A new update for Final Fantasy XIV is bringing Animal Crossing-style islands to the popular MMORPG. Developer and publisher Square Enix originally announced the upcoming FFXIV Island Sanctuary feature as one of the new gameplay experiences that the current Endwalker expansion will introduce after its launch late last year. While details on the new feature have been sparse since it was initially announced, the company did confirm earlier this year that it would launch alongside the game’s 6.2 update.
Final Fantasy 14’s Endwalker expansion is arguably its biggest so far. Not only does it conclude the overarching story that began 10 years ago, it has also introduced a ton of new features since it was launched in December, including new jobs, a new race, new zones, a new PvP mode, and a lot more. And with the release of more updates, players can expect more new content to be added into the game, including the aforementioned Island Sanctuary as well as further improvements to FFXIV’s NPC companion system for solo players.
During a recent Live Letter stream Square Enix revealed more details on Final Fantasy 14’s upcoming Island Sanctuary feature. According to FF14 Director Naoki Yoshida, every player will get their own unique Animal Crossing-esque island where they gather resources, grow and cultivate crops, collect and care for a variety of creatures, build different structures, and more. The materials, currencies, and inventory of the island are separate from the rest of the game to avoid filling up players’ normal inventories. Players will be able to invite their friends and free company members to visit their islands. While an exact release date for the Island Sanctuary feature has not been announced, it’s now expected to launch with the game’s 6.25 update.
The introduction of the Island Sanctuary feature not only gives players more things to do in the game, it also indirectly helps alleviate FF14’s ongoing housing problem by directly giving players their own islands to develop and decorate. While having their own island isn’t exactly the same as getting their own room or house, it’s possible that the Island Sanctuary feature will also allow players to build their own house on their island.
FF14’s Island Sanctuary feature is definitely one of the Endwalker expansion’s most exciting upcoming features, especially for more casual players of the game. Given the overwhelming success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there's clearly a lot of potential in allowing players to decorate their own island sanctuary. Many fans will likely be looking forward to the next Live Letter stream, where the feature’s release date and actual gameplay are expected to be revealed.
Final Fantasy 14 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Source: Square Enix/Twitter