Topics | FINAL FANTASY XIV, The Lodestone

Presenting the Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo Stage & Stream Schedule

2026-10-16T09:30:00Z

Our third and final Fan Festival before Evercold approaches!

Tune in to the Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo live stream for a spectacular celebration featuring our latest announcements, panels, PvP tournament, concerts, and more!

Where to Watch

All stage events will be streamed live so players around the world can join the excitement. The two concert performances will be available as paid streams, detailed further below.

The official FINAL FANTASY XIV YouTube channel
Friday, October 30, 2026 – Day 1
Saturday, October 31, 2026 – Day 2
The official FINAL FANTASY XIV Twitch channel

* Stage event times are subject to change.
* Please note that co-streaming is permitted for all content except for the paid concert performances. However, we strongly advise users to refrain from co-streaming the keynote presentation via YouTube. Due to the nature of YouTube's Content ID system, doing so may result in your stream being interrupted or your account being penalized. No such issues are expected when co-streaming via other livestreaming services. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

Day 1

The times listed below are Pacific time.

Friday, October 30, 2026

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Keynote
11:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship 2026 Japan
Powered by Logicool G™ Semifinals

Saturday, October 31, 2026

12:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Yoshi-P’s Rapid-Fire Q&A Challenge!
1:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship 2026 Japan
Powered by Logicool G™ Finals
3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Piano Concert
* See below for paid stream details.

Day 2

The times listed below are Pacific time.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Development Panel
8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
LIVE Q&A
9:50 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Glamour Collection Fashion Show
11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Naoki’s Room

Sunday, November 1, 2026

2:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
THE PRIMALS Live
* See below for paid stream details.

Live Concert Paid Streaming

Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo will be hosting a piano performance and PRIMALS concert, both available as paid streams via StreamPass and FanStream.

Enjoy two days of live performances, chatting and rocking out with Warriors of Light the world over in the comfort of your own home!

For those unable to watch live, a ticket purchase also grants access to the archive where the streams can be viewed as many times as you like for a set period.

Ticket Price

Ticket for viewing both days: 4,950 yen (tax included)
* A 660 yen (tax included) system usage fee will be added separately.

Sale Period

Until Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 6:59 p.m. (PST)

Live Stream Schedule

Day 1: Piano Concert
Saturday, October 31 from 3:30 a.m. (PDT) until the end of the performance
Day 2: THE PRIMALS
Sunday, November 1 from 2:00 a.m. (PST) until the end of the performance

* Stage event times are subject to change.

Archive Availability

Day 1: Piano Concert
From Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 a.m. to Sunday, November 22 at 6:59 a.m. (PST)
Day 2: THE PRIMALS
From Monday, November 2 at 1:00 a.m. to Sunday, November 22 at 6:59 a.m. (PST)

* A portion of the comments posted during the performance will be available to view via the chat replay feature when ready.

Purchase a ticket for the stream.
* A free Plus member ID is required to purchase a ticket for the live stream.
* The live stream may not be available for viewing in certain regions. Please review the live stream's availability in your region before purchasing.

Crystalline Conflict Regional Championship 2026 Japan Powered by Logicool G™

Join us in cheering on the final four teams as they battle for the title of Japan's Crystalline Conflict champion!

Date & Time

Day 1 - Friday, October 30 – Saturday, October 31, 2026

Semifinals - 11:00 p.m. (PDT)
Finals - 1:00 a.m. (PDT)

* Please note that the broadcast will be in Japanese only.

Competing Teams

WeDit

MALIGE

Lucrezia

Totsugeki

Guests

Commentary: so5u (Streamer)
Analysis: celavi (Streamer)
Analysis: Naoki Yoshida (FINAL FANTASY XIV Producer & Director)
Presenter: Toui Okawa (Game Caster)

View the Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo special site.
* Please note that the website is in Japanese only.

Join us for Duty Commenced on October 21!

2026-10-16T07:00:00Z

The next episode of Duty Commenced, the North American Community team's live show, is set for Wednesday, October 21. Join the Community team celebrate All Saints' Wake, hunt for alluring treasures, and go over the exciting schedule for the Fan Festival in Tokyo! As always, there will be a showcase of the latest entries for Community Commendations and giveaways!

When

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (PDT) / 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

Where

Giveaways 

Tune in for a chance to win one of the following:

One of six (6) Cornservant Squeeze Toys

See the official rules for eligibility requirements. 

* Please note that the live stream giveaways for the North American Community stream are only available to residents of the fifty (50) states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada (excluding Quebec).

Community Commendations

The FINAL FANTASY XIV community is full of talented content creators and artists of every medium, and we're constantly impressed and inspired by the works we see shared across social media. Are you one of these talented creators? Would you like to see your work featured on the official FINAL FANTASY XIV channel? Now's your chance!

We'll be gathering submissions on the official forums, Reddit, X, and Bluesky so be sure to read over the full details and submit your entry!

New Optional Items Available!

2026-10-15T07:00:00Z

New optional items will be added to the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Store starting Thursday, October 15, 2026 at around 2:00 a.m. (PDT).

Visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Store.

* The items featured above will be available for purchase after scheduled maintenance ends on Thursday, October 15, 2026 around 2:00 a.m. (PDT). Please visit the News section for detailed maintenance information.
* Please note that there may be a delay in the delivery of items directly after sales commence due to congestion of the delivery system.

Two New Albums Now Available for Streaming, Digital Purchase, and Physical Pre-order!

2026-10-14T08:00:00Z

Two new FINAL FANTASY XIV albums—Pulse: Remix Album Vol. 3 and Piano Collections - Till Dawn My Tears Flow—are now available for streaming and digital purchase, with physical CD editions arriving in November!

Relive cherished memories of your everyday adventures, reimagined with exciting new flair and delicate piano arrangements. Immerse yourself in the music of Eorzea with these two stunning collections!

CD Release Date

November 2026
* Release date is subject to change.
* Note that customs or other shipping delays may slightly impact the release date for North America and Europe.

Digital downloads and streaming are available across various music platforms starting today, ahead of the physical release!

Pulse: FINAL FANTASY XIV Remix Album Vol. 3

The third installment of the highly popular Pulse remix album series has arrived! Experience iconic tracks from Eorzea stylishly reimagined into energizing dance and electronica arrangements.

Visit the Pulse: FINAL FANTASY XIV Remix Album Vol. 3 special site.
* Please visit the special site for details regarding bonus items and streaming platforms.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Piano Collections - Till Dawn My Tears Flow

The latest piano arrangement album presents a serene yet dramatic rendition of beloved FFXIV melodies. Step into a musical world of tranquility and passion, beautifully woven through solo piano performances.

Visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV Piano Collections - Till Dawn My Tears Flow special site.
* Please visit the special site for details regarding bonus items and streaming platforms.

Regarding the Crucible of the Unbroken Ranking Season 1 Start Date

2026-10-13T06:30:00Z

We are pleased to announce the start date for Crucible of the Unbroken Ranking Season 1.

Season 1 Ranking Period

Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. (PDT) to late November 2026

An exact end date and time will be announced at a later date. Once the season concludes, a pre-season period will begin, during which players will be unable to participate in the rankings. Season 2 will commence after the pre-season has ended.
* The ranking start and end times are subject to change.

Crucible Rankings

Players may choose to compete for the highest score achieved within the Crucible of the Unbroken. Scores must be recorded on a player’s Home World, and rankings will be aggregated per physical data center.

To record scores eligible for rankings, players must set Crucible Mode to the third degree and check the box next to “Participate in rankings” before entering.

Ranking scores are compiled from the last three attempts of each board within the Crucible. Speak with Lauda in the Central Shroud (X:21.9 Y:22.8) to view your current Crucible Ranking Score.

Rankings are published on a dedicated Lodestone page——upon conclusion of a season, players who rank in the top 300 will receive ranking rewards via the Moogle Delivery Service.

Additional details regarding rewards can be found here.

Patch 7.57 Notes

2026-10-13T06:15:00Z

Patch 7.57 introduces same-region player matchmaking to the Japanese data centers, as well as a number of adjustments to the Crucible of the Unbroken.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 7.57

Patch 7.57 contains content that can only be accessed by registering the expansion packs for FINAL FANTASY XIV to your service account. To distinguish between adjustments that are and are not affected by the registration of these expansions, the following notations will be used throughout the patch notes:

: These additions and adjustments require the purchase and registration of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood, and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers.
: These additions and adjustments require the purchase and registration of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker.
: These additions and adjustments require the purchase and registration of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail.
: These additions and adjustments contain elements that may require the purchase and registration of the expansion packs noted above.

Battle System

When, as beastmaster, a beast has been ordered to “Stay” and is subsequently instructed to perform “Tempered Release” or “Parting Blow,” it will now carry out the action after turning to face the target.

Since pets do not change direction while commanded to “Stay,” beasts would fail to execute these actions if they were not facing the target.

The following additions and adjustments have been made to the Crucible of the Unbroken:

The Crucible Mode selected before challenging a board (Standard/First Degree/Second Degree/Third Degree) will be saved temporarily, and the mode used in your previous attempt will be set as the default until you log out.
When reviewing your team composition before entering an enemy space, familiars will be registered to battlehorns automatically if your team consists of three or fewer familiars.: Familiars set to battlehorns may still be adjusted manually in the event they were automatically registered.
When entering an enemy space when one or more battlehorns is unassigned, the warning prompt that appears before entering will be set to “No” by default.
The score for defeating elite enemies has been increased from 625 to 800.
The score bonus Sleepless Survival has been increased from 375 to 1,000.

Season 1 of Crucible Rankings will begin.

* Season 1 of Crucible Rankings will begin on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 10 p.m. (PDT) and run until late November 2026.

Players may choose to compete for the highest score achieved within the Crucible of the Unbroken. Scores must be recorded on a player’s Home World, and rankings will be aggregated per physical data center.

To record scores eligible for rankings, players must set Crucible Mode to the third degree and check the box in front of “Participate in rankings.”

Ranking scores are compiled from the last three attempts of each board within the Crucible.

Your current Crucible Ranking score may be confirmed by speaking with Lauda in the Central Shroud (X:21.9 Y:22.8).

Crucible Rankings will be featured on a special page of the Lodestone. When the season ends, the top 300 ranking players from each physical data center will receive vouchers via the moogle delivery service.

Learn more about rewards.

Another announcement will be made when the season ends. Once the ranking period has ended, it will be followed by a preseason phase. Season 2 will begin after a certain period of preseason has passed.
* Season starting and ending times are subject to change.

System

Same-region player matching has been implemented in Japanese data centers.

With the introduction of same-region matching, the scope of player matching will expand to cover all logical data centers on the same physical data center.

This means that all players within the Japanese physical data center will be eligible for matchmaking and party recruitment, regardless of their current World.

Once same-region player matching has been confirmed to operate stably on the Japan data center, it will be rolled out in turn to other data centers.

Read more about the implementation of same-region matchmaking.

Resolved Issues

The following issues have been addressed.

An issue when playing as beastmaster wherein dullahans in the following areas were not affected by the action Capture:
North Shroud / Amdapor Keep / The Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard)
An issue when playing as beastmaster wherein executing the action Calamity while distanced from a target would occasionally not inflict damage.
An issue when playing as a beastmaster wherein speaking with Lauda before accessing the Master's Bestiary would cause subcommands to become unusable.
An issue when playing the Crucible of the Unbroken wherein switching out summoned familiars under the effect of Cover, granted by the duty action Snarl, would nullify the damage of simultaneously performed enemy attacks.
An issue when playing the Crucible of the Unbroken wherein proceeding to an enemy space would, at certain times, prevent access to the Board Layout via the duty-specific window.
An issue when playing the Crucible of the Unbroken wherein an incorrect area of effect was indicated for the drake piece action Blowing Ring of Fire.
An issue when playing the Crucible of the Unbroken wherein inflicting a specifically timed knockback upon a great wisp piece, summoned by the ogre piece, would cause the affected enemy to freeze, thereby preventing battle continuation.
An issue when playing the Crucible of the Unbroken with a gamepad wherein the default cursor location for loot and treasure windows was incorrect.
An issue wherein engaging a different enemy after executing certain actions would occasionally cause your companion chocobo to attack an unintended enemy.
An issue when playing as a Lalafell wherein using consumable items with a beastmaster weapon drawn would cause weapon graphics to display incorrectly.
An issue wherein using Teleport or Return while mounted on the interstellar leafkin would cause effects to display incorrectly.
An issue wherein certain achievements listed in the Recommended window were incorrect.

Other various issues have also been addressed.

Known Issues

An issue wherein the end date for Season 1 of the Crucible Rankings is incorrectly listed as "Early December".

All Saints' Wake Begins October 15

2026-10-08T08:00:00Z

That spookiest of seasons is upon us again! With thoroughfares and plazas across the realm festooned with frightful decorations, a few fiends in particular are attempting to entertain their mortal counterparts...

Read on for details.

Watch the Latest Episode of Duty Commenced!

2026-10-08T07:00:00Z

The latest episode of the North American Community team's Duty Commenced live show has been archived and is now available to view! Couldn't join the team live this time? No problem! The episode is available to watch on Twitch and YouTube via the links below!

In this episode, the Community team showcased a variety of goods available for preorder in the latest wave of Fan Festival merchandise!

Join us for Duty Commenced on October 7!

2026-10-02T07:00:00Z

The next episode of Duty Commenced, the North American Community team's live show, is set for Wednesday, October 7. Join the Community team as they showcase some of the Fan Festival merchandise available for preorder! As always, there will be giveaways, too!

Who

The North American Community team

When

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (PDT) / 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

Where

Giveaways 

Tune in for a chance to win one of the following:

One of six (6) Crescent Moon Room Lamps

Fall Guys Collaboration Event Returns October 7!

2026-09-30T08:00:00Z

We are delighted to announce that the Fall Guys collaboration will be blundering back to a realm near you very soon!

Join a Blunderville show and get your hands on a whole host of exquisite prizes, including fetching attire, a marvelous mount, framer's kits, and more!

Event Period

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 1:00 a.m. until Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 7:59 a.m. (PDT)

* This event is identical to those previously held.
* Players who have already completed the quest during a previous event release may immediately resume playing the collaboration content.
* After this collaboration event has ended, it will be held as a special event at irregular intervals.

View the Fall Guys special site.

TRAIL TO THE HEAVENS: FINAL FANTASY XIV Original Soundtrack Out Now!

2026-09-25T07:00:00Z

Our latest original soundtrack is now available for purchase digitally, containing 78 tracks from your adventures in Patch 7.1 to Patch 7.5—including the Arcadion, Cosmic Exploration, and Occult Crescent!

Furthermore, the Blu-ray music disc version is still available for pre-order!

TRAIL TO THE HEAVENS: FINAL FANTASY XIV Original Soundtrack

In addition to the 78 tracks included in the digital version, the Blu-ray music disc includes accompanying visuals to enjoy along with the music. It will also feature "Everything Burns" from the Arcadion raid series, as well as 72 previously released tracks—including FINAL FANTASY XI music featured in the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid series—for a total of 151 tracks!

Release Timing

October 2026

Bonus Item

An in-game item code for the Musical Paca minion

Additionally, a special sleeve case is included while supplies last!

Visit the TRAIL TO THE HEAVENS: FINAL FANTASY XIV Original Soundtrack special site.

The Unending Journey – Live Stream Adventures with the Community Team

2026-09-21T11:00:00Z

Get ready for The Unending Journey's next episode on Wednesday, September 23! Join the EU Community team as we tackle the latest challenges.

For this episode, we'll be checking out the new limited job, beastmaster, and taming wild beasts before delving into the Crucible of the Unbroken, so get your glamour on and join us for some screenshots at the Bentbranch Meadows Aetheryte in the Central Shroud on Ragnarok (Chaos DC)!

We'll also be streaming in French on Tuesday, September 22. For more information about the French stream, please check below.

There will also be some prizes during the stream, so be sure to join us!

Prizes:

Tune in for a chance to win the following prizes:
* Please note that the live stream contest for the EU Community stream is only available to residents of the United Kingdom (excluding the British Overseas Territories), Germany, France (excluding Overseas France), Finland, Sweden, Austria, Spain, Norway, and Australia.

See the official rules for eligibility requirements.
* Please note that there may be delays in prize delivery due to local regulations.

English Community Stream - The Unending Journey

Who:

Tasha "Kiwikopo"
Steph "Chesskyth"

When:

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (PDT)

Where:

The Official FINAL FANTASY XIV Twitch Channel
Join us in-game on Ragnarok (Chaos DC) at the Bentbranch Meadows Aetheryte!

French Community Stream - Le Carnet de Voyage

Who:

Matthieu "Pampatomo"
Kevin "Alevercey"

When:

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (PDT)

Where:

The Official FINAL FANTASY XIV Twitch Channel
Join us in-game on Ragnarok (Chaos DC) at the Bentbranch Meadows Aetheryte!

FINAL FANTASY XIV Returns to PAX Australia 2026!

2026-09-21T10:00:00Z

Hold fast to your convictions and join your fellow Warriors of Light for a range of exciting activities at PAX Australia! We're inviting seasoned adventurers and newcomers to join us for an Evercold-themed experience, including hands-on crafting activities, playable Nintendo Switch™ 2 gameplay, and a themed photo opportunity area perfect for commemorating your adventure on the show floor.

We will also be hosting a special developer panel where things are sure to heat up with Localization Director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Global Community Producer Toshio "Foxclon" Murouchi as they share behind the scenes stories and reflect on their time working on FINAL FANTASY XIV.

FFXIV at PAX Australia 2026

When

Friday, October 9, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026

Where

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre PL
South Wharf 3006
Melbourne, Australia

Visit the PAX Australia 2026 website.

Developer Panel – A Realm Reburned: The Stories Behind the Stories of FINAL FANTASY XIV, A Hot Sauce Challenge with Koji Fox and Foxclon

We're turning up the heat at PAX Australia with FFXIV veterans Koji Fox, Localization Director, and Foxclon, Global Community Producer, as they take on their toughest challenge yet: our very own hot sauce challenge.

As the heat rises, they'll answer questions, share behind the scenes stories, and reflect on their time working on one of the world's biggest MMOs, all while attempting to survive increasingly fiery sauces.

Join us for a panel that brings an entirely new meaning to The Bowl of Embers (Extreme).

Panel Location, Date, and Time

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre - Main Theatre
Friday, October 9, 2026 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (PDT)/
Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (AEDT)

Can't make it to PAX Australia? Don't worry! The panel will be streamed live for adventurers around the globe to tune into!

Where to Watch

Crafting Experience

Forge your own keepsake at PAX Australia!

Join us at the FFXIV booth for a hands-on crafting experience. Whether you're a seasoned Disciple of the Hand or a budding apprentice, stop by to create a unique memento worthy of your adventures across Eorzea and beyond.

Adventurers will be able to craft one of three role-themed bracelets representing your chosen role as a Tank, Healer, or DPS. Unleash your creativity, show off your role to friends and fellow adventurers, and take home a memorable keepsake from the event.

* Design not final and subject to change. Available while supplies last.

Nintendo Switch 2

Take your next adventure on Nintendo Switch 2 at the FFXIV booth! Explore the lush region of Kozama'uka, test your luck and skill in the Gold Saucer's exciting minigames, and experience the world of Eorzea in a relaxed, hands-on environment. Whether you're a veteran adventurer or curious newcomer, there's never been a better time to jump in and play.

Photo Area

The FFXIV booth will feature an Evercold-themed photo area where adventurers can stop by and snap a shot! Strike your favorite pose and share the moment with your friends using the #FFXIVPAXAus hashtag.

Developer Meet & Greet

Don't miss your chance to meet members of the FFXIV Development team at PAX Australia! Join us for a special Meet & Greet featuring Localization Director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Global Community Producer Toshio "Foxclon" Murouchi. Seasoned Warriors of Light and newcomers alike can stop by and commemorate the occasion with a photo alongside the developers.

When

Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (AEDT)

Keep your eyes peeled on our social channels for more details.
Attendees will also receive a special poster!

* Design not final and subject to change. Available while supplies last.

Tales Under the Golden Sun Updated!

2026-09-18T08:00:00Z

The eighth installment of Tales under the Golden Sun is now available for your reading pleasure.

Catch a glimpse of an Arcadion legend's true identity: The Rise of a Tyrant.

Read the eighth story.

* Please note that Tales under the Golden Sun may contain spoilers from the main scenario.
* A total of four new stories were released as part of this series.

Into the Ring: FINAL FANTASY XIV Themes from the Arcadion Available for Pre-order!

2026-09-18T07:00:00Z

Pre-orders are now open for this pair of analog records featuring the battle music from FINAL FANTASY XIV: DAWNTRAIL’s raid series, the Arcadion.

Inside the eye-catching jacket emblazoned with the Arcadion's finest fighters, you will find fifteen recorded tracks, including "Everything Burns," created by critically acclaimed artist Tom Morello. What's more, a download code for MP3 audio is also included, allowing you to enjoy the music even without a record player or while on the go.

Relive the intensity of the ring with the depth of sound that only analog can deliver!

Into the Ring: FINAL FANTASY XIV Themes from the Arcadion

Release Date

October 2026

Included

Download code that features all the songs included on each LP in MP3 format.
* The download code allows for playback of the songs without a record player.
* This is not a download code for in-game items.

Read on for product details.

Regarding Season 1 of Crucible Rankings

2026-09-17T08:30:00Z

Since the release of beastmaster, we've seen many players enjoying the new limited job and tackling its challenges. That said, we have also received considerable feedback on beastmaster's combat balance, as well as reports of issues with certain gameplay mechanics, which we are working to address.

If rankings were to begin under these conditions, it would be difficult to determine whether the results reflect the intended balance of the job and its mechanics, impacting the fairness of the ranking process.

For these reasons, we have made the difficult decision of postponing the start of Crucible Rankings.

We are working to resolve issues and address feedback as a top priority, and an announcement will be made when a date for the start of Season 1 rankings has been decided.

* Please be advised that Crucible Ranking scores will remain unavailable in-game until a starting date has been decided.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV & FINAL FANTASY XV Collaboration Event Returns!

2026-09-17T08:00:00Z

The FINAL FANTASY XV collaboration event, A Nocturne for Heroes, returns.

Don’t miss out on rewards like the Regalia Type-G 4-seater mount, the Lucian Prince costume set, Modern Aesthetics - Lucian Locks, orchestrion rolls, and more!

Event Period

Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 1:00 a.m. to Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 7:59 a.m. (PDT)

* This event is identical to the one previously held.
* If you have already completed the event, you can replay the quests via the seasonal event replay feature. To learn more about this feature, please check the special site.

Visit the special site.

Watch the Latest Episode of Rise of the Wolves! A new PvP show!

2026-09-17T07:00:00Z

The first episode of the North American Community team's Rise of the Wolves live show has been archived and is now available to view! Couldn't join the team live this time? No problem! The episode is available to watch on Twitch and YouTube via the links below!
In this episode, Sicycre went over some of the basics of PvP, and delved into the action alongside Warriors of Light!

Rolling Out Same-region Player Matching for the Japan Data Center!

2026-09-15T09:00:00Z

As announced at Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin, starting Tuesday, October 13, 2026, following the 24 hour maintenance period on Monday, October 12, same-region player matching will be available for the Japan data center.

Matchmaking and party recruitment have thus far been limited to players on the same logical data center. However, with the introduction of same-region player matching, the scope will expand to cover all those on the same physical data center. This means that all players within the same physical data center will be eligible for matchmaking and party recruitment, regardless of their current world.

Once same-region player matching has been confirmed to operate stably on the Japan data center, it will be rolled out in turn to other data centers.

Further information can be found below on the purpose and impact of same-region player matching.

Data Center Structure

To better understand same-region player matching, it is useful to start with the structure of FFXIV’s data centers.

Diagram of the Data Centers

* See the current data center structure.

Physical Data Centers (Physical DC)
The physical DCs (represented in blue on the diagram) are located in four regions: Japan, North America, Europe, and Oceania. The closer your place of residence is to the physical DC, the less likely you are to experience network lag; as such, players typically choose the physical DC located closest to their residence.

Logical Data Centers (Logical DC)
Each physical DC contains one to four logical DCs (represented in green on the diagram).

Worlds
Each logical DC contains five to eight Worlds (represented in gray on the diagram).

Impact of Same-region Player Matching

Purpose of Same-region Player Matching

Once maintenance ends on Tuesday, October 13 and same-region player matching is introduced, features that were restricted to the same logical DC will become usable across all logical DCs in the same physical DC (the same region), i.e. across Elemental, Gaia, Mana and Meteor.

There will be no change to features only accessible on your Home World, or those that already operated across the same physical DC.

Feature	Before	After
Duty Finder	Matching within logical data center	Matching within physical data center
Party Finder	Within logical data center	Within physical data center
Crystalline Conflict Ranked Matches	Within the host logical data center	Within physical data center
Cross-world Linkshells	Within logical data center	Within physical data center
PvP Teams	Within logical data center	Within physical data center
Fellowships	Within logical data center	Within physical data center
Friend List	・Online status displayed within physical data center ・Tells and party invites within logical data center (excluding during a duty)	・Online status displayed within physical data center ・Tells and party invites within physical data center (excluding during a duty)
Free Companies	・Only Free Companies on your Home World can be joined ・Chat functions within logical data center	・Only Free Companies on your Home World can be joined ・Chat functions within physical data center
Linkshells	Only available on your Home World	No changes
Retainers	Only available on your Home World	No changes
Housing	Only available on your Home World	No changes
Market Board	・Listings can only be made on your Home World ・Purchases may be made on your current World (access the market board on each World to make a purchase)	No changes
Delivery Moogle	・Deliveries may only be collected on your Home World ・Notifications displayed within physical data center	No changes

* The blacklist/mute list will not be affected.
* Updated on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. (PDT)

Traveling to Worlds on Other Physical Data Centers

After the update, you will be able to play on another logical data center via the “Visit Another World Server” feature, rather than having to use “Data Center Travel.” This removes the need to travel via your Home World.

A dropdown menu will be added to the window displayed after selecting the “Visit Another World Server” option at the aetheryte in Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, and Ul’dah. This menu will allow you to select the logical DC and world you wish to travel to.

Going forward, the rules for what can and cannot be carried out on a world in another logical DC will be the same as those currently in place for the World Visit system. View more information on the World Visit system.

The Data Center Travel system will no longer allow travel between logical DCs in Japan, but it will still allow travel from the Japan DC to the Oceania DC.

Duplicated Names of Cross-world linkshells, PvP Teams and Fellowships

As cross-world linkshells, PvP Teams and Fellowships will be available regardless of current logical DC, they will be consolidated into a single database. As a result of this merge, it is possible that some names will be duplicated.

Please note that once maintenance on Tuesday, October 13 is complete, any duplicated names may have a number appended to differentiate them.

* This will not affect the names of characters, retainers, Free Companies and linkshells, which are distinct for each world.

Organizing Cross-world Linkshells When Belonging to 9 or More Channels

Cross-world linkshells will be merged into a single database per each physical DC, instead of being split between logical DCs. Players may join up to 8 at once per physical DC (region). However, if a player previously joined a cross-world linkshell after using data center travel, resulting in their total number reaching 9 or more, the linkshells which exceed the limit will not be immediately erased.

Please note, however, that these linkshells will be deactivated, and you will not be able to send or receive messages from them. They may be reactivated by using the “Organize CWLS” function introduced in Patch 7.5 to leave or disband cross-world linkshells. For example, you may wish to consider merging any linkshells with the same members that were created for different DCs.
* The "Organize CWLS" button will only display when the cross-world linkshells you belong to have exceeded the maximum number of active channels.

Join us for Rise of the Wolves on September 16! A new PvP show!

2026-09-14T07:00:00Z

The hunt begins! Join us for the very first episode of Rise of the Wolves, the North American Community team's brand-new PvP live show, on Wednesday, September 16. Whether you're stepping into PvP for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills, we'll break down the fundamentals, share helpful tips, and jump into a variety of PvP modes live. Gather your pack and rise to the challenges ahead!

Who

Aya "Sicycre" (Community team)

When

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (PDT) / 6:00 p.m. (EDT)

Where

The official FINAL FANTASY XIV Twitch Channel
The official FINAL FANTASY XIV YouTube Channel

The Community team will be playing live from the Primal data center on the Behemoth World!