Final Fantasy XIV's Beastmasterjoins Patch 7.56 today

FINAL FANTASY XIV is due to add Beastmaster to its PC version when Patch 7.56 lands after scheduled maintenance on 8 September. Square Enix has billed Beastmaster as a new limited job, rather than another addition to the usual combat-job roster, and the update also carries the second half of the Trail to the Heavens main scenario. The game's worlds are scheduled to be offline until 11:00 BST, with Data Center Travel and selected Mog Station services unavailable around that window.

The practical change is a new companion-led progression track for subscribed players on the Windows and Steam editions. Square Enix's Patch 7.5 site identifies Beastmaster as Patch 7.56's new limited job, while the developer's Live Letter digest says players will be able to tame up to 50 types of beast and choose three to accompany them as familiars. That makes the job distinct from a conventional role with a fixed rotation and places its collection system at the centre of how it develops.

The restrictions are part of the deal. PC Gamer's coverage of Square Enix's earlier presentation described Beastmaster as a limited job in the same broad category as Blue Mage, intended for its own activities rather than standard group content. The developer has also outlined the Crucible of the Unbroken, a new Beastmaster-only duty with routes that branch between encounters. Square Enix said it plans seasonal rankings for the mode, though its first season is not scheduled to begin until two weeks after Patch 7.56.

For returning PC players, the update is therefore more than a new quest chapter to clear once. It creates a separate job with its own beasts, activities and progression ceiling, while the story update continues Dawntrail's post-launch arc. GamesRadar+ independently reported last week that Patch 7.56 would close the 7.5x series before the next expansion, Evercold. Square Enix's maintenance notice says the end time may change, so the patch should be treated as due today rather than confirmed live until the worlds reopen.