Some Final Fantasy 14 fans are threatening to unsubscribe from the game due to a new dungeon gear set inspired by Spanish conquistadors. These items, set to be introduced in Final Fantasy 14 with the release of Patch 7.3 in August, are excellently crafted but have sparked dissatisfaction among many players.

Final Fantasy 14 is preparing to launch Patch 7.3, titled “The Promise of Tomorrow,” which promises to provide a dramatic conclusion to the Dawntrail story arc and set the stage for future developments in the acclaimed MMORPG.

However, the new armor set has stirred controversy. On July 17, Final Fantasy 14 updated its special site for The Promise of Tomorrow, revealing new gear previews from the Meso Terminal dungeon. Despite the quality of the gear, players expressed outrage, noting that some outfits seem heavily inspired by the Spanish conquistadors. Fans inundated the Final Fantasy 14 forums with dissatisfaction across nearly 250 pages of comments, referring to the gear as “a disappointment” and “offensive.” Some even threatened to cancel their subscriptions if these items were released.

Final Fantasy 14’s ‘Offensive’ Patch 7.3 Dungeon Gear

While creating gear influenced by 16th-century Spain may not be inherently problematic, the timing has particularly upset the player base. Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is set in Tural, an in-game continent inspired by the Americas, where the regions reflect Central and South America. The Spanish conquistadors are notorious for colonizing these areas in real life, leading many to call the introduction of gear inspired by these figures during this storyline “tone-deaf.”

Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of controversy. In 2023, FF14’s Far Northern Attire received backlash from the Saami Council for cultural insensitivity. Similarly, Final Fantasy previously released an outfit based on clothing from Korea during its occupation by Japan within the east Asian-themed Stormblood expansion, though that controversy received less attention since the transmogs were exclusive to China.

This controversy is just one among many regarding Final Fantasy 14’s glamour features. A new cash shop set inspired by Alisaie’s attire from Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers has also upset fans, as has the recent Belt-leather set launch. It remains to be seen how Final Fantasy 14 will respond to these criticisms and address player concerns.