Final Fantasy XIV’s Patch 7.2: A Nostalgic Farewell with New Final Fantasy IX Easter Eggs

Final Fantasy 14‘s upcoming update, 7.2, may be titled Seekers of Eternity and is likely to launch at the end of March.

This information was revealed during the latest Letter from the Producer livestream, accompanied by visuals for the update.

The patch will introduce a new character, although her identity remains a secret for the time being after being showcased in the new artwork.

Similar to the previous update 7.1 released in November (Crossroads), Seekers of Eternity will progress the main narrative following the events of Dawntrail. Ultimately, these developments will lead to the anticipated next expansion.

As part of that narrative expansion, a new dungeon may be included in this update titled The Underkeep, which—similar to the storyline of Dawntrail—appears to draw clear inspiration from Final Fantasy 9‘s Alexandria. A new Trial called Recollection against a Beatrix-like cyborg will also be introduced.

Additional features in this patch include more Hildibrand Adventures, new Cornservant side quests, fresh Allied Society missions with the Mamool Ja, and the return of the PvP mode Frontline (Salvage). The Arcadion will also progress with the Cruiserweight tier, while the Duty Boost system may be expanded to The Sunken Temple of Qarn.

Moreover, we have finally gained more details about the upcoming Cosmic Adventure mode.

This new initiative is tailored for crafters and gatherers as players discover stars, with new stars introduced in every major patch of the 7.x series. Players will “cultivate the development of planets by accomplishing missions and activities as a group,” along with establishing a network of operations.

Not much more is known at this moment, but further information will be shared in the next livestream. It’s clearly designed as a nod to the Island Sanctuary farming mode from the previous expansion, swapping a pastoral setting for a sci-fi aesthetic and offering a new experience focused more on collaborative play than solo endeavors.

Another addition may be the Occult Crescent island operation, an area enveloped in mystery where players can uncover its unmapped landscape and battle against its residents. Players will team up in small skirmishes against monsters, as well as engage in tough boss fights, with this area also presenting a new method of weapon enhancement.

To access the Occult Crescent, players must reach level 100, interestingly introducing Phantom Roles: essentially a secondary Role with additional support actions and traits. These Phantom Roles include Monk, Bard, Geomancer, Ranger, Berserker, Time Mage, Chemist, and Cannoneer. These may be recognizable to Final Fantasy 5 fans and its Role system, and while the team aims to incorporate new Roles in the next expansion, these Phantom Roles allow them to bring in Roles that wouldn’t fit in the game otherwise.

Final Fantasy 14 players can receive a discount on 30 days access to Final Fantasy 11, in celebration of the Echoes of Vana’diel raid series launched in the last patch.

In conclusion, director and producer Naoki Yoshida acknowledged