Square Enix has officially announced the release of the May version update for Final Fantasy XI Online, which includes the final chapter of The Voracious Resurgence, new challenges, and special campaigns.

The climax of The Voracious Resurgence saga, Chapter 11, Part 2, promises to thrill as players are drawn into a final battle to counteract a conspiracy threatening to disrupt the world. In addition to the saga’s conclusion, players will also see updates to Ambuscade, with returning Orcs and Flies presenting new challenges.

The update also brings a significant boost to player firepower, with a new tier added to the game’s most powerful weapon set, the Prime Weapons Reforging.

Among the special campaigns being rolled out this month, the May 2023 Login Campaign will run until June 2, rewarding players with points that can be exchanged for in-game items, including this month’s special item, the Ageist.

Running parallel to the Login Campaign is the Adventure Gratitude Campaign, active from May 15 through July 3. Players logging in at least once per week for up to four weeks will receive special items, including an Echad Ring, a Red Crab mount, Cipher: Kupofried, and a Vana’clock.

The A.M.A.N. Trove Test Your Luck Campaign is another exciting feature, where players will receive two silver vouchers the first time they log in each day until June 1.

To give players a complete overview of these updates, a digest video featuring Producer & Director Yoji Fujito has been made available on the official Square Enix site.

Finally, the update also comes with a bonus for returning players, with new video guides added to the We Are Vana’diel special site. Moreover, active discounts on world transfers and expansions will be available until May 31.

This May version update underscores Square Enix’s continued commitment to enhance the Final Fantasy XI Online experience and promises exciting adventures for players new and old.

In a heartfelt message to the FINAL FANTASY XI community, Yoji Fujito, the producer and director of the game, expressed his gratitude and excitement as the beloved MMORPG celebrates its 21st anniversary on May 16, 2023. Fujito thanked all the adventurers who have been a part of Vana’diel throughout the years and acknowledged the contributions of the development and operations teams that have supported the game’s success.

Reflecting on the 20th anniversary celebrations held last year, Fujito mentioned the various content updates that were introduced, such as The Voracious Resurgence, Sorties, and the term filter. These additions aimed to enhance the players’ experience and generate excitement within the community. He emphasized the collaborative effort that made it all possible and expressed his appreciation for the individuals who played a role in shaping the game’s journey.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, the team launched the WE ARE VANA’DIEL website, which featured interviews with industry luminaries and key figures involved in the creation and development of FINAL FANTASY XI. The website provided players with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the game’s 20-year history, offering a rich collection of memories and stories.

Looking ahead, Fujito discussed the team’s plans for the future. Starting this spring, the development focus will shift to creating a more realistic roadmap for the game. While the frequency of new content may decrease over time, the team remains committed to maintaining the game and ensuring that Vana’diel continues to thrive. Fujito assured the community that FINAL FANTASY XI is here to stay, and players can expect regular maintenance and updates.

To further motivate players, two ongoing campaigns were highlighted—the “Return Home to Vana’diel and Discount Campaign” and the “21st Vana’versary Celebration Campaign.” These initiatives aim to entice both current and returning adventurers to revisit the enchanting world of Vana’diel, offering discounted rates and exciting rewards.

In closing, Fujito expressed his heartfelt thanks to the loyal fanbase for their continued support over the past 21 years. He shared his anticipation for the upcoming second “doubles” Vana’versary next year and encouraged the community to join him in celebrating the milestone.

FINAL FANTASY XI continues to captivate players with its immersive world, memorable characters, and engaging gameplay. As the game moves forward into its 22nd year, fans can eagerly anticipate the new adventures and experiences that await them in Vana’diel.

Square Enix has announced a special event for Final Fantasy XI players, called the Adventurer Gratitude Campaign. From May 15 to July 3, 2023, players who log in at least once a week will receive special rewards.

There are four different types of rewards that players can receive, and each is available for a different week during the campaign. This means that players have a chance to get all of them if they log in at least four times during the campaign period.

On the first login, players will receive an echad ring, which gives a bonus to experience point gain. If players already have an echad ring, they will receive a red mog pell instead.

The second login will reward players with a ♪Red Crab, an item that allows players to ride a red crab around Vana’diel. Those who already have one will receive 12 copper A.M.A.N. vouchers.

On the third login, players will receive Cipher: Kupofried, an item that enables players to summon an alter ego of the enigmatic Kupofried. This alter ego provides a bonus to experience point gain. Those who already have a Cipher: Kupofried will receive a silver mog pell instead.

The fourth and final login will reward players with a Vana’clock, a furnishing item that gives a bonus to experience point gain thanks to its Moghancement: Bounty effect. The Vana’clock also features a chocobo that peeps out the time at certain times of the day, making it both stylish and functional. Players who already have a Vana’clock will receive a red mog pell, and those who are currently storing their Vana’clock with a porter moogle will receive another one.

Final Fantasy XI is celebrating its 21st Vana’versary with a plethora of special campaigns. The festivities kick off on Thursday, May 11, at 1:00 a.m. (PDT) and will continue through Wednesday, May 31, at 7:59 a.m. During this time, players can enjoy a variety of bonuses, including experience chains, capacity points, and monstrosity bonuses.

The Chain Experience Bonus Campaign – PLUS! will allow players to earn double to triple the normal amount of experience for the duration of the campaign. Additionally, the maximum benefit of Dedication from items will be doubled. The Chain Capacity Point Bonus Campaign – PLUS! will offer similar bonuses for capacity points, while the Chain Monstrosity Bonus Campaign – PLUS! will provide enhanced experience chains.

Players can also take advantage of the Bonus Bayld Campaign, which will double bayld and experience gains for lair, colonization, and wildskeeper reives. During the Surge Walk Campaign, all Walk of Echoes content will become surge walks, offering triple experience and capacity points. Meanwhile, the Wildskeeper Reive Campaign will reduce the required fame and bayld cost of the key item required to participate, and notorious monsters will have reduced respawn times.

The Double Unity Accolade Campaign will allow players to earn twice the usual Unity accolades for completing Records of Eminence objectives and vanquishing monsters. The Adoulin Dial Campaign will add a brand new dial to the Goblin Mystery Box, offering Seekers of Adoulin-specific rewards. The Voidwatch Campaign will start all lights at their maximum alignment values, while the Geas Fete Campaign – PLUS! will yield double the usual amount of escha silt for defeating monsters in Escha areas.

The Unity Wanted Campaign will offer two treasure chests of each type for completing Wanted I, Wanted II, and Wanted II Records of Eminence objectives. The Reisenjima Geas Fete Equipment Campaign will provide an additional personal reward from each notorious monster’s loot table. Meanwhile, the Dark Matter Arcane Glyptics Campaign will allow players to engrave Geas Fete equipment from Reisenjima with arcane glyptics up to twelve times at no additional charge.

The Special Dial Campaign will give players an #SP dial key each day upon logging in, which can be used to spin the special dial for free. The Combat and Magic Skill Increase Campaign will increase the likelihood of combat and magic skills increasing during battle and casting spells. The Omen Job Card Campaign – PLUS! will increase the chance of obtaining job cards and make it easier to obtain them from defeating lesser monsters. Finally, the Ambuscade Gallantry Campaign will double the number of badges of gallantry earned from normal and intense Ambuscades once per day.

The A.M.A.N. Trove Original Equipment Drop Rate Increase Campaign will increase the drop rate of Kyrene’s Earring, Hypaspist Earring, Sroda Earring, Nicander’s Necklace, Sroda Necklace, Epaminondas’s Ring, Menelaud’s Ring, Sroda Ring, Orpheus’s Sash, Sroda Belt, and Sroda Tathlum. And for those looking to strike it rich, the A.M.A.N. Trove Gazillionaire Campaign will increase the gil awarded when a special reward activates to 10,000,000.

Overall, Final Fantasy XI’s 21st Vana’versary Celebration Campaign is jam-packed with exciting bonuses and rewards, providing players with even more reasons to enjoy this beloved MMORPG.

On March 22, 2023, Square Enix announced that Yoji Fujito will take over as the new producer of FINAL FANTASY XI, succeeding Akihiko Matsui, who has served as the game’s producer since August 1, 2012. This news was greeted with mixed reactions from fans, as Matsui had been a beloved figure in the community.

In his farewell message, Matsui expressed his gratitude to the players and the development team for their support over the years, especially during the recent 20th Vana’versary celebrations. He reflected on his approach to the game’s development and operations, admitting that he may have been too conservative at times, and expressed confidence that Fujito would be the ideal successor to continue the game’s legacy.

Fujito, in his greeting message, acknowledged the pressure of succeeding Matsui and Hiromichi Tanaka, the game’s former producer. He outlined his vision for the game’s future, which includes downsizing the development team and focusing on stabilizing the game’s operations environment for the medium and long term. He also announced plans to update Ambuscade, Prime Weapon reforging, and Master Trials in 2023, as well as introducing live events and merchandise in the real world.

Despite the changes in leadership, Fujito reassured fans that the game’s ongoing operations and support would continue, and invited them to pose any questions on the official forums. He pledged to keep FINAL FANTASY XI an enjoyable environment for players to continue their adventures in Vana’diel, and expressed his excitement for the future of the game.

Final Fantasy XI is a classic MMORPG released in 2002 by Square Enix. The game has a rich and complex world, with deep lore, intricate mechanics, and engaging gameplay.

While it may not be as popular as some of the newer MMORPGs, it still has a dedicated following of players who appreciate its old-school charm.

In this review we will be looking at the pros and cons of FFXIV and find out if it is worth playing in 2023!

Setting up the game and account can be a challenge for new players. The process is not as streamlined as it is in newer MMORPGs, and there is a lot of information to take in. However, once you get past the initial learning curve, the game offers a wealth of content to explore.

Final Fantasy XI has numerous expansions, each with its own storylines, areas to explore, and challenges to overcome. The game also has a wide range of races and jobs, each with its unique abilities and playstyle. The sub-job system adds even more depth to the gameplay, allowing players to customize their characters to their playstyle.

Gameplay

One of the standout features of Final Fantasy XI is its emphasis on group play and cooperation. The game is highly challenging and requires careful planning and execution to succeed.

Combat is not just a matter of button-mashing, but rather a strategic exercise that requires players to work together and coordinate their efforts. This makes the gameplay highly engaging and rewarding, but also means that solo play can be quite difficult.

The game has a wide range of enemies, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. Players must use different tactics and strategies to overcome them, which makes the gameplay highly engaging and satisfying.

The game’s difficulty may be off-putting to some players, but for those who enjoy a challenge, it is a welcome change from the hand-holding of modern MMORPGs.

Final Fantasy XI has five playable races: Humes, Elvaan, Tarutaru, Mithra, and Galka. Each race has its unique attributes, strengths, and weaknesses.

The game also has a wide range of jobs, each with its unique abilities and playstyle. Some of the jobs include Warrior, White Mage, Black Mage, Thief, Paladin, and Dark Knight. The sub-job system allows players to customize their characters even further, adding another layer of depth to the game.

In addition to combat, Final Fantasy XI has a wide range of professions that allow players to craft their own items. This system adds another layer of depth to the game, as players can create items that are essential for their gameplay experience.

The game also has a housing system that allows players to decorate and customize their own living spaces. This system is highly customizable, and players can create their own unique homes to show off to their friends and fellow players.

Final Fantasy XI also has numerous addons available to enhance the gameplay experience. These addons range from quality-of-life improvements to gameplay-changing mods. They add another layer of customization to the game, allowing players to tailor the experience to their liking. Many addons are considered must haves in FFXI. Opening the map in FFXI cannot be done just by pressing “M” like in most games, but the player will actually have to type /map every time, so having a mini-map addon will save you a lot of time.

There are also addons that will make gameplay and combat more steamlined.

Player cooperation is highly emphasized in Final Fantasy XI, with a Trust system that allows players to recruit NPCs to aid them in battles. The game’s story is also highly engaging, with memorable characters and a rich lore that rewards players who invest time in exploring it. The game’s world is vast, and there is always something new to discover.

One of the downsides of Final Fantasy XI is the lack of hand-holding or tutorials. Figuring out what to do can be challenging, especially for players who are used to modern MMORPGs with quest markers and pointers. Players will need to do their research and play with the Wiki open to know what to do. This lack of guidance may be off-putting to some players, but for others, it adds to the sense of discovery and adventure.

In terms of expansions, Final Fantasy XI has a wide range of content to explore. The game’s expansions include Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, Wings of the Goddess, and Seekers of Adoulin. Each expansion adds new areas to explore, new challenges to overcome, and new stories to discover. The game’s most recent expansion, The Voracious Resurgence, was released in 2020 and adds even more content to the game.

Graphics

The game’s graphics may be dated by modern standards, but they still hold up surprisingly well. The world of Vana’diel is highly detailed and beautifully designed, with a wide range of environments to explore. From the lush forests of Ronfaure to the sprawling cities of San d’Oria, Windurst, and Bastok, every location has its unique architecture and style.

Sound

The sound and soundtrack of Final Fantasy XI are some of the game’s standout features. The game’s music was composed by Naoshi Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka, and Nobuo Uematsu, all of whom are renowned composers in the video game industry. The latter having composed some of the most memorable tracks from the Final Fantasy franchise. .

The soundtrack features a wide range of musical styles, from sweeping orchestral pieces to upbeat and catchy tunes. The music complements the game’s world-building and storytelling, enhancing the player’s immersion in the game’s world.

Population

The population in Final Fantasy XI has dwindled over the years, but dedicated players still maintain an active community. While the game may not have the same level of popularity as newer MMORPGs, it still has an active and loyal fanbase. The game’s community is welcoming and supportive, making it an excellent game for players who enjoy socializing and making new friends. Players often come together to tackle challenging content, form friendships, and create their unique experiences.

The game’s Trust system, which allows players to recruit NPCs to aid them in battles, makes it easier to solo as well.

Is Final Fantasy XI Free-to-Play?

In terms of payment model, Final Fantasy XI is not free-to-play and requires a subscription to play.

Is Final Fantasy XI Pay-to-Win?

While it may not be pay-to-win, the subscription fee can add up over time. However, the game’s content is regularly updated with new events and content, and once in a while an expansion pack.

Conclusion

Final Fantasy XI is still an excellent game in 2023 for players who enjoy challenging and strategic gameplay, immersive storytelling, and a the old-school MMO feel.

While its outdated graphics and difficult setup process may deter some players, it is still a highly recommended experience for players who appreciate classic MMORPGs.

Final Fantasy XI is getting a new update this month featuring the latest installment of the Voracious Resurgence storyline, a new round of Ambuscade, as well as new items and some general fixes.

For more information about the update, check out the latest episode of FFXI Digest.

The Final Fantasy XV “A Nocturne For Heroes” will return to Final Fantasy XIV next week on September 13th and last until October 18th, giving you well over a month to earn exclusive FF15 event items.

The last time the event took place was in 2019, but players who already completed the quests will be able to replay them.

For a full list of rewards and how to participate, visit the FFXIV site.

A new update is live in FFXI. The update brings the final part of the Voracious Resurgence storyline in San d’Oria.

Players can also face a new round of Ambuscade challenges

See the full patch notes on the Final Fantasy XI official forums, and check out the latest Final Fantasy XI digest below.