Final Fantasy 14’s fourth wall-breaking anniversary event gives players a subtle hint as to what is in store for them after Endwalker.
With the summer coming to a close, the time has come for Final Fantasy 14 to begin The Rising event–a holiday celebrating the MMO’s anniversary. The Final Fantasy 14 event’s history of breaking the fourth wall to tease the game’s future continues this year, with a cryptic hint of great change on the horizon after Endwalker.
In universe, The Rising is a holiday which celebrates the anniversary of the Seventh Umbral Calamity–the event which heralded the end of the original Final Fantasy 14 via the release of Bahamut from the lesser moon, Dalamud. Outside the game, it coincides with the launch of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn a few years after the original servers shut down.
Every year, The Rising event in Final Fantasy 14 allows developers to speak directly to players and give hints about the future of the game. This year is no different; players are once again transported to a mystic, liminal space by the Wandering Minstrel–a mysterious, ever-present bard who looks suspiciously like director and producer Naoki Yoshida. While there, Yoshida himself thanks players for being a part of the community, and claims “another great change” is coming soon, and that it will “open the way to exciting new journeys.”
Players are already speculating as to what this could mean. In Final Fantasy 14’s current patch story, it is plumbing the depths of the Void in search of a missing dragon, but story hints suggest there may be a way to restore the damned world to its original state. Other players wonder if the events of Endwalker might trigger another Calamity or other terrible event, which may coincide with a world revamp similar to what World of Warcraft did in Cataclysm.
Others speculate that Yoshida’s cryptic hint could be referring to a change outside the game. In February, Final Fantasy 14 announced an upcoming graphics overhaul which would begin with the critically-acclaimed MMORPG’s unannounced sixth expansion pack. Such a drastic overhaul could qualify as a “great change,” and the improved graphical fidelity could lead to “exciting new journeys” as well.
Players who want to experience The Rising event for themselves can accept the quest “Newfound Journey” from the Wandering Minstrel in Ul’dah once they reach level 15 . This limited-time quest takes only a few minutes to complete, and will be available until early morning on September 12. Players who complete it will also acquire the new Solus zos Galvus minion in Final Fantasy 14, and the chance to see Yoshida’s cryptic hints for themselves. Whatever Final Fantasy 14 has in store for its fans promises to be exciting, one way or another.
Final Fantasy 14 is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
Source: Final Fantasy 14
