FFXIV Dawntrail site quietly reveals new details on Field Operations and Arcadion

As per tradition with each expansion, Square Enix has launched the official Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail website, where all release and subsequent patch details will be posted in tandem with The Lodestone. However, there are a few new details regarding Dawntrail's Field Operations content and the Arcadion that will certainly elicit discussion among players.

FFXIV Dawntrail's new Field Operations area called Shades' Triangle

The first major detail that was quietly added on Dawntrail's website is what looks to be the official name for the expansion's new Field Operations content. A description on the 'Gameplay' page calls it Shades' Triangle and provides some very interesting lore about this hidden tropical island.

Even the most dauntless of sailors would sooner abandon ship than steer into Shades' Triangle. Be not fooled by the lush and fertile island you spy on the horizon─men and vessels alike have been lost to its allure, never to be seen again. Yes, the wisest choice is to dismiss it as mere illusion. But of course, there are inevitably those who cannot resist the call of adventure.

So essentially, it sounds like Dawntrail's new Field Operations content will take players to an area eerily reminiscent of Bermuda's Triangle, an infamous real-world locale where boats and planes have mysteriously disappeared throughout the decades. As if there wasn't enough to get excited about with the upcoming expansion.

FFXIV Dawntrail's Arcadion will be a tournament-style raid series

The new official description for The Arcadion on Dawntrail's website also gave some subtle hints as to what players can expect from this eccentrically vibrant raid series. While we're still not certain whether fights will actually take place inside Solution Nine's giant GPU tower (seen above), we now have a more concrete idea about the concept behind the raid series itself.

Here at the Arcadion, you'll find a grand spectacle unlike any other. The realm's greatest fighters pit fist against fist and magick against magick, putting their lives on the line as crowds howl and clamor, each clash more visceral than the last. Step into the arena if you dare, and either rise to become champion, or fall forever in ignominy.

So it looks like the raids will take the form of a high-stakes, futuristic tournament complete with roaring crowds where the greatest fighters from across the world of Final Fantasy XIV will go head-to-head for the "champion" title. Considering that this is set to be the most dynamic and vividly designed raid series yet, with some awesome new jobs to try out, a tournament sounds more than perfect.

Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail is set for release on July 2, while Early Access for those who pre-order the expansion will start on June 28. A special collaboration event with Mountain Dew is also underway to commemorate the new expansion.

Be sure to check out all of our latest guides and news for Final Fantasy XIV, such as the Dawntrail benchmark update bringing graphic improvements after player feedback.