Square Enix have gone live with their latest game update for Final Fantasy XIV. The eagerly awaited Patch 5.3 – dubbed “Reflections in Crystal” – makes a number of significant changes to the Final Fantasy MMO, as outlined below.
Patch 5.3 is now available to download for both PC and PlayStation 4 (versions of the game. Naturally, you will need to install this new update if you want to sign back into Final Fantasy XIV.
For regular FFXIV players, Reflections in Crystal adds a large dollop of fresh end game content to slurp up. This includes new main scenario quests which finally bring the Shadowbringers story arc to a close. Then we have the second chunk of NieR content from guest creators Yosuke Saito and Yoko Taro, the Chronicles of a New Era quests which form YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse.
There are new side story quests, dwarf quests, and plenty more – all of which can be found in the extensive Patch 5.3 Reflections in Crystal breakdown posted on the official Final Fantasy XIV portal.
Square Enix are forever keen to get even more players involved with their smash hit MMO. With Patch 5.3 they definitely seem to be going the right way.
Firstly, they’ve extended the free trial level cap on all classes and jobs to level 60. Other previous restrictions have also been lifted, allowing free trial players to select the Au Ra race, as well as the Machinist, Astrologian, and Dark Knight classes.
In terms of content, you can now play from the beginning right through Final Fantasy XIV’s first expansion, Heavensward, and all the way up to Patch 3.56. That’s potentially hundreds of hours of content without paying a penny. Square Enix are no doubt hoping a number of players will want to continue their journey, buying further expansions and game time.
The one part of this update we’re glad to see is the streamlining of content between Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (the base game) and Heavensward. Infamously, players would need to complete dozens of tedious main story quests in order to progress to the expansion, most of them forcing you to travel from one area and talk to NPC before returning to the quest giver. This has now been changed, funnelling players into Heavensward more smoothly. Hurrah!
Source: Final Fantasy XIV
