Details About FFXIV Patch 7.2 Unfurled With Live Letter, Including New Large-Scale Content and Release Date

The next major content drop in Final Fantasy 14’s post-Dawntrail cycle is coming, and the latest Letter from the Producer Live, aired earlier today, has left us better-equipped. The first “Live Letter” for patch 7.2, titled “Seekers of Eternity,” gave a general overview of what we’ll be seeing, but this time, we got a bit more detail on what all of the content will give us—and when, generally, each piece will drop. 

First things first is that 7.2 will drop on March 25, bringing with it the usual MSQ goodies that always come with these major content updates. But it seems that some of the more highly-anticipated content will be spread out throughout the next few months. Perhaps it could be good news, as this Live Letter shows they’re quite a lot to take in. 

FFXIV players got some detail via a Famitsu interview, but with a more outlined presentation in this Live Letter, we have a better idea of what to expect soon. 

Cosmic Exploration, For Crafters and Gatherers  

First on the agenda is Cosmic Exploration, the newest large-scale content focused on Disciples of Hand and Land (that’s to say, crafters and gatherers). 

The new mode sends players on missions across different planets to do crafting and gathering missions, and some missions include a nifty mecha mechanic, with its pilot chosen via lottery. Quests will reward one of two types of currency, one of which can be exchanged directly for prizes, and the other to roll for Cosmic Exploration perks, or to trade in for better chances to ride the Mecha. 

Cosmic Exploration will start with players taking up projects on the moon, with more planets to come throughout patches, as previously explained. 

While it won’t be available with the immediate 7.2 patch, it’ll come with patch 7.21 on April 4. Also, to access it, FFXIV players won’t have to slog through the latest expansion, as it’ll be available for anyone who finishes Endwalker. 

Crescent Occult, the New Large-Scale Battle Content  

The more battle-focused Occult Crescent will arrive with 7.25 instead of with the main patch, though given how much we're seeing between this and Cosmic Exploration, that might be for the better this time around. Just from what they’re showing, it’s a hefty chunk of stuff to do, similar to FFXIV's prior combat content, Bozjan Southern Front and Eureka, in style and scale. 

The 72-player fantasy-themed duty will allow players to fight and level up as one of several “support jobs,” which are the Phantom Jobs previously discussed. At first, there’ll be three available via the main quest, but 12 will be unlockable at the game mode’s launch, with more jobs and another area coming in other patches. 

Crescent Occult’s leveling will be separate from the game’s main system, with “Knowledge Level” being the primary form of XP. Partying up with other players and killing enemies of the same rank launches an XP bonus, and dying without being revived by someone in the field will nick away some XP. Solo or in groups, there are various perks hidden throughout the map to look for. 

Also, to start the large-scale 48-player raid, “Forked Tower,” instead of it working on a timer, at least 16 players will need to coordinate to enter close to the same time. This should eliminate the endless waiting for the raid followed by disappointment, not to mention encourage a lot more coordination between present players. 

Occult Crescent content will arrive May 27 in Patch 7.25, two months after the initial patch drop, so hang tight. 

More Changes and Additions 

As always, FFXIV’s 7.2 Live Letter brought plenty of other not-so-minor details about changes to the game overall. 

Worth noting is a major PvP addition: each job role will get a new choice of abilities for large-scale PvP modes, specifically Frontline. There are also huge changes to Frontline’s Borderland ruins, including new teleporters, a new objective for points, and a huge area-of-effect buff opportunity. 

Related:

FFXIV's 7.2 Special Site Heats Up Post-Dawntrail Storyline Speculation, Brings More FFIX References

The general cadence of the 7.2 patch, as with other patches, has been paced out a bit. With the March release, we'll see the next set of Arcadion raids, with the Savage unlocking one week later, as well as the Hells' Kier Unreal trial, bringing the Stormblood trial up to level 100. The team also promises PvE and PvP job changes, the former of which will apparently interest melee players, plus crafted gear and Duty Support for Sunken Temple of Qarn. 

Later on, the 7.25 patch on May 27 will have the Mamool Ja’s Allied Society Quests, the artifact weapons—titled the "Phantom Weapons," and tied in with Occult Crescent—and the next part of the Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures. 

Plus, of course, we got looks at new mounts, minions, and real-life merch and event collaborations. There’s a really nifty new car—yes, the one in Solution Nine—that has some weird music I can only presume is part of the new raid series. Also, Fat Cat hair band for makeup. Please, bring this to the States... 

As we know now, the first batch of FFXIV’s batch 7.2 arrives March 25—yes, that’s less than two weeks. What are you looking forward to? Is this going to bring you back to FFXIV for a while?