The May version update has gone live, ushering in a host of job-related adjustments, refinements to the Legion and Voidwatch battle systems, and much more!

Peruse the details before embarking on your newest adventure!

How well do you know Vana'diel? Could you find your way through the Yuhtunga Jungle blindfolded and navigate to safety using only your sense of hearing? Do you know each individual crevice and nook of the maps of Vana'diel? The Community Team has concocted a series of trials to put your knowledge of Vana'diel, as well as your riddle-solving abilities, to the test!

The Community Team will make an appearance on the Test Server and hide in special locations scattered across Vana'diel. Once the team member has made their way to the hiding spot, we will announce a hint regarding the location on both the forum and also in-game via linkshells that will be distributed. Players must then hunt down the hidden Community Team member. The first three players to find the hiding Community Team member and purchase a Red Rose from their bazaar will be awarded a Chocobo Beret!
If you believe you are a hide-and-seek master, head over to the forums to read up on the full event details!

As adventurers around the world know, FINAL FANTASY XI will celebrate its 10th Anniversary of official service in Japan on May 16th, 2012!

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, this year the annual Fan Art contest will be slightly modified to enhance the festivities! First the development and operations teams will be judging the initial round of contest entries. The entries that are selected to move on to the final round will be exhibited at VanaFest 2012 (June 23rd & 24th in Japan) where the grand prize winners will ultimately be chosen by the attendees of the event! We'll also be hosting a Fan Video contest this year to further celebrate the 10th anniversary!

We're on the hunt for FINAL FANTASY XI "10th Anniversary"-themed videos! Videos that pass the screening process conducted by the FINAL FANTASY XI development and operations teams will be displayed at VanaFest 2012!

Think back to the great times you've had in Vana'diel, including breathtaking adventures with your friends, new encounters out on the field and hard won battles against mighty foes!

Click here for details.

Word from the crow's nest is that the forthcoming version update will come swooping into Vana'diel in the middle of May!

This update will feature a host of adjustments currently in the testing phase, such as job adjustments and adjustments to weapon skills/abilities for ranged weapons, so strap on your subligar, put on your party peg leg, and shove off for festive and fruitful feats!

For a detailed description of the test server content, please visit the Testing in Progress subforums.

More details have been released for this year’s VanaFest celebration including the reveal of the special event item: it’s a full blown Moogle suit that you can wear and comes in both male and female versions. Who needs a Moogle Cap when you can wear a full Moogle head now!?

VanaFest 2012 will take place in Japan at Pacifico Yokohama from June 23-24. The schedule for both days is very similar but just different enough to make fans want to attend both days. Mog Bonanzas, Developer panels, a Distant Worlds performance from the EARTHBOUND PAPAS and more are planned for the event. Some of the events will also be streamed online, allowing for non-attendees to get a glimpse of the event.

Read on for more information about the event!

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[dev1057] Limbus Adjustments

*The following content is in development. Specific details may differ from the release version.

• New areas will be introduced.
  
  • Temenos
    • Area 1 (Name TBD)
      Entry Requirements: Metal Chip
    • Area 2 (Name TBD)
      Entry Requirements: Area 1 cleared, and key item exchanged for the corresponding entry item with the Port Jeuno NPC Sagheera.
    In addition to the above requirements, all participants must possess both the cosmo-cleanse and white card key items.
  • Apollyon
    • Area 1 (Name TBD)
      Entry Requirements: Metal Chip
    • Area 2 (Name TBD)
      Entry Requirements: Area 1 cleared, and key item exchanged for the corresponding entry item with the Port Jeuno NPC Sagheera.
    In addition to the above requirements, all participants must possess the cosmo-cleanse and either the black card or red card key items.
  
  [Test Server Settings]
  1. Battlefields may be entered without the required items.
  2. No time restrictions will be placed on battlefield reentry.
  
  *As of April 27, only the first area of Temenos and Apollyon will be accessible.
  *Items drops and treasure chests have yet to be implemented.
  *The Port Jeuno NPC Sagheera will not undergo any adjustments.
  *Certain monster ability names have yet to be finalized.

[dev1118] Legion Adjustments

• Hit points of enemies in 18-player Legion battlefields have been reduced to roughly half that of their 36-player counterparts.

• The Legion Libretto, which allows players to choose what fanfare plays during battle, has been added to battlefield antechambers.

Hear ye, hear ye, honored adventurers of Vana'diel!

It is with great pleasure that we bring you the FINAL FANTASY XI roadmap for the remainder of 2012.

Read on for the details on how your realm will evolve throughout the coming months.

[dev1116] Guild Merchant Waiting Period

• The waiting period between purchases made from guild merchant NPCs has been shortened.

[dev1118] Legion Adjustments

• Hit points of enemies in 18-player Legion battlefields have been reduced to roughly half that of their 36-player counterparts.