Square Enix continues to fine-tune Final Fantasy XIV twelve years after its A Realm Reborn reboot. Patch 7.31, dubbed The Promise of Tomorrow, quietly updates Palace of the Dead—a legacy roguelike dungeon from 2016—making the notoriously slow Aetherpool grind much smoother.
The patch notes reveal that opening a silver coffer now guarantees at least five Aetherpool upgrade levels instead of one, and defeating a boss nets a minimum of ten. That means a typical 10-floor run can now reward players with 20–30 levels, a far more generous pace than what’s existed for nearly a decade, and long overdue.
This isn’t just a convenience patch—it’s a subtle nod to accessibility. Players who once skipped Palace of the Dead due to its tedious progress can now experience its iconic glow-worthy rewards without massive time investment. And given that producer Naoki Yoshida previously signaled a turn toward flexible difficulty and streamlined content, this feels less like a one-off and more like the start of a broader player-first philosophy.
The patch arrives amid a storm of updates. Patch 7.3 —which includes expanded headgear support for Hrothgar and Viera, a new raid, and revamped story content—launches August 5, marking a fresh push to rebuild trust after mixed Dawntrail reception.
For now, though? It pays to step into Palace of the Dead again—progress will move under much kinder lighting. Meanwhile, Square Enix celebrated Final Fantasy XIV‘s 12th anniversary last week with a message from Mr. Producer himself, Naoki Yoshida. You’ll find that below.
