Endwalker

Endwalker is the fourth expansion for the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, developed by Square Enix. Directed by Naoki Yoshida, it was released with early access on December 3, 2021, and worldwide on December 7, 2021. The expansion continues the world-spanning story of Hydaelyn and Zodiark and serves as a culmination of the game’s main narrative arcs that began with A Realm Reborn.

Gameplay and content: Endwalker raises the level cap from 80 to 90 and introduces two new jobs, Sage and Reaper. It adds new regions for exploration—Garlemald, Old Sharlayan, and Thavnair—along with additional dungeons, trials, and endgame raids that accompany the expanded adventure. The update also broadens travel and storytelling options, aligning with the expansion’s focus on epic-scale missions and character-driven arcs.

Story and themes: The narrative centers on the existential threats facing Hydaelyn and the fate of its playable characters, culminating in major conclusions to the Hydaelyn–Zodiark saga. Endwalker emphasizes themes of sacrifice, memory, and renewal while setting up new story directions for the game’s ongoing world beyond the expansion’s events.

Reception and impact: Endwalker received widespread critical acclaim for its storytelling, production values, and scope. It faced technical issues and login queue problems at launch on some platforms, but this did not significantly affect its overall reception. The expansion solidified Final Fantasy XIV’s position as a leading MMORPG and influenced subsequent patches and ongoing development.

Platforms and service model: Endwalker was released for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, with cross-platform play and continued updates as part of Final Fantasy XIV’s live-service model.

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