WARNING: MAJOR Spoilers for Final Fantasy 14 AheadFor the last decade, Final Fantasy 14 has seen its share of tonal shifts. From the disastrous 1.0 release that ended with an explosive cinematic to Final Fantasy 14 finding success in the years following its relaunch, Square Enix's critically acclaimed MMORPG has been a metaphorical roller coaster ride for players.

With the reveal of the Dawntrail expansion at the 2023 Las Vegas Fan Fest and plans for more Final Fantasy 14 expansions in the future, the parallels between Endwalker and Dawntrail are apparent at more than just first glance. While Endwalker was the climactic bookend to a major saga that spanned many years, Dawntrail is the first chapter of another tale that will take Final Fantasy 14 to unseen places and maybe give players a new take on the game.

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Endwalker: A Finale Under the Nostalgic Moonlight

From the start, Endwalker was pushed as the conclusion of the first major arc of Final Fantasy 14, the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga. During the lead-up to Endwalker, the moon served as a main motif for the expansion, which referenced both the fall of Dalamud at the end of version 1.0 and the vastness of space. With the Paladin as the poster Job and the addition of the moon-based Loporrits to the game, Endwalker was considered a nostalgia trip in part for fans of the Final Fantasy franchise's fourth entry.

As far as the story went, Zodiark's demise in the expansion's opening act allowed the Endsinger, the true main threat of Endwalker, to enact her plan to overrun Etheirys with Dynamis. This energy fed on emotions such as hope and despair, and the latter turned people into monstrous Blasphemies, which subsequently caused panic that bred even more monsters. Knowing about the Endsinger and the despair she wrought, Hydaelyn tested the Warrior's resolve in a trial by combat.

With her purpose fulfilled, Hydaelyn guided the Warrior of Light and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to the edge of existence, where they defeated the Endsinger. Hope reigned over Etheirys once again. But, the subsequent patches of Endwalker's main story leaned further on the lunar references. At the time of writing, the current patch arc has taken the Warrior of Light and the Scions to the Thirteenth Shard and its blood-red moon.

With more nostalgic references to Final Fantasy 4 on full display, Patch 6.5 will take players to the Lunar Subterrane for a final clash with Zeromus, a dark entity named after FF4's final boss. Only time will tell how the battle will turn out. During the 2023 Las Vegas Fan Fest, Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki Yoshida stated that the final major patch of Endwalker, titled Growing Light, will give players a clear idea of what will bridge the plot between Endwalker and Dawntrail.

Dawntrail: A New Day in the Vibrant New World

If Endwalker is symbolized by the moon and by nostalgia, Dawntrail is pictured by fresh beginnings and new adventures into uncharted territory. At first glance, the land of Tural, also called the New World, is a sun-kissed, tropical nation filled with vibrant and diverse cultures that have not been seen in Final Fantasy 14 before. Though information about Dawntrail is limited at the time of writing, the thought of figuring out what places are still left to discover on Etheirys has given Final Fantasy 14 players plenty to ponder.

Given the fact that Endwalker was the finale of a saga between two god-like Primals spanning years, Dawntrail will have some expectations ahead of it. The close of one story will allow the Final Fantasy 14 development team to try and experiment with new story ideas and give players fresh new experiences with each content update. Suffice it to say, the sky is the limit for the future of Final Fantasy 14 and for its players.

Final Fantasy 14 is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version launching in Spring 2024.

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