We still can't quite believe we're living in a world where Final Fantasy XIV Online is available on Xbox, but we are! Better yet, it's just introduced a brand-new expansion, alongside a hefty update for the main game on Series X and S.
Let's start with the expansion first, because that's where things perhaps aren't quite so positive. FFXIV: Dawntrail currently has a "Mixed" rating on Steam based on just over 1000 ratings, with some praising it as being a great new addition to the game, and others feeling disappointed with the story and the writing in particular.
Here are a couple of contrasting reviews:
Zexyen on Steam: Having just come off the final Dungeon & Trial for Dawntrail, I've come off of this feeling satisfied. Yes the Quest Design still has the typical FFXIV nonsense of - go here, talk to some, deliver that; But the lower stakes & new world gives you a lot to explore and enjoy. The new Content In terms of Dungeons & Trials were fantastic all around, and I can't wait to try out the newer stuff with the mechanics introduced here."
Blue on Steam: "It's a very unusual experience for me to come away from an FFXIV expansion launch impressed by everything except the one thing I expected to be impressed by. If you don't care about the story, then I can wholeheartedly recommend this expansion. However, if the story is the primary draw for you, then you can probably sit this one out."
Regardless of whether you opt to purchase Dawntrail or not, you'll be glad to know that Final Fantasy XIV has received a massive update on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which amongst other things, adds 120FPS support.
Yes, this is now the "maximum frame rate" for the game on these systems, although Square Enix warns that it probably won't be a consistent 120FPS - so those with VRR-enabled displays will likely benefit the most. The game has also received a graphical update as part of Patch 7.0, improving all kinds of visuals from character models to shadows, so FFXIV now looks better than ever across the two Xbox consoles.
If you're interested, you can check out the full patch notes on the Square Enix website, and don't forget that Final Fantasy XIV has a totally free trial on the Xbox Store - so if you haven't played it yet, you can download it right now!