Hey everyone! Square Enix just dropped the dates and locations for the next Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest events, and while it's exciting, it also kinda hints that we've got a bit of a wait ahead of us for the next big expansion. Usually, these events are like the hype train, rolling through America, Europe, and Japan every couple of years, packed with juicy details about what's coming to the game.

So, mark your calendars! The party kicks off in California in April 2026, then heads over to Berlin in July 2026, and wraps up in Tokyo in October 2026. They even released a cool video celebrating the game's 12th anniversary alongside the announcement. It's all fun and games, but what does this mean for us, the players?

The Long Wait for 8.0

Historically, expansions land a few months after the Japanese Fan Fest. If they stick to the script, we're probably looking at an early 2027 release for the follow-up to Dawntrail. But, if they decide to do it like the old days (before Endwalker), it could even be mid-2027. That's a long stretch! We're talking about a possible three-year gap between Dawntrail (7.0) and the next one (8.0), which would be the longest wait EVER. Considering Patch 7.3 just dropped, and there are usually five major patches between expansions, we're basically twiddling our thumbs through just two major updates until 2027. That's... concerning.

I guess the big question is: why the extended development time this time around? Well, Dawntrail brought a shiny new graphical overhaul to the game, which is awesome, but it also means updates are probably more complex now. Also, Final Fantasy 14 is now on Xbox, in addition to PlayStation and PC, which means they are aiming for a simultaneous launch of the next expansion on all platforms. I can only imagine the amount of work and testing required.

Also, the team is reaching the limit of data for the PS4's OS, meaning Square Enix could end support for the older console. I think it's the right choice, because they can focus on the new hardware.

But hey, at least we've got patches 7.4 and 7.5 to look forward to, which should keep the story rolling and set the stage for the next big adventure. According to what Yoshida said, don't expect a new character introduction.

I remember attending the Las Vegas and London Fan Fests before Dawntrail, and let me tell you, the hype was real! The move to Anaheim next year is a smart one, especially for those of us who aren't fans of the scorching Nevada heat.