Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is set to get a host of new features when its first expansion, Heavensward, launches next spring.

Loading

Loading

At today's Fanfest in London, game director and producer Naoki Yoshida took to the stage to build on the initial news out of Las Vegas last week to confirm flying mounts will be coming to the popular MMO, along with a new tanking Dark Knight job.With regards to flying mounts, Yoshida explained the first such beast we were likely to get our hands on will be the Black Chocobo but eventually we'll be able to get our very own personal airship built by Cid. Taking off and landing will be permitted in any of the zones added to the game in Heavensward, and new areas will incorporate flying islands and rocks to encourage exploration. As for whether you'll discover treasure, rare monsters or something else entirely on these platforms, we were told to wait and see.As for how many flying mounts we should expect when the expansion launches, six are currently in development but there were strong hints more are lined up. One in particular was described as being very cool and set to play a key role in the story. As a result, the team are working on creating a physical figure of this unnamed beastie to include in the Collector's Edition. While we won't be able to fly in old zones, at least not initially, Yoshida did say mount speed would be boosted, so we'll still be able to get around faster.Elsewhere in the presentation, it was announced a new job is coming with the launch of Heavensward in the form of the Dark Knight job. Using a combination of massive greatswords and the power of darkness, it's set to focus on tanking. For the first time too, this job won't need any base classes. According to Yoshida, you simply purchase Heavensward and you'll almost certainly have access to the job, implying nothing more than a level restriction. Another new job will also be coming in the expansion, but we're not finding out about that until the Tokyo Fanfest in December. All that was hinted at was Yoshida stripping down to reveal a 007 T-shirt, and some lingering references to the word "gun"... make of that what you will.Other news includes the fact EU Data Centres are being planned to reduce latency for those outside the US, though there's no ETA right now. Yoshida also addressed concerns many have about the decision to introduce a new cash shop while retaining the subscription fee. While he understands people's concerns, he promised there will be no pay-to-win aspects. Though some new minions and vanity items may only be available for real cash, he promised plenty more new minions and mounts would be created and added that you can obtain simply by playing as we do today. The aim, he argues, is to raise more funds to create more vanity items and minions to be obtained without real-world cash and for them to expand the number of housing servers.The final new information we got about Heavensward regards the two new beast tribes: the Vanu Vanu and the Gnath. The first look sort of like upright badgers, with one of their concept art images showing what looks oddly like Aetheryte. It's not clear whether they're set to be friend or foe at this stage, but they worship Bismarck at their Primal. He's massive, with white feathers and wings, while a plated-head looks reminiscent of a triceratops with an extended jaw full of teeth. Apparently we'll be fighting him in the skies, with mention made of an airship.The Gnath meanwhile are bipedal creatuers with feet that looked like a gazelles.They wore ragged cloaks with conical asian hats. Most excitingly, however, is the fact that their Primal is a new original one created for Final Fantasy XIV. Called Ravana, he's a four-armed swordsman and looks like the king of the insects.Additional features are coming to Final Fantasy XIV via the imminent patch 2.4 Dreams of Ice, including new jobs and dungeons

Luke Karmali is IGN UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter