Final Fantasy XIV Has Passed 20 Million Registered Players, Reveals Trailer for Patch 5.3

It’s Safe to Say Final Fantasy XIV Has Had a Rocky History

When the MMO first dropped in 2010 it was widely panned, and the general consensus was that while the game looked and sounded as good as you’d expect from the series, it felt unfinished, beset by a clunky interface and riddled with bugs. Within three years not only did Square Enix shut down the game’s servers, they completely overhauled almost every aspect of the game before its much more successful relaunch.

Who would have thought, when the game first launched, that it would eventually become one of the most popular MMO’s of all time?

It’s fair to say that the game itself has gone from strength to strength, with patches introducing new areas to explore, new classes to master, and new challenges to face.

Additionally, Square Enix have revealed a trailer for the newest patch, alongside some tantalizing information about what’s in store.

Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers

The new patch comes with new quests, a new dungeon, and the next part of the NieR inspired raid series YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse.

The upcoming patch serves as the conclusion to the Shadowbringers storyline, which sees your hero transported to an alternate dimension and, in a twist on the usual formula, take on the mantle of Warrior of Darkness as they attempt to bring night back to a world that’s been overcome by light.

Among the new challenges is the introduction of Unreal Trials, where players must face souped-up versions of previously defeated primals. Patch 5.3 introduces Shiva as the first primal to receive this treatment, ready to take on players at level 80, and if the previous Primal fights are anything to go by she’s more than up to the challenge.

If you’re interested in dipping your toes into the world of Eorzea, the game has expanded its free trial all the way to level 60, as well as giving access to the Heavensward content as standard, with all the jobs and missions included.

What do you think of the news? Which class do you main as? Let us know in the comments, or get in touch on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: Press Release