Yoshi-P Hints At More Elements Of Wider Final Fantasy Franchise In Dawntrail's Cycle

Nothing gets the Final Fantasy XIV community excited quite like a crossover or a reference to the wider Final Fantasy series, and with the reveal of upcoming expansion Dawntrail, fans were pointing out all the comparisons they could find with past titles. 

Aside from the new continent sharing aesthetic similarities with games like Final Fantasy X, Dawntrail’s pre-order bonus includes a little Wind-Up Zidane in-game minion from Final Fantasy IX. So it begs the question: just what else is hidden away in Dawntrail? Speaking to GINX TV in a recent interview at the Dawntrail hands-on preview, Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida had an insight into how the wider franchise is incorporated into FFXIV.

“As the title implies, Final Fantasy XIV needs to be a standalone title, and it needs to be fun and appealing and interesting. I tell this to our team as an important policy. But at the same time, we have one more concept for Final Fantasy XIV and it is that it serves as a theme park of sorts for the Final Fantasy franchise. So we look at past titles - and I say past titles but there’s also Final Fantasy XV & XVI, and potentially future titles - taking elements from each of those installments and incorporating it into the game is not a bad thing,

But when it comes to incorporating elements of previous titles in the franchise we take real care, with a focus on the essence of those titles. For example, for people who played Final Fantasy VI, we take a great deal of care to make sure that we don't ruin their memories of their playing experience, and this is an absolute requirement in the team.”

When it comes to establishing a balance of how concentrated elements from the wider series are in Final Fantasy XIV, Yoshida says it often boils down to his own personal sense. 

“If there are too many elements from previous titles, then the game no longer becomes Final Fantasy 14. And if there are too few references then it no longer serves as a theme park for the franchise,” Yoshida explained. “So, I'm constantly looking at the balance and increasing and decreasing the elements appropriately.”

So with Dawntrail on the approaching horizon, we asked Yoshida if there were any intentional references to the “Final Fantasy Universe,” as he put it, in Dawntrail.

“Now that the great finale has taken place in Endwalker and we are starting a new adventure with refreshed feelings, I can say that for 7.0 and 7.X, we are focusing more on the element of having Final Fantasy XIV as the theme park for the franchise,” he teased. 

“But if I say anything else, I think I'll be in a dangerous spot so I'll keep it there. But taking a look at your response now and your interest, I think you're going to enjoy it so do look forward to it.”

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launches on July 2, 2024 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mac. Early access begins on Friday, June 28, 2024.