In the latest patch notes released by Square Enix for Final Fantasy XIV, players may have noticed something that might otherwise seem normal: players can now wear what they want, regardless of gender. At least for their wedding.
When Patch 5.2 drops, players can now equip any of the items on the "Eternal Bonding" outfits, regardless of their gender. This shift is huge, especially for players who want to more accurately portray themselves in game with their character avatar. And while this shift only applies to the Wedding garb, the update could open the door for more gender-neutral options for in-game characters moving forward.
Last year, Kotaku revealed via an interview with Director Naoki Yoshida that this was in the works, but it would be a gradual change over time, stating:
"We need to see more change in the values people have, and we need to consider for Final Fantasy XIV how we push forward in-game and how we represent it. That being said, we want to address this, and I think it will be gradual...For instance, for the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding, we’ve already started to make adjustments. Once we officially release this, you won’t have gender restrictions. If you both wanted to wear a dress, that’s perfectly fine. If you want to both wear the tuxedo, that would also be fine."
Final Fantasy XIV's Echoes of a Fallen Star, also known as Patch 5.2, will hit game servers later this month on February 18th, 2020.
