Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker's upcoming Patch 6.1 will include NPC companions for solo players. The latest expansion Endwalker ignited rapid exponential growth for Square Enix's MMORPG, even causing the developer to suspend the sale of FFXIV and its free trial for a time due to server capacity issues. Endwalker 6.1 is set to be released soon and fans anticipate the new content the update will add to what is deemed by players the best Final Fantasy 14 expansion.
Now that Endwalker's congestion issues have been repaired due to Square Enix expanding on the number of servers, FFXIV fans are awaiting the latest update to the expansion. While some aspects of the update are directly addressing issues players have found within Endwalker, others genuinely add to the RPG experience and build upon Endwalker's complex story. FFXIV is full of content already - including the base story that can take hundreds of hours to complete, multiple dungeons and trials, and the career that the player must learn. Players can also purchase their own homes in-game, and FFXIV plans to add a new housing lottery system in a new residential area in Patch 6.1 as well.
With the rigorous and difficult responsibilities Final Fantasy XIV players are tasked with, allowing solo players to have NPC companions is arguably the most intriguing aspect of the 6.1 Patch. According to Rock Paper Shotgun, this is referred to as the 'Duty Support System' and will let soloers complete dungeons and base game trials with NPCs instead of finding 3 other players to create a party. Square Enix also plans on extending the Duty Support System to cover expansion content in the future.
The previous expansion Shadowbringers did allow for players to complete dungeons with NPCs with FFXIV's Trust System, but many found that dungeons were more tedious this way unless they played the role of a tank. Shadowbringers' Trust System also prevented users from receiving commendations. However, the new support system may address these issues and provide a more seamless and immersive experience for those who prefer to play solo, and it also covers more content than the previous Trust System.
Besides a new support system for solo players, Endwalker Patch 6.1 will also add new main scenario quests for Warriors of Light, new side quests, a new alliance raid, and updates to PvP content. Fans are also looking forward to the next updates to Endwalker already, which might finally bring the hyped Final Fantasy XIV Island Sanctuary, which may feature gameplay similar to simulation games like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker Patch 6.1 will launch on April 12, and hopefully the expanded servers will be able to handle an influx of excited players.