Summary
Just as pre-orders forFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrailwent live in North America, the Square Enix Store experienced technical issues due to the mass user traffic. At the time of writing,Final Fantasy 14posted on social media that the storefront’s developers were aware of the issue and suggested some temporary workarounds as the investigations continued.
During a 2024 PAX East panel,Final Fantasy 14producer and director Naoki Yoshida revealed thatDawntrailwould launch in early access on June 28, with a full release on July 2. While Yoshida jokingly admitted thatDawntrailwas originally planned to launch in early access a week prior, the release ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeprompted him and Square Enix to pushDawntrailback to June 28. Yoshida also revealed the contents of the Collector’s Edition box, which included a Viper statue, a cloth world map, a leather pen case, and a blank journal. Yoshida also stated that all digital pre-orders and collector’s editions would includegoodies thatFinal Fantasy 9fans may recognize.
However, asFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrailpre-orderswent live on March 26 at Noon Eastern, some users reported that technical issues hindered the process. According to Square Enix on social media, the company received reports that users could not load the store page, and some were greeted with error codes upon attempting to log in. Users looking to purchaseDawntrailfor the Windows and Mac standalone clients must usethe Square Enix Storeto add their pre-order code to the Mog Station, which will grant them access to the expansion on June 28, as well as Azeyma’s Earrings and the Wind-up Zidane minion.
This problem was less prevalent on consoles, as the PlayStation andXbox versions ofFinal Fantasy 14utilized the respective storefronts to pre-orderDawntrail.However, some Steam users reported that the CD keys for pre-orderingDawntrailwere not properly applied to their accounts. Square Enix stated they would work with Valve to correct the issue. The company also eased the fears of players looking to purchase the physical collector’s edition ofDawntrail.Square Enix reiterated that it had plenty of inventory to go through once the storefront issues were cleared up. The physical collector’s edition and collector’s box are Square Enix Store exclusives.
Once the storefront issues clear up, it remains to be seen how long users will have to get theDawntrailphysical collector’s edition before it sells out. Between this andthe upcomingFinal Fantasy 16crossover event,only time will tell how Square Enix can keep up the hype surroundingFinal Fantasy 14.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm RebornCreate your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: HeavenswardTake your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: StormbloodJourney to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: ShadowbringersTravel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: EndwalkerA great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: DawntrailBlue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.
