<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XIV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadowbringers	I-Application
is	O
the	O
third	O
expansion	O
pack	O
to	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
,	O
a	O
massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
game	I-Protocol
(	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
)	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
for	O
macOS	B-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
July	O
2	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
two	O
years	O
after	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
product	O
for	O
current	O
players	O
;	O
for	O
new	O
players	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Complete	O
Edition	O
"	O
,	O
originally	O
launched	O
with	O
Heavensward	B-Application
,	O
was	O
updated	O
to	O
include	O
all	O
available	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadowbringers	B-Application
takes	O
place	O
on	O
the	O
First	O
,	O
a	O
parallel	O
dimension	O
on	O
the	O
brink	O
of	O
collapse	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
is	O
summoned	O
to	O
rescue	O
and	O
restore	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
comrades	O
accidentally	O
trapped	O
there	O
join	O
them	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
,	O
an	O
immortal	O
villain	O
who	O
seeks	O
to	O
harness	O
the	O
First	O
's	O
apocalypse	O
to	O
restore	O
his	O
deity	O
,	O
Zodiark	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
accompanies	O
and	O
tests	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
,	O
confident	O
despite	O
their	O
meddling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadowbringers	B-Application
received	O
widespread	O
critical	O
and	O
popular	O
acclaim	O
,	O
particularly	O
for	O
its	O
writing	O
and	O
focus	O
on	O
player	O
accessibility	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
updates	O
expanded	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
,	O
added	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
and	O
premiered	O
secondary	O
storylines	O
including	O
a	O
crossover	O
written	O
by	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
that	O
features	O
characters	O
and	O
elements	O
from	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
and	O
the	O
"	O
Restoration	O
of	O
Ishgard	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
long	O
term	O
campaign	O
to	O
rebuild	O
the	O
embattled	O
nation	O
in	O
the	O
aftermath	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dragonsong	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gameplay	O
at	O
large	O
remains	O
unchanged	O
from	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
:	O
players	O
interact	O
with	O
each	O
other	O
in	O
a	O
responsive	O
persistent	B-Protocol
world	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Resources	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
,	O
were	O
rebalanced	O
for	O
ease	O
of	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gunbreaker	O
,	O
a	O
tank	O
,	O
wields	O
gunblades	O
,	O
taking	O
inspiration	O
from	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
where	O
these	O
weapons	O
first	O
appeared	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
to	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
,	O
players	O
may	O
enter	O
dungeons	O
using	O
computer-controlled	O
"	O
Trust	O
"	O
companions	O
rather	O
than	O
other	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
system	O
takes	O
inspiration	O
from	O
the	O
Gambit	O
system	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XII	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
characters	O
are	O
programmed	O
to	O
take	O
actions	O
reflecting	O
their	O
personality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Trust	O
supports	O
players	O
new	O
to	O
or	O
unfamiliar	O
with	O
online	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
eliminates	O
the	O
wait	O
for	O
matching	O
to	O
other	O
players	O
when	O
used	O
,	O
and	O
provides	O
experience	O
points	O
for	O
secondary	O
jobs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
providing	O
experience	O
points	O
,	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
quests	O
outside	O
the	O
Main	O
Scenario	O
Quest	O
now	O
scale	O
between	O
levels	O
70	O
and	O
80	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
story	O
of	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
was	O
also	O
given	O
a	O
major	O
overhaul	O
in	O
the	O
5.3	O
patch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
quests	O
and	O
objectives	O
deemed	O
to	O
be	O
unnecessary	O
have	O
been	O
removed	O
from	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
quest	O
for	O
new	O
players	O
,	O
especially	O
in	O
patch	O
content	O
for	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flight	O
became	O
unlocked	O
for	O
players	O
in	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
areas	O
after	O
completing	O
its	O
original	O
main	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
updates	O
dovetailed	O
with	O
the	O
"	O
Ishgardian	O
Restoration	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
massive	O
,	O
collaborative	O
,	O
player-run	O
public	O
works	O
project	O
to	O
rebuild	O
an	O
Ishgardian	O
residential	O
district	O
destroyed	O
in	O
the	O
Dragonsong	B-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Diadem	O
,	O
a	O
large	O
open	O
world	O
area	O
that	O
premiered	O
in	O
Heavensward	B-Application
,	O
was	O
reconfigured	O
as	O
the	O
source	O
of	O
raw	O
materials	O
for	O
reconstruction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reconstruction	O
provided	O
the	O
narrative	O
justification	O
for	O
a	O
new	O
player	O
housing	O
ward	O
,	O
the	O
Empyreum	O
,	O
added	O
in	O
the	O
following	O
expansion	O
,	O
Endwalker	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
variety	O
of	O
other	O
systems	O
also	O
received	O
updates	O
in	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blue	O
Mage	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
Limited	O
"	O
job	O
introduced	O
in	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
,	O
received	O
a	O
major	O
extension	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadowbringers	B-Application
occurs	O
on	O
the	O
First	O
,	O
a	O
parallel	O
world	O
split	O
long	O
ago	O
from	O
the	O
Source	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minfilia	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
ally	O
and	O
Oracle	O
of	O
Light	O
,	O
sacrificed	O
herself	O
to	O
halt	O
the	O
Flood	O
during	O
Heavensward	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Angkor	O
Wat	O
and	O
Mesoamerican	B-Application
civilizations	I-Application
inspired	O
Ronkan	O
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Il	O
Mheg	O
is	O
the	O
magic	O
faerie	O
land	O
—	O
pixies	B-Application
,	O
fuath	O
,	O
nu	O
mou	O
,	O
and	O
amaro	O
—	O
in	O
the	O
former	O
,	O
now-fallen	O
Kingdom	O
of	O
Voeburt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Transitioning	O
from	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
to	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Warrior	O
's	O
closest	O
allies	O
fall	O
into	O
comas	O
one	O
by	O
one	O
,	O
leaving	O
the	O
Warrior	O
isolated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
,	O
an	O
Ascian	O
leader	O
and	O
the	O
true	O
identity	O
of	O
Garlean	O
Empire	O
founder	O
Solus	O
zos	O
Galvus	O
,	O
accelerates	O
his	O
plans	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
First	O
,	O
so	O
Zodiark	O
will	O
be	O
whole	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadowbringers	B-Application
opens	O
as	O
the	O
Warrior	O
of	O
Light	O
and	O
Tataru	O
reach	O
the	O
Source	O
's	O
Crystal	O
Tower	O
,	O
hoping	O
to	O
restore	O
the	O
comatose	O
Scions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Warrior	O
meets	O
Feo	O
Ul	O
,	O
a	O
friendly	O
and	O
adventuresome	O
pixie	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Ardbert	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
Warriors	O
of	O
Darkness	O
that	O
Minfillia	O
came	O
with	O
to	O
halt	O
the	O
Flood	O
of	O
Light	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Returning	O
to	O
the	O
Crystarium	O
,	O
the	O
Scions	O
meet	O
Garlean	O
Empire	O
founder	O
Solus	O
zos	O
Galvus	O
,	O
who	O
introduces	O
himself	O
as	O
the	O
Ascian	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
reveals	O
Hydaelyn	O
's	O
and	O
Zodiark	O
's	O
origin	O
:	O
they	O
are	O
in	O
fact	O
not	O
gods	O
,	O
but	O
primals	O
,	O
created	O
by	O
his	O
people	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Echo	O
reveals	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
offered	O
Vauthry	O
's	O
father	O
a	O
deal	O
:	O
bind	O
a	O
Lightwarden	O
to	O
his	O
unborn	O
son	O
,	O
who	O
will	O
thus	O
control	O
sin	O
eaters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
stops	O
G'raha	O
,	O
ending	O
his	O
truce	O
and	O
declaring	O
the	O
Warrior	O
has	O
failed	O
his	O
test	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Scions	O
pursue	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
to	O
the	O
Tempest	O
,	O
where	O
he	O
has	O
placed	O
an	O
illusion	O
of	O
his	O
capital	O
city	O
,	O
Amaurot	O
,	O
over	O
its	O
own	O
ruins	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
tests	O
the	O
Scions	O
again	O
with	O
an	O
illusion	O
of	O
the	O
disaster	O
that	O
destroyed	O
Amaurot	O
,	O
the	O
Final	O
Days	O
,	O
but	O
remains	O
unimpressed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
battles	O
the	O
Warrior	O
under	O
his	O
true	O
name	O
,	O
Hades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Elidibus	O
vows	O
to	O
avenge	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
and	O
Lahabrea	O
by	O
using	O
"	O
the	O
Warriors	O
of	O
Light	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
Scions	O
learn	O
the	O
Towers	O
drain	O
the	O
land	O
of	O
aether	O
,	O
the	O
Warrior	O
sees	O
a	O
strange	O
female	O
apparition	O
,	O
who	O
warns	O
them	O
of	O
the	B-Application
coming	I-Application
apocalypse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Planning	O
for	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
began	O
in	O
May	O
2017	O
,	O
about	O
one	O
month	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
preceding	O
expansion	O
,	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
,	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
scriptwriting	O
retreat	O
"	O
involving	O
producer	O
and	O
director	O
Naoki	O
Yoshida	O
and	O
the	O
main	O
scenario	O
writers	O
,	O
Natsuko	O
Ishikawa	O
and	O
Banri	O
Oda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Expansions	O
for	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
are	O
designed	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
offline	O
RPGs	O
in	O
length	O
and	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Yoshida	O
,	O
the	O
theme	O
of	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
is	O
"	O
challenging	O
expectations	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Trust	O
system	O
subverts	O
the	O
expectation	O
that	O
an	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
must	O
be	O
played	O
with	O
a	O
group	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
,	O
Yoshida	O
challenged	O
players	O
to	O
compare	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
to	O
main	O
numbered	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
idea	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
Warriors	O
of	O
Darkness	O
and	O
Minfilia	O
on	O
the	O
First	O
occurred	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
connected	O
it	O
to	O
G'raha	O
Tia	O
and	O
the	O
Crystal	O
Tower	O
storyline	O
from	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
art	O
team	O
adjusted	O
color	B-Algorithm
balance	I-Algorithm
to	O
avoid	O
it	O
getting	O
washed	O
out	O
or	O
make	O
the	O
various	O
environments	O
look	O
too	O
similar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tying	O
into	O
the	O
broader	O
theme	O
,	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
challenges	O
the	O
assumption	O
that	O
the	O
history	O
written	O
by	O
the	O
victors	O
is	O
"	O
right	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
this	O
vein	O
,	O
Oda	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
Tactics	B-Application
Ogre	I-Application
:	I-Application
Let	I-Application
Us	I-Application
Cling	I-Application
Together	I-Application
to	O
create	O
a	O
more	O
complex	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
chose	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
to	O
convey	O
this	O
because	O
of	O
his	O
connection	O
to	O
the	O
Garlean	O
Empire	O
's	O
founding	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
personality	O
draws	O
influence	O
from	O
Jack	O
Sparrow	O
of	O
the	O
Pirates	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Caribbean	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oda	O
was	O
careful	O
not	O
to	O
make	O
him	O
too	O
similar	O
to	O
Ardyn	O
Izunia	O
,	O
the	O
villain	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XV	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
explains	O
his	O
history	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
humanize	O
the	O
Ascians	O
and	O
help	O
players	O
to	O
understand	O
their	O
goals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ishikawa	O
wrote	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
as	O
a	O
character	O
whose	O
actions	O
are	O
"	O
monstrous	O
"	O
,	O
yet	O
his	O
background	O
makes	O
him	O
"	O
relatable	O
on	O
some	O
level	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Trust	O
system	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
help	O
people	O
who	O
are	O
primarily	O
familiar	O
with	O
offline	O
RPGs	O
and	O
other	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
games	I-Application
to	O
practice	O
multiplayer	O
content	O
without	O
the	O
pressure	O
of	O
other	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
made	O
adjustments	O
to	O
older	O
quest	O
rewards	O
to	O
help	O
new	O
players	O
catch	O
up	O
to	O
their	O
friends	O
playing	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
more	O
quickly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Moreover	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
story	O
skip	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
level	O
boost	O
"	O
items	O
introduced	O
in	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
were	O
updated	O
to	O
allow	O
access	O
to	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
directly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
,	O
the	O
New	O
Game+	O
feature	O
and	O
streamlining	O
the	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
quest	O
line	O
together	O
improve	O
new	O
players	O
 '	O
experience	O
at	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
their	O
adventure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
new	O
playable	O
races	O
were	O
released	O
alongside	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
—	O
Viera	O
and	O
Hrothgar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Viera	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
leporine	O
race	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
name	O
from	O
Ivalice	O
video	O
games	O
and	O
the	O
Hrothgar	O
are	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
leonine	B-Algorithm
Ronso	O
from	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
X	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
were	O
initially	O
only	O
able	O
to	O
select	O
females	O
of	O
the	O
former	O
and	O
males	O
of	O
the	O
latter	O
to	O
use	O
as	O
avatars	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
other	O
genders	O
were	O
later	O
added	O
in	O
the	O
next	O
expansion	O
,	O
Endwalker	B-Application
,	O
due	O
to	O
overwhelming	O
player	O
demand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
,	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
features	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
guest	O
collaborators	O
to	O
assist	O
with	O
the	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
is	O
Yoko	O
Taro	O
,	O
who	O
wrote	O
a	O
scenario	O
based	O
on	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
for	O
this	O
game	O
's	O
large-scale	O
raids	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoko	O
's	O
producer	O
Yosuke	O
Saito	O
suggested	O
the	O
collaboration	O
near	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
this	O
series	O
of	O
raids	O
borrows	O
game	O
mechanics	O
and	O
character	O
models	O
from	O
the	O
Nier	O
games	O
as	O
well	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
contributed	O
by	O
PlatinumGames	O
,	O
the	O
developer	O
of	O
Nier	B-Application
:	I-Application
Automata	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Yoko	O
is	O
known	O
for	O
deleting	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
save	O
data	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
his	O
games	O
,	O
he	O
jokingly	O
threatened	O
to	O
delete	O
all	O
player	O
and	O
server	B-Application
data	O
for	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Nier	O
crossover	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
guest	O
collaborator	O
is	O
Tetsuya	O
Nomura	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
invited	O
to	O
contribute	O
character	O
designs	O
for	O
the	O
"	O
Eden	B-Application
"	O
raids	O
,	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
creature	O
from	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshida	O
considers	O
Nomura	O
's	O
designs	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
"	O
essence	O
"	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
and	O
desired	O
his	O
work	O
to	O
be	O
represented	O
in	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
,	O
Yasumi	O
Matsuno	O
returned	O
to	O
write	O
the	O
"	O
Save	O
the	O
Queen	O
"	O
storyline	O
,	O
a	O
continuation	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Return	O
to	O
Ivalice	O
"	O
arc	O
from	O
Stormblood	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
an	O
unused	O
idea	O
for	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Vagrant	B-Application
Story	I-Application
that	O
was	O
never	O
produced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
access	O
to	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
began	O
on	O
June	O
28	O
,	O
2019	O
for	O
people	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
the	O
full	O
release	O
on	O
July	O
2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
facilitate	O
graphical	O
enhancements	O
,	O
active	O
support	O
for	O
32-bit	O
Windows	O
operating	O
systems	O
and	O
DirectX	B-Application
9	I-Application
rendering	O
libraries	O
ended	O
with	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
early	O
access	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
Xbox	B-Protocol
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
November	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshida	O
explained	O
that	O
his	O
primary	O
requirement	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Protocol
release	O
was	O
cross	B-Operating_System
platform	I-Operating_System
interoperability	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
and	O
PC	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
delaying	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Patch	O
5.3	O
,	O
the	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
forced	O
Square	O
Enix	O
to	O
cancel	O
events	O
at	O
PAX	O
East	O
2020	O
in	O
Boston	O
,	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
rock	O
concerts	O
in	O
Tokyo	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
three	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
Fan	O
Festival	O
events	O
in	O
San	O
Diego	O
,	O
London	O
,	O
and	O
Tokyo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
,	O
Yoshida	O
reallocated	O
resources	O
to	O
facilitate	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
new	O
types	O
of	O
content	O
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
expansions	O
,	O
Square	O
Enix	O
released	O
five	O
major	O
patches	O
for	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
over	O
the	O
course	O
of	O
its	O
two-year	O
content	O
cycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
+	O
Patches	O
and	O
expansions	O
Patch	O
Title	O
Release	O
date	O
Notes	O
5.0	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
July	O
2	O
,	O
2019	O
Weekly	O
limited	O
content	O
was	O
not	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
the	O
expansion	O
's	O
launch	O
day	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
enjoy	O
the	O
story	O
at	O
their	O
own	O
pace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
Eden	B-Application
's	O
Gate	O
storyline	O
,	O
released	O
two	O
weeks	O
after	O
launch	O
,	O
Thancred	O
,	O
Urianger	O
,	O
and	O
Ryne	O
recruit	O
the	O
Warrior	O
of	O
Darkness	O
into	O
restoring	O
the	O
global	O
wasteland	O
surrounding	O
Norvrandt	O
,	O
the	O
Empty	O
,	O
using	O
the	O
powers	O
of	O
a	O
being	O
believed	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
sin	O
eater	O
named	O
"	O
Eden	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
includes	O
content	O
such	O
as	O
an	O
Ultimate	O
tier	O
battle	O
,	O
The	O
Epic	O
of	O
Alexander	O
;	O
an	O
Extreme	O
trial	O
against	O
Hades	O
;	O
Blue	O
Mage	O
updates	O
;	O
a	O
new	O
PVP	O
map	O
,	O
Onsal	O
Hakair	O
;	O
Ishgardian	O
Restoration	O
phase	O
1	O
;	O
New	O
Game+	O
;	O
and	O
Pixie	B-Application
beast	O
tribe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
5.2	O
"	O
Echoes	O
of	O
a	O
Fallen	O
Star	O
"	O
February	O
18	O
,	O
2020	O
The	O
main	O
feature	O
in	O
this	O
patch	O
is	O
Eden	B-Application
's	O
Verse	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
Warrior	O
of	O
Darkness	O
and	O
their	O
group	O
,	O
now	O
accompanied	O
by	O
Oracle	O
of	O
Darkness	O
,	O
Gaia	O
,	O
return	O
to	O
restore	O
the	O
remaining	O
elements	O
to	O
the	O
Empty	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
features	O
of	O
this	O
patch	O
include	O
a	O
revamp	O
of	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborns	I-Protocol
questline	O
,	O
flying	O
in	O
A	B-Protocol
Realm	I-Protocol
Reborn	I-Protocol
zones	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
YoRHa	O
:	O
Dark	O
Apocalypse	O
raid	O
,	O
The	O
Puppets	O
 '	O
Bunker	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
5.4	O
"	O
Futures	O
Rewritten	O
"	O
December	O
8	O
,	O
2020	O
The	O
main	O
feature	O
of	O
this	O
patch	O
is	O
Eden	B-Application
's	O
Promise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
doing	O
so	O
,	O
they	O
inadvertently	O
free	O
the	O
Ascian	O
Mitron	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
transformed	O
into	O
Eden	B-Application
following	O
his	O
defeat	O
by	O
Ardbert	O
's	O
hands	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
been	O
calling	O
out	O
to	O
Gaia	O
to	O
reawaken	O
her	O
memories	O
as	O
his	O
partner	O
Loghrif	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
features	O
include	O
the	O
final	O
phase	O
of	O
Ishgardian	O
Restoration	O
,	O
Blue	O
Mage	O
expansion	O
and	O
update	O
,	O
and	O
Save	O
the	O
Queen	O
continuation	O
with	O
the	O
Delubrum	O
Reginae	O
raid.5.5	O
"	O
Death	O
Unto	O
Dawn	O
"	O
April	O
13	O
,	O
2021This	O
patch	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
multiple	O
parts	O
,	O
sets	O
the	O
stage	O
for	O
Endwalker	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
Soken	O
was	O
in	O
charge	O
of	O
writing	O
the	O
main	O
theme	O
,	O
"	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Consequently	O
,	O
"	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
"	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
main	O
theme	O
in	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
that	O
uses	O
guitar	O
as	O
the	O
lead	O
instrument	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
songs	O
have	O
similar	O
introductory	O
phrases	O
but	O
"	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
"	O
is	O
in	O
a	O
minor	O
key	O
,	O
whereas	O
"	O
Tomorrow	O
and	O
Tomorrow	O
"	O
is	O
in	O
a	O
major	O
one	O
,	O
symbolizing	O
the	O
diverging	O
paths	O
that	O
life	O
can	O
take	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XIV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadowbringers	I-Application
Original	O
Soundtrack	O
features	O
music	O
from	O
Patch	O
4.4	O
through	O
to	O
the	O
expansion	O
,	O
totaling	O
88	O
tracks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fran	O
Soto	O
of	O
Hardcore	O
Gamer	O
praised	O
the	O
dark	O
atmosphere	O
and	O
"	O
modern	O
sound	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
lyrical	O
flourishes	O
of	O
"	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
also	O
enjoyed	O
the	O
recurring	O
motifs	O
from	O
the	O
"	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
"	O
main	O
theme	O
throughout	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2021	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
Digital	O
Fan	O
Festival	O
,	O
Soken	O
revealed	O
that	O
he	O
received	O
chemotherapy	O
for	O
cancer	O
treatment	O
throughout	O
most	O
of	O
2020	O
,	O
adding	O
that	O
the	O
cancer	O
was	O
in	O
remission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadowbringers	B-Application
was	O
the	O
highest	O
rated	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
title	O
since	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XII	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
critics	O
regarded	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
story	O
in	O
years	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
considering	O
it	O
a	O
contender	O
for	O
best	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
Metacritic	O
,	O
it	O
received	O
"	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
"	O
for	O
both	O
PC	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
versions	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
25	O
and	O
18	O
reviews	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chris	O
Carter	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
and	O
Steven	O
Messner	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
called	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
the	O
"	O
Avengers	O
:	O
Endgame	O
of	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
"	O
for	O
the	O
way	O
it	O
pays	O
off	O
storylines	O
from	O
previous	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mike	O
Williams	O
of	O
USgamer	O
observed	O
that	O
a	O
central	O
theme	O
for	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
is	O
"	O
how	O
people	O
grow	O
and	O
twist	O
in	O
times	O
of	O
great	O
despair	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Julia	O
Lee	O
of	O
Polygon	O
compared	O
Eulmore	O
to	O
the	O
class	O
divides	O
physically	O
represented	O
by	O
the	O
plates	O
in	O
Midgar	O
from	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
characters	O
of	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
,	O
particularly	O
Ardbert	O
,	O
Elidibus	O
,	O
and	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
,	O
earned	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Natalie	O
Flores	O
of	O
VG247	O
felt	O
that	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
was	O
a	O
true	O
foil	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
writing	O
for	O
his	O
character	O
was	O
a	O
high	O
water	O
mark	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Messner	O
called	O
Emet-Selch	B-Application
the	O
"	O
best	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
nemesis	O
since	O
Kefka	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Natalie	O
Flores	O
from	O
Vice	O
called	O
Elidibus	O
a	O
"	O
chilling	O
adversary	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
populism	O
incarnate	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
Chingy	O
Nea	O
from	O
Kotaku	O
lauded	O
him	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
brilliant	O
and	O
memorable	O
villains	O
in	O
the	O
entire	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
,	O
"	O
a	O
fascinating	O
character	O
with	O
a	O
compelling	O
and	O
metatextual	O
emotional	O
arc	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ricardo	O
Contreras	O
of	O
Waypoint	O
compared	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
favorably	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
player	O
experience	O
for	O
Destiny	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
region	O
of	O
Il	O
Mheg	O
was	O
commonly	O
used	O
as	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
the	O
expansion	O
's	O
diverse	O
color	O
palette	O
;	O
Lee	O
said	O
it	O
"	O
does	O
n't	O
look	O
like	O
anything	O
else	O
we	O
've	O
seen	O
in	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIV	I-Protocol
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
considered	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
to	O
be	O
the	O
culmination	O
of	O
Final	B-Protocol
Fantasy	I-Protocol
XIVs	I-Protocol
redemption	O
arc	O
,	O
from	O
its	O
disastrous	O
2010	B-Application
launch	I-Application
to	O
its	B-Protocol
rebirth	I-Protocol
to	O
now	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Johnson	O
called	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
a	O
titan	O
of	O
the	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
genre	O
that	O
"	O
towers	O
so	O
far	O
over	O
its	O
contemporary	O
rivals	O
that	O
it	O
drowns	O
them	O
in	O
its	O
shadow	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Emet-Selch	B-Application
was	O
voted	O
the	O
sixth	O
greatest	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
character	O
in	O
NHK	O
's	O
Grand	O
Poll	O
by	O
Japanese	O
fans	O
,	O
and	O
ranked	O
among	O
the	O
70	O
best	O
video	O
game	O
characters	O
of	O
the	O
2010s	O
decade	O
by	O
Polygon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2020	O
,	O
Shadowbringers	B-Application
won	O
the	O
Famitsu・Dengeki	O
Game	O
Award	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Online	B-Application
Game	I-Application
"	O
and	O
the	O
SXSW	O
Gaming	O
Award	O
for	O
"	O
Excellence	O
in	O
Multiplayer	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
