Yoshi-P talks FFXIV 6.2 story pacing and class rework plans

pcgamesn.com:

Final Fantasy XIV producer Yoshi-P has been discussing the FFXIV 6.2 story and the new non-linear Variant Dungeons in an interview with Famitsu. Ahead of Live Letter 72 on August 12, Yoshida also spills a few details on what players of the critically acclaimed MMORPG can expect for the remainder of the 6.x patch cycle moving beyond Buried Memory, as well as discussing the new savage raid tier delay and how that affects the release of crafted gear.

In the interview with Famitsu (page in Japanese), the game’s lead Naoki Yoshida talks extensively about the FFXIV 6.2 patch MSQ, the Abyssos raid series, upcoming class rework plans, and how the team has adopted feedback from players for the visual design of future content. First and foremost is the pacing of the entire 6.x expansion arc – which Yoshida says will take longer to transition into the events of the next expansion than normal.

“It’s a bit different this time,” he remarks (via aitaikimochi) of the usual pacing – which normally sees the events of the current expansion coming to a close by the x.3 patch, leaving x.4 and x.5 to set up future storylines. “The story is currently focusing on the ‘newfound adventure,’ but I think patch 6.5 is where you’ll see a glimmer of the next expansion’s story.” Yoshida notes that the team is “developing 7.0 at the same time, and it’s been pretty challenging.”

Addressing the 6.2 title ‘Buried Memory’ (also called ‘A Forbidden Memory’ in Japanese), Yoshida discusses the setting of the Thirteenth Shard, the Void, saying that the title could refer to “memories and feelings of those from the Thirteenth that became monsters, who were once human.” However, he notes that it also relates to the Pandaemonium: Abyssos raid series, and the idea