Final Fantasy XIV: Reflections in Crystal

As a major update to the ongoing MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Reflections in Crystal (released 2020) concludes the main narrative arc of the Shadowbringers storyline, focusing on the Scions' confrontation with Elidibus. Core gameplay involves continuing the RPG adventure through story progression, new Dwarf tribe quests, and high-difficulty replay content like Faux Hollows and challenging Unreal Trials. It also features the second part of the YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse crossover series, adding substantial new encounters for established players on PC and PS4.

This entry details a significant content update for the ongoing massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Final Fantasy XIV Online, delivered on August 11, 2020, for players on PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows. As an update, it focuses on advancing the core narrative and introducing substantial new gameplay elements to the established adventure framework. The primary appeal of this patch lies in its role as the concluding chapter for the expansive storyline introduced in the preceding major expansion, promising resolution to long-running conflicts and character arcs.

Narrative Conclusion and New Story Content

This update delivers the dramatic conclusion to the Shadowbringers saga. Players will follow the Scions of the Seventh Dawn as they endeavor to shed light upon the Ascian's dark plot, specifically confronting the resurrected figure of Ardbert, who is revealed to be Elidibus. The central tension revolves around uncovering the full scope of this conspiracy before a critical deadline—an hour of departure or demise—forces a confrontation.

Furthermore, the update expands the game's collaborative content with the second installment of the YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse crossover series, developed in collaboration with guest creators Yosuke Saito and YOKO TARO. This introduces new narrative threads and challenging encounters outside the main story arc.

Key Additions and Gameplay Refinements

Beyond the main storyline, this patch enriches the existing world with several new activities and quality-of-life improvements designed to deepen engagement for current players:

Dwarf Tribe Quests: Introduction of new questlines centered around the Dwarf beast tribe, offering unique rewards and lore exploration within their community.
Faux Hollows: A new repeatable content area that allows players to revisit and challenge previous major encounters in a different, often randomized, format.
Unreal Trials: A new category of high-difficulty boss battles that remix existing trials with enhanced mechanics, testing veteran players' mastery of combat systems.

How Does This Update Change the Overall Experience?

This update is characterized by its narrative finality for the current major story arc, providing a definitive payoff for players invested in the ongoing plot. For existing players, the introduction of Unreal Trials and Faux Hollows provides significant high-end combat challenges and replayability. While this update does not introduce new expansions or paid downloadable content, it substantially alters the landscape of available endgame activities and resolves critical plot threads established over previous major releases.

What New Challenges Await Adventurers?

The focus shifts toward testing player skill through revamped encounters. The Unreal Trials specifically demand a high level of mechanical proficiency across established combat roles. The new Dwarf quests offer a change of pace, focusing on localized story progression and unique rewards associated with that specific community.

Platform Availability

This content is accessible to all owners of the base game on both PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows platforms.