RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

In the wake of criticism over Final Fantasy XIV‘s less than ideal launch condition, Square Enix has announced a series of updates in the coming months.  Some were expected and are itemized in brief below, but one particularly interesting offer stood out: free trial periods for all accounts registered before October 25 will be extended for an additional month.  Players already registered need take no action, as their trials will be extended automatically.

Not coincidentally, the first posted update will arrive late in November, and consists of the following:

• User interface adjustments: maps will relay players’ positions and can be scrolled with the mouse; inventory will be sortable; target cycling priorities will be adjusted; several menu layouts will be adjusted; players will be able to remap almost all keyboard keys.
• Anima costs for teleportation will be reduced; returning to a home point will cost just one anima, while players can mark three Aetheryte checkpoints to halve their costs.
• A search feature will be added to quickly track down items in various market wards and retainers.  The market system will also see several adjustments.
• Changes will be made to monster locations, spawn rates, party battle balance, and enmity generation for attacks.
• Players will be able to change the difficulty of a guildleve after starting it.
• Required ranks and difficulties of crafting leves will be adjusted.

As for the December update, plans are in place to implement Notorious Monsters, new guildleves and faction leves, and seasonal events.  A Q&A session with the developers breaks down the details of the updates, and can be read in full at the Lodestone along with an explanation of the trial period extension.