Patch 7.2 has finally been released for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, but the game still isn't where it needs to be after the rough reception that this latest expansion has received, including criticisms regarding multiple in-game elements. Despite that, Patch 7.2 takes us in the right direction, which is a start for fixing the state of the game that's led to players unsubscribing due to no longer feeling like the subscription was worth the content that was being released. Of course, there's still work to be done to bring player interest in the game back for the next expansion.

Patch 7.2 is just about in the middle of the patch sequence that you see released between expansions for FFXIV, meaning that we're almost to the end of the extended story for Dawntrail, and about to start setting up the story of the next expansion. In this patch, we see more MSQ, the next tier of the Arcadion raids, Phantom Weapons, and a bunch of adjustments made to features like textures and jobs. At the same time, there are still problems that persist because of the formula the game seems unwilling to change.

Real Sphene Should've Been The Star From The Start

The Lackluster MSQ Of A Story First MMO

FFXIV markets itself as a story first MMORPG, but that hasn't felt true with Dawntrail. The most interesting new characters we meet are either part of side content, presented briefly, or have only now been added in the latest patch. It would've been a boost to the MSQ to have the real Sphene as part of the main expansion, and even focus more on the duality of her versus her AI counterpart rather than trying to have the fake Sphene as a foil for Wuk Lamat, who hasn't had to face the same level of hardships as both Sphenes.

As it is, the storyline in Dawntrail is rough. While the rites for choosing the next Dawnservant drag on, we get a rushed western cowboy interlude with Erenville, then a shift to Alexandria and Solution Nine. There's a lot that tries to happen throughout the story, but the elements that need more time are cut short, and the element that could've been cut short receives more than its needed share of time. If we were going to have FF9 as a big part of the pack, then we needed to shift to that element earlier and give it more time.

This would've given us more time to understand and handle the false Sphene, while also giving us a reason to help the Alexandrians aside from people from Tural ending up in the dome and because Zoraal Ja wanted to use the city's resources for himself. Changing the focus to Solution Nine earlier would've also given us the extra time and story content for Krile and Erenville that we were promised, but that ultimately ended up being cut short.

Dawntrail Is Still Filled With Broken Promises

What We Were Told Isn't What We Got

Prior to its release, Dawntrail was supposed to be an expansion where you didn't have world-ending threats to deal with, and instead an experience with more focus on adventuring, increased time learning about Krile, and rivalry among the Scions. The finished product ended up breaking those promises. Krile barely got any screentime, let alone a dedicated story. We faced a world-ending threat in the form of Sphene's AI. Then, the rivalry among the Scions was implemented as little more than Thancred inconveniencing us in a dungeon.

I believe the core problem was trying to cram too much into the expansion in combination with not allocating the time the MSQ took across those storylines in a way that let them have the best impact they could. Now, the patches are doing the job of trying to address the criticisms that players had, but the development cycle also means that it's taking longer to actually shift directions where it's needed, and extra Vana'diel Alliance raids are acting like bandages for the content.

The Biggest Hindrance Now Is The Patch Formula

It Isn't Helping Criticisms Of FFXIV

In the end, the patch formula and expansion formula that keeps being used turns out to be one of the biggest hindrances that FFXIV is facing. The formula has you doing dungeons and trials at certain levels, and that ends up hurting the story—which is supposed to be the pride of this MMO—more than you think at first. Instead of coming naturally based on the story, these elements are forced in, making the story work around them. It creates a disted feeling for the player.

I believe that the developers can pull the game back on track, especially since the raid content and trials that we've gotten in Dawntrail and the patches are some of the most fun fights we've had yet. Additionally, the stories for the raid sets are interesting, making you want to dive into the next set when it's released to see what happens. The best path forward is for player to continue being taken seriously, and for the outdated formula to be thrown out for Final Fantasy XIV.