FFXIV Patch 7.57 adds same-region matchmaking to Japanese data centres, changes Crucible of the Unbroken scoring and familiar preparation, and fixes several beastmaster abilities and encounter bugs. The update launched on 13 October 2026 and also introduced the framework for Crucible Rankings Season 1.
Same-region player matching launched in Japan first. European, North American and Oceanian data centres haven’t received that feature yet, although the Crucible and beastmaster fixes apply there too. Here’s what actually changed and which parts you can use now.
FFXIV Patch 7.57: what changed?
The October 13 update makes it easier to find parties on Japanese data centres, streamlines Crucible runs and fixes beastmaster problems. Crucible Rankings Season 1 began afterwards, on October 26, and requires a separate opt-in.
- Japan now matches players across logical data centres within the same physical region.
- Crucible Mode remembers your most recently used degree until logout.
- Teams of three or fewer familiars get automatic battlehorn assignments.
- Elite enemy scores rise to 800, with Sleepless Survival at 1,000.
- Beasts commanded to Stay can turn towards their target before Tempered Release or Parting Blow.
- Multiple Crucible fights, beastmaster actions and gamepad menus received fixes.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 same-region matching: Japan first
Japanese players can now use Duty Finder and Party Finder across Elemental, Gaia, Mana and Meteor, instead of being restricted to their current logical data centre. Matching stays within Japan’s physical region; it doesn’t put Japanese players into the European or North American queues.
Square Enix plans to extend this system to other regions after checking stability in Japan, but hasn’t announced their rollout dates. FFXIV Patch 7.57 also changes how Japanese players travel between logical data centres through World Visit. Market Board listings, housing and Home World-only functions keep their existing restrictions.
Our FFXIV same-region matchmaking guide explains how the expanded player pool relates to existing data centre travel and party recruitment.
Crucible remembers the selected difficulty until logout
Choose Standard, First Degree, Second Degree or Third Degree before a Crucible board, and the game keeps that selection for later attempts in the same login session. Repeating boards no longer means choosing your difficulty from scratch each time.
That setting resets when you log out. In FFXIV Patch 7.57, remembering your degree also doesn’t turn on the separate Participate in rankings option automatically. Check both controls when you’re preparing a competitive attempt.
Automatic battlehorns and safer warning prompts
When reviewing a Crucible team of three or fewer familiars, the game automatically registers them to battlehorns before entering an enemy space. You can still adjust these choices, so you aren’t locked into the automatic arrangement.
If any battlehorn remains unassigned, the confirmation prompt now defaults to No. That helps prevent accidental entry with an incomplete team. These small changes reduce setup errors without altering how familiar abilities themselves work.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 Crucible scoring changes
| Scoring action | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Elite enemy defeat | 625 | 800 |
| Sleepless Survival | 375 | 1,000 |
An elite enemy is worth 175 extra points, while Sleepless Survival gives 625 more than before. These are the new in-run scoring values, not new leaderboard ranks or automatic qualifications for the Tourmaline Golem mount.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 also set up Crucible Rankings Season 1, which began at 5:00 a.m. GMT on 26 October. To enter the rankings you must play on your Home World, choose Third Degree and check Participate in rankings. See the Crucible Rankings Season 1 guide for its rolling last-three-attempt scoring and regional reward cutoffs.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 beastmaster Stay action fix
When a beast is told to Stay, it will now turn to face the enemy before performing Tempered Release or Parting Blow. Previously, a beast that wasn’t already facing its target could fail to perform those actions, because the Stay order prevented turning.
The same update fixes Capture failing against dullahans in North Shroud, Amdapor Keep and The Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard). It also fixes Calamity sometimes failing to deal damage at a distance, and a Master’s Bestiary menu problem when players spoke to Lauda too early.
Crucible battle and controller bugs repaired
Several fixes address individual Crucible encounters. Switching familiars during Cover from Snarl no longer prevents damage from simultaneous enemy attacks. The Board Layout window should remain accessible after moving to an enemy space, and the drake piece’s Blowing Ring of Fire now shows the correct area of effect.
The patch also prevents a knockback on a great wisp summoned by an ogre piece from freezing the enemy and stopping the fight. Gamepad users get the correct default cursor position in Crucible loot and treasure windows.
Other repairs address companion chocobos attacking the wrong target, Lalafell beastmaster weapon visuals during item use, interstellar leafkin teleport effects and incorrect achievement recommendations.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 and the later Keybound Brawler launch
Keybound Brawler arrived in the Gold Saucer on October 28, two weeks after Patch 7.57. Square Enix announced it separately as part of the broader 7.5 series, so its launch date should not be confused with the October 13 patch. The typing attraction features a FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE collaboration, MGC rewards and keyboard-only play. See our Keybound Brawler guide for its unlock quest and controls.
FFXIV Patch 7.57 rankings end-date display error
Square Enix’s North American Patch 7.57 notes say Crucible Rankings Season 1 ends in late November and flag an in-game “Early December” label as incorrect. However, the European Lodestone season notice itself says early December. These official notices conflict, and neither specifies an exact closing day or hour. Watch for Square Enix’s final end-date announcement before planning your last ranked attempts.
Ranked participation pauses during preseason, then Season 2 begins. Square Enix hasn’t provided the precise transition date. Neither the next rankings season nor wider regional matching should be assigned a guessed launch day.
What EU and NA players should do after the update
European and North American players can use the updated beastmaster actions, Crucible scores and battlehorn settings now. The expanded Duty Finder and Party Finder pool is not available in those regions through this patch. It remains a Japan-only change.
For ranked Crucible runs, start on your Home World with Third Degree selected and the ranking checkbox enabled. For matchmaking, the useful next update will be Square Enix’s announcement of a rollout outside Japan, not another setting you can turn on today.
Official source: Square Enix: FFXIV Patch 7.57 notes.
