Final Fantasy 14 players have been waiting for since 2019. Square Enix finally announced during their recent producer livestream that Hrothgar and Viera characters will receive full headgear support in the upcoming Patch 7.3 update.
For those unfamiliar, Hrothgar are the cat-like race while Viera represent the rabbit-eared characters in this popular online game. Both races joined Final Fantasy 14 during the Shadowbringers expansion, but their unique ear designs prevented them from wearing most hats, helmets, and other head accessories that other character races could use freely.
This limitation frustrated many players who chose these races but couldn’t enjoy the full cosmetic experience. I’ve seen countless forum discussions where players expressed disappointment about missing out on stylish headpieces and event-exclusive items.
What’s Coming in Patch 7.3
The development team confirmed that basic headgear functionality will arrive first, followed by expanded helmet support in later updates. This phased approach makes sense given the technical challenges of adapting hundreds of existing items to work around animal ears.
Beyond headgear improvements, Patch 7.3 brings substantial content additions. The update includes the concluding chapter of the Dawntrail storyline through new main scenario quests. Players can explore a fresh expert dungeon called The Meso Terminal, designed for level 100 characters.
Additional Content and Release Timeline
The patch introduces a 24-player alliance raid named San d’Oria: The Second Walk, plus a new trial boss encounter available in both normal and extreme difficulty modes. Adventure seekers will find the Pilgrim’s Traverse Deep Dungeon, while those seeking familiar challenges can tackle the Unreal version of Seiryu.
Square Enix revealed that Patch 7.3 will launch in early August, giving players roughly six weeks to prepare for this major content drop. The headgear update alone represents years of community feedback finally being addressed.
This news brings relief to the dedicated player base who stuck with their furry and fluffy characters despite cosmetic limitations. Final Fantasy 14 continues expanding across multiple platforms including PlayStation consoles, Xbox systems, Windows PC, and Mac computers, ensuring broad accessibility for this growing online community.
Related article: Square Enix Reveals Killer Inn During Summer Game Fest
