The upcoming 5.3 patch for Final Fantasy XIV will be delayed due to COVID-19.
Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency, which means that most people are working from home if they’re able to. A new post by producer/director Naoki Yoshida on the Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone page has explained that the team was able to complete the recent 5.25 patch from home by a narrow margin, as most of it was already finished. The upcoming 5.3 patch will now be delayed, as many of the teams responsible for graphical assets, QA sessions, and voice recordings are currently in regions that are lockdown.
The initial plan for the 5.3 content patch was for it to be released in mid-June, but it will now be pushed back by around two weeks to a month. The fans should also expect delays when it comes to asking for help from mods, as well as for any upcoming bug-fixes. Yoshida has assured fans that the team is in good health, and that they’re currently testing remote environments in order to continue their work on the game. Yoshida hopes that fans are healthy and happy, and that they can find some enjoyment in the world of Eorzea during these trying times.
Source: Final Fantasy Lodestone
