be trying the new dungeons

[Intense]

I'm not as well versed in other MMO betas, so pardon my ignorance but is it common for a developer to include end game content in a beta version?

Seems like things they'd want to keep under wraps for now.

[Sephiroth]

They don't really need us to test end-game content. They manage that fine on their own and if they can't how are they meant to put out patches with new content every other month? The 4 new dungeons are going to be the leveling dungeons for LL/Thanalan.

I'm not even sure if we'll see level 50+ monsters given these are the starting areas and what we've seen in the Shroud. It's not like 1.0 where every area had level 90 monsters tucked away. I think Yoshi's plan is to have these areas max out at 35 and have us venturing to Coerthas and Mor Dhona after that. I don't think we'll even get to play in those regions until launch, unlike 1.0 beta where they opened up the whole game towards the end.