Happy New Year, adventurers! I would like to offer you my best wishes as we start the new year.

This is my first New Year's as producer for FFXI, and I feel a slight sense of relief now that it?s behind me and that everything went smoothly.

In May 2023, we finished up The Voracious Resurgence, which was a large part of our product roadmap and the last major update for the game. Even after The Voracious Resurgence ended, we have followed up with various initiatives designed to let players continue enjoying FFXI, which are based on the concepts of "stability" and the creation of an "archive" as their focus.

In order to ensure this sense of "stability," we have been upgrading the development team's equipment and other resources in order to update their work environment. Furthermore, we are making steady progress with replacing the FFXI servers and also ensuring that everything runs smoothly on Windows 11 as well. In terms of the game itself, we have introduced updates designed to improve the game's usability, such as the ability to configure your PadConfig settings without having to shut down the game client first.

Going forward, we shall continue our policy of implementing such changes aimed at maintaining this sense of stability that you have come to rely on.

Our other guiding concept this year has been that of creating an "archive" of the game, which are topics that fall outside of the game itself.

We have decided that one such effort, We Are Vana'diel—which was originally launched as a website to commemorate the game's 20th anniversary—shall live on in order to serve as a repository for various interviews, oral histories, and other assorted topics related to Final Fantasy XI over the years. The site has already been updated with new content, but we plan to include even more interviews with people that have been involved with the game's development. In this ongoing series, we'll ask them their thoughts about the game and some of the behind-the-scenes stories that occurred during the development process. We have even more updates planned for the future, so I hope you are looking forward to them.

On the music side of the game, we released FINAL FANTASY XI Gifts from Vana'diel: Prime Memories, meaning that all of FFXI's music is now available in soundtrack format. In November 2023, the main soundtrack was released on various music streaming services, which made it even easier for people to enjoy the sounds of Vana'diel.

Furthermore, we were able to hold our first IRL event in some time now with the Japan-only Treasures of Vana'diel exhibition! I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made it out to the show.

It was nice seeing so many people come to enjoy the previously unseen development materials and all of the various merchandise that was made available for the exhibition. The success of the Tokyo event back in August led to many people requesting us to hold one in the Kansai region as well, so we have announced that the exhibition will be visiting Osaka as well. The content has been updated somewhat since we held it in Tokyo, so please stop by and check it out if you're in the area.

Now I'd like to take a moment to talk about 2024. Like we announced in May of last year, future game updates will contain minimal in-game content and focus primarily on operational maintenance. Compared to the past, when we released new content every year, there will not be as many updates to look forward to, but we will properly maintain the game and ensure that you can continue to enjoy FFXI for a long time to come.

In addition, it is our goal to continue creating content outside of the game itself in order to keep up with the excitement generated by you adventurers the world over. It is my strong belief that as the world of Vana'diel expands, it will continue to live on and thrive, especially within FFXI itself as well as various other related events.

One such upcoming event is a Japan-only dramatic reading based on the world of FFXI scheduled for Saturday, February 17th. This is an entirely new story that takes a completely different look at the world we've all come to know and love. We're also currently working on the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid content for FINAL FANTASY XIV.

Once the content is added to the game, we hope you'll enjoy this whole new look at Vana'diel as well!

As we embark on our journey into 2024, rest assured that all of us on the development and operations teams will continue to do our very best to ensure a stable and enjoyable gameplay experience for all of you adventurers. I hope that you continue to enjoy the world of FFXI.

FINAL FANTASY XI Producer/Director Yoji Fujito

Event Period

Sunday, December 31, at 7:00 a.m. (PST) to Monday, January 15, at 6:59 a.m.

Additionally, Chacharoon in Ru'Lude Gardens (I-8) will be selling special limited-time items during the following period.

Sunday, December 31, at 7:00 a.m. (PST) to Sunday, January 7, at 6:00 a.m.

Read on for the list of limited-time items.

Event Details

During the event, lucky dragons will be parading around the following areas.
Trade them items and gil to receive a variety of other items and magic effects.

NPCs and related areas

NPCs:
Dragatama

Areas:
West Ronfaure / East Ronfaure / La Theine Plateau / Valkurm Dunes / Jugner Forest / Batallia Downs / Beaucedine Glacier / Xarcabard / Qufim Island / North Gustaberg / South Gustaberg / Konschtat Highlands / Pashhow Marshlands / Rolanberry Fields / Western Altepa Desert / Eastern Altepa Desert / West Sarutabaruta / East Sarutabaruta / Tahrongi Canyon / Buburimu Peninsula / Meriphataud Mountains / Sauromugue Champaign / The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah / Yuhtunga Jungle / Yhoator Jungle / Grauberg (S)

Previous Rewards

Items available during previous New Year's festivities may be acquired from the following locations.

Shop at event-related stores

Moogles in the following locations sell various New Year-themed items.

Northern San d'Oria / Bastok Mines / Windurst Waters (north side)

Ake-Ome Spirit
Speak with Ake or Ome in the following locations to obtain the Ake-Ome Spirit item which grants the ability to possess a special monster in Monstrosity.
* Speaking with Ake or Ome while already possessing an Ake-Ome Spirit will cause something special to occur.

Northern San d'Oria / Port Bastok / Port Windurst

Bring cheer for those in need!

The moogles have cleverly hidden seven types of Tenshodo trading cards across the land and challenged the Goblins to find them. But the cunning Goblins, determined to come out on top in the contest, have taken to riding chocobos, and that simply isn't fair, kupo!
Collect the specified trading cards and deliver them to the moogle in order to exchange them for fabulous rewards. Speak to the moogles in the following locations and offer them your assistance!

Southern San d'Oria / Northern San d'Oria

Bastok Markets / Bastok Mines

Windurst Waters (north side) / Windurst Woods

Trading cards can occasionally be found by examining overturned soil in the following locations. Get there before the Goblins beat you to it!
The odds of receiving trading cards increase with the more people you have in your party. Team up with other adventurers to increase your odds of success!

West Ronfaure / La Theine Plateau / Jugner Forest / Batallia Downs / South Gustaberg / Konschtat Highlands / Pashhow Marshlands / Rolanberry Fields / East Sarutabaruta / Tahrongi Canyon / Meriphataud Mountains / Sauromugue Champaign

Limited-Time Items

Themed limited-time items will go on sale for one week after the start of the New Year (JST).
There are two types of items, and each can be purchased once per day (Earth time).
* Sales reset at 7:00 a.m. (PST).

Item Availability Period
Sunday, December 31, at 7:00 a.m. (PST) to Sunday, January 7, at 6:00 a.m.

Vendor
Chacharoon in Ru'Lude Gardens (I-8)