FFXIV 2026 Fan Fest Keynote: Start Time and Viewing Details The 2026 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest is set to begin on Friday, April 24, with the highly anticipated keynote event scheduled to start at 10 a.m. PDT. Square Enix, the developer behind the game, has confirmed the keynote will last approximately two hours and will be streamed live on the FFXIV YouTube channel and the game’s official Twitch channel. The event will feature multiple time zones, with the keynote beginning at 1 p.m. EDT, 2 p.m. BRT, 6 p.m. BST, 7 p.m. CEST, 2 a.m. JST, and 3 a.m. AEST on the same day. The keynote will be presented by FFXIV producer Naoki Yoshida, who is known for making major announcements during the Fan Fest. In 2023, Yoshida unveiled the Dawntrail expansion during the event, which marked a significant milestone for the game. The Dawntrail 7.5 update, the final major patch for the expansion, is set to launch a few days after the Fan Fest concludes, fueling speculation about potential revelations regarding FFXIV 8.0. However, Square Enix has not officially confirmed any details about the next major version of the game, leaving fans to anticipate what might be unveiled. While the keynote is the centerpiece of the event, Square Enix has planned additional activities in the 24 hours following the keynote. These include an interview panel featuring Yoshida and FFXIV battle designer Hikaru Tamaki, a cosplay showcase, an hour-long concert with FFXIV pianist Keiko, the season’s PvP championship, and a talk by FFXIV localization lead Michael-Christopher Koji Fox. The full schedule of events is available on the Fan Fest Lodestone page. The Fan Fest will conclude with a performance by The Primals, the game’s rock band, which includes Koji Fox and sound director Masayoshi Soken.#square_enix #dawntrail #naoki_yoshida #ffxiv #the_primals
Final Fantasy XIV - The State Of The Game Heading Into FanFest The upcoming expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, Dawntrail, has sparked significant discussion among players, as its release has highlighted long-standing issues within the game. While Dawntrail itself was not a complete failure, its lackluster approach to job systems and content innovation has reignited frustrations over the game’s stagnation. Players have grown weary of the rigid structure that has persisted since the Shadowbringers expansion, with many feeling that the game has failed to evolve despite its growing popularity. The recent Live Letter has provided some insight into the developers’ plans for the next major update, 8.0, which is expected to bring more substantial changes than previous expansions. One of the most anticipated updates is the rework of the armor glamour and dye systems, which will undergo a major overhaul in the next patch. This change is part of a broader effort to modernize elements of the game that have remained largely unchanged for over a decade. The developers have also hinted at significant shifts in battle content, including the elimination of totem farms for Extreme Trials and the reimagining of Relic Weapons. A recent trailer for the second Ultimate raid in Dawntrail has further signaled a departure from tradition, as it centers around Kefka instead of the usual main scenario-themed fights. These changes, while seemingly minor in isolation, represent a step toward addressing player concerns about the game’s stagnation. However, the development team’s efforts have not been without challenges. The content cadence for Dawntrail has been criticized for being inconsistent, with some of its most ambitious additions failing to resonate with players.#final_fantasy_xiv #dawntrail #shadowbringers #occult_crescent #80
