2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Square Enix, particularly for their flagship franchise, Final Fantasy 14. It will mark one of the rare years where the Japanese gaming giant will release new content and entries for its lucrative and best-selling series all within months of each other. First up is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which comes out in February 2024, exclusively on PlayStation 5. It's set to mark a significant shift in the original's narrative direction, building on the first game in the remake trilogy by adding new twists to Sephiroth and Aerith as well bringing in new content unique to the remake of the original 1997 JRPG classic. This is followed by The Rising Tide DLC for Final Fantasy 16 in Spring 2024, a promising story expansion that will, hopefully, round out the heavily criticized but commercially successful title. Finally, Dawntrail, FF14's latest expansion that focuses on a new story arc instead of the high-stakes world-ending scenarios of older expansions, is next on the docket, scheduled for Summer 2024.
In recent years, particularly since the release of Final Fantasy 15 in 2016, audiences have expressed a mix of admiration and criticism towards the franchise. While the series has consistently delivered quality content, there's been a growing sentiment that the predictable and formulaic nature of content release has become too familiar. Some players feel this predictability diminishes the excitement of new content, especially for Final Fantasy 14. This has become a frequent topic of discussion on the internet, especially among fan communities who are voicing their collective desire for innovation and a break from the established routine.
