Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward is the first expansion pack of Final Fantasy XIV, announced at the 2014 Fan Fest in Las Vegas. It was released on June 23, 2015. A Mac version was originally planned to launch on the same day as Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 versions, making it the first Final Fantasy title on Apple's personal computer. The Mac version was briefly recalled by Square Enix due to early stability issues,http://venturebeat.com/2015/07/06/square-enix-pulls-mac-version-of-final-fantasy-xiv-heavensward-from-sale-offers-refunds/ but has since been restored as a digital-only game at the Square Enix Online Store.
A benchmark program for Heavensward was released on April 27, 2015, featuring support for DirectX 11 and Au Ra character creation.
With the update for patch 5.3 on August 11, 2020, the Heavensward expansion is now included in the Starter Edition of the game.
==Gameplay==
The expansion automatically increases the level cap to 60 for all disciplines. A new playable race, the horned Au Ra, and multiple new jobs were introduced. One new job was announced for each of the three roles: the Dark Knight for Tank, the Astrologian for Healer, and the Machinist for ranged DPS. New job quests for existing jobs were added. Each job now has a unique level 3 Limit Break, with existing ones redistributed to appropriate classes.
All-new Primals appear, including at least one Primal created just for Final Fantasy XIV—the first of these being Ravana. New dungeons and new raids appear. A new feature allows Free Companies to create their own personal airships. New field areas in the expansion are 50-100% larger than existing ones,http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/230605-Letter-from-the-Producer-LIVE-Part-XX-Q-A-Summary-%2804-23-2015%29?p=2919167#post2919167 and support flying mounts, such as black chocobos, personal-scale airships, the collector's edition griffon, and a dragon who is important to the story of Heavensward.
==Story==
Owing to schemes in the shadows of Ul'dah, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn have been scattered, and the Warrior of Light has been forced to flee North with Alphinaud Leveilleur and Tataru Taru. Though granted shelter by Lord Haurchefant, The Adventurer's group presses on to Ishgard, a reclusive nation locked in a never-ending struggle with dragons. But matters have worsened not only in the Dragonsong War, but the unexpected appearance of a Warrior of Darkness as a countermeasure to the Warrior of Light.
==Development==
Naoki Yoshida had revealed that the first expansion of the game will let the players fly, and one of the themes will revolve around a "great conflict that spans across millennia."http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/11/final-fantasy-xiv-realm-reborns-first-expansion-will-let-fly/ In April 2015, Yoshida revealed "gothic high fantasy" was the key theme for art direction, while the storyline moved towards dark fantasy.http://time.com/3817373/final-fantasy-14-naoki-yoshida/?xid=tcoshare
==Major updates==
Note that the below version updates also added features and adjustments to A Realm Reborn (2.x) content.
===As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness (3.1)===
Released on November 10, 2015. The main scenario saw the Scions continue their search for their missing compatriots and the introduction of the Warriors of Darkness, antagonistic adventurers possessed of the Echo.
Patch 3.1 features two new dungeons: and . The first duty in the Shadow of Mhach raid series was introduced in . Additionally, the end-game dungeons from A Realm Reborn now award EXP for players who have Heavensward. An extreme version of the final battle of 3.0 was released in 
Vanu vanu beast tribes quests were added, while airship exploratory voyages allowed teams of players to explore uncharted islands in the Sea of Clouds first-hand in . A new Gold Saucer attraction called Lord of Verminion was introduced, an RTS-style minigame involving minions. New Triple Triad cards and players are added, along with adjustments to Chocobo Racing. Housing had an eviction system added to handle lots owned by inactive players, as well as an Estate Sharing Function for private residences.
Patch 3.15 added the Saint Endalim's Scholasticate quest series, as well as the new Anima Weapons.
===The Gears of Change (3.2)===
Released on February 23, 2016. The Scions search lead them to the depths of , while plans for a peace conference between Ishgard and Dravania ran into complications. A Grand Melee was held to celebrate Ishgard's joining the Eorzean Alliance.
In Azys Lla, the Scions would investigate the awakening of the Warring Triad, facing off against Sephirot in . The Alexander raid series storyline would continue in Midas, and another new dungeon was added in .
Patch 3.2 added new training grounds, the Hall of the Novice for beginners, and Stone, Sky, Sea for endgame players to hone their skills. A Mentor system was introduced to compliment them. Gears of Change is revamped the way the materia system works, including allowing melds on endgame equipment.http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/269284-Letter-from-the-Producer-LIVE-Part-XXV-Digest Other job adjustments, such as damage calculation for tank classes, were implemented. This patch also featured the return of Hildibrand, Agent of Inquiry and new beast-tribe quests involving the Gnath. Patch 3.21 added a new seasonal small-scale PvP mode called , and patch 3.25 introduced the next upgrade phase for the Anima Weapons.
===Revenge of the Horde (3.3)===
Released on June 7, 2016, Revenge of the Horde saw the finale of the Dragonsong War, with the Warrior of Light braving to recruit Hraesvelgr in the battle against the vengeful shade of Nidhogg on .
Another dungeon was added in , while the Shadow of Mhach storyline continued in . The Warring Triad and Hildibrand storylines also progressed. A new feature was added to the Treasure Hunt, allowing a portal to to spawn rarely when opening Dragonskin maps.
A new set of beast-tribe quests called Mogmenders was added, involving both moogles & dragons and with an emphasis on crafting. The third phase for Anima Weapons was added. A new Frontline area map, , was introduced. Additional Housing plots were added, and various UI enhancements such as the Raid Finder interface was added. Patch 3.35 saw the introduction of the first deep dungeon , which allowed for both solo and group content. In Patch 3.38, parts of the Anima Weapons quest had its difficulty reduced.
===Soul Surrender (3.4)===
Arriving on September 27, 2016, Soul Surrender saw the Scions investigate a new spate of primal summonings. Their investigations would lead them through and before arriving in Thanalan. There they would meet with the Ala Mhigan Resistance and its leader the Griffin, and face off against the Warriors of Darkness.
 would be added as an additional dungeon, while the final Alexander raid would be added in the Creator. The Warring Triad storyline would continue with a battle against Sophia in . New quests for Hildibrand adventures and the Saint Endalim Scholasticate were added.http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/304383
A new system for the Grand Companies called Adventurer Squadrons was added, with the First Lieutenant rank finally made available for players to unlock. A new side activity, Wondrous Tails, features weekly challenges for special rewards. A new UI mechanism for controllers, the W Crossbar, was introduced. The Housing system was expanded with instanced apartments and personal aquariums. Support for cross-server play of certain Gold Saucer activities via Duty Finder was added. Patch 3.45 added the remaining floors to the Palace of the Dead and a new step of the Anima Weapon system.
===The Far Edge of Fate (3.5)===
The Far Edge of Fate was split into six separate patches. The major releases were 3.5, released on January 17, 2017, and 3.56, released on March 28. The main scenario saw the border between the Black Shroud and Gyr Abania explode into war as the Ala Mhigan Resistance launched an assault on , and the Alliance resort to desperate measures when a primal was unexpectedly summoned.
 was added as an additional dungeon. The final raid of the Shadow of Mhach storyline, , was added, and the final member of the Warring Triad, Zurvan, was faced in .
The final steps of the anima weapon quests were added. An egi glamour was added for s, allowing summoners to change the appearance of their egis. Chocobo companions were now be treated as pets rather than party members, enabling greater flexibility when using them for party content. Cross-server recruitment for the party finder was added.
Patch 3.55a saw the introduction of Custom Deliveries for Disciples of the Land and Hand. A new PvP map was be added to the Feast, featuring a Sudden Death mode. A new encounter was added to Dun Scaith against Proto-Ultima. Patch 3.55b saw an overhaul of the Diadem.
==Release==
==Reception and sales==
The PC version of Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward scored 86 metascore,http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/final-fantasy-xiv-heavensward all-time highest of all Final Fantasy titles available on Microsoft Windows.
==Production credits ==
===Voice cast===
Character 	Japanese 	English
Alphinaud Leveilleur 	Shinnosuke Tachibana	Colin Ryan
Tataru Taru 	Mariya Ise 	Carina Reeves
Y'shtola Rhul 	Ai Kayano 	Robyn Addison
Urianger Augurelt 	KENN 	
Cid Garlond 	Rikiya Koyama 	Gwilym Lee
Biggs 	Go Inoue 	Antony Byrne
Aymeric de Borel 	Tatsuhisa Suzuki 	
Lucia goe Junius 	Sayaka Ohara 	Lydia Leonard
Midgardsormr 	Taketora 	Allan Corduner
Estinien Wyrmblood 	Kenji Hamada 	Robert Vernon
Ysayle Dangoulain 	Maaya Uchida 	Siobhan Hewlett
Hilda Ware 	Yuka Keicho 	Jaye Jacobs
Matoya 	Yuki Kyoui 	Sheila Steafel
Raubahn Aldynn 	Hiroki Yasumoto 	Nick Boulton
Kan-E-Senna 	Rie Tanaka 	Hannah Arterton
Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn 	Atsuko Tanaka 	Tracy Ann Oberman
Yugiri Mistwalker 	Rina Satoh 	† (Patch 3.0)Eleanor Matsuura (Patch 3.5+)
Lolorito Nanarito 	Hisashi Izumi 	Simon Greenall
Dewlala Dewla 	Gara Takashima 	Rosie Cavaliero
Pipin Tarupin 	Nobuyuki Hiyama 	Adam Howden
Eynzahr Slafyrsyn 	Shigeo Kiyama 	Allan Corduner
Ilberd Feare 	Hiroshi Shirokuma 	Antony Byrne
Meriel 	Yu Sugimoto 	Hannah Arterton
Zephirin de Valhourdin 	Yasuaki Takumi 	Nick Boulton
Charibert de Leusignac 	Kiyotaka Furushima 	Ryan Gage
Varis zos Galvus 	Jouji Nakata 	Michael Maloney
Regula van Hydrus 	Jurota Kosugi 	Stephen Campbell
Thordan VII 	Shinpachi Tsuji 	Brian Protheroe
Elidibus 	Akira Ishida 	Matt Stokoe
Lahabrea 	Shuichi Ikeda 	Alec Newman
Igeyorhm 	Ai Orikasa 	Gemma Whelan
Hydaelyn 	Masako Ikeda 	Joanna Roth
Edmont de Fortemps 	Ikuya Sawaki 	Stephen Critchlow
Haurchefant Greystone 	Masakazu Nishida 	Jason La Shea
Artoirel de Fortemps 	Tsuguo Mogami 	Harry Hadden Paton
Emmanellain de Fortemps	Kengo Takanashi 	Stefano Braschi
Honoroit 	Tomo Muranaka 	Archie Lyndhurst
Hraesvelgr 	Steven Hartley 	Steven Hartley
Nidhogg 	Simon Greenall 	Simon Greenall
Vidofnir 	Yu Sugimoto 	Gemma Whelan
Krile Maya Baldesion 	Yoshino Nanjo 	Gemma Lawrence
Thancred Waters 	Yuichi Nakamura 	Peter Bramhill
Minfilia Warde 	Miyuki Sawashiro 	Zoë Tapper
Alisaie Leveilleur 	Rie Murakawa 	Bethan Walker
Yda Hext 	Aya Endo 	Laura Aikman
Papalymo Totolymo 	Eri Kitamura 	Nigel Pilkington
Nero tol Scaeva 	Riki Kitazawa 	John Heffernan
Warrior of Darkness 	Junichi Suwabe 	Joe Dempsie
Knight of Darkness 	Takuya Nakashima 	James Goode
Devout of Darkness 	Runa Onodera 	Carina Reeves
Ranger of Darkness 	Rina Satoh 	Eleanor Matsuura
Magus of Darkness 	Atsushi Taniguchi 	Nick Boulton
Nanamo Ul Namo 	Mariya Ise 	Joanna Ruiz
Gosetsu Daito 	Yosuke Akimoto 	Nigel Betts
Grynewaht pyr Arvina 	Itaru Yamamoto 	James Goode
==Packaging artwork==
FFXIV HW NA PC.png|North American PC.
FFXIV HW NA PC CE.png|North American PC Collector's Edition.
FFXIV HW NA PC Complete.png|North American PC Complete Edition.
FFXIV HW NA PS3.png|North American PlayStation 3.
FFXIV HW NA PS3 CE.png|North American PlayStation 3 Collector's Edition.
FFXIV HW NA PS3 Complete.png|North American PlayStation 3 Complete Edition.
FFXIV HW NA PS4.png|North American PlayStation 4.
FFXIV HW NA PS4 CE.png|North American PlayStation 4 Collector's Edition.
FFXIV HW NA PS4 Complete.png|North American PlayStation 4 Complete Edition.
FFXIV HW EU PS4.jpg|European PlayStation 4.
FFXIV HW JP PS4.jpg|Japanese PlayStation 4.
==Gallery==
FFXIV HW Amano artwork.jpg|Kazuya Takahashi artwork.
FFXIV Dark Knight.png|Artwork of Dark Knight.
FFXIV Black Chocobo.png|In-game render of a Miqo'te riding on a Black Chocobo.
FFXIV Black Chocobo Flying.png|A player flying on a Black Chocobo.
FFXIV Banubanu.png|New Beast Tribe, the Vanu Vanu.
FFXIV Bismark.png|Bismarck, the Primal of the Vanu.
FFXIV Gunas.png|New Beast Tribe, the Gnath.
FFXIV Ravana.png|Ravana, the Primal of the Gnath.
FFXIV Ishgard 1.jpg|A new area.
FFXIV Ishgard 2.jpg|A new area.
FFXIV Ishgard 3.jpg|A new area.
Heavensward Art 001.png|Concept art.
Heavensward Art 002.png|Concept art.
Heavensward Art 003.png|Concept art.
Heavensward Art 004.png|Concept art.
Heavensward Airships.jpg|Personal airships.
Heavensward Dragon Art 01.jpg|Promotional art.
Heavensward Dragon Art 02.jpg|Promotional art.
Midgardsormr FirstBrood.jpg|Promotional art.
Heavensward Art 05.jpg|Promotional art.
Dragon from Final Fantasy XIV Heavensward Yoshitaka Amano artwork.jpg|Artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.
==Trivia==
*During the announcement at Fan Fest, Yoshida wore a shirt which he said was a hint towards one of the new classes in the expansion, eventually revealed to be the Dark Knight, one of Batman's nicknames. At a later event he wore a shirt to tease the Machinist, making a connection between their choice of weapons: guns.
*The Japanese name of the expansion, is more literally translated as "Ishgard of the Azure Sky".
*During the streaming event, a folder named "Samurai" was spotted on Masayoshi Soken's laptop, thus leading to rumors of Samurai being one of the new jobs. However, it was later confirmed by Naoki Yoshida that Samurai will not be included in the expansion, as they did not want to include another Japanese-style job at present, although the job concept was heavily considered for the new "tank" job prior to Dark Knight being favored.http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/20141112_673698.html
==External links==
*Official site (Japanese)
*Official site (English)
==Citations==
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