Final Fantasy XVI Expansion “The Rising Tide” Launches April 18 With New Story, Leviathan Summon, and New Game+ Mode

Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XVI’s long-anticipated second major expansion, “The Rising Tide,” will launch on April 18, adding new story content, the long-missing Leviathan Eikon, and an enhanced New Game+ mode called Kairos Gate.

“The Rising Tide” picks up right where the first expansion, “Echoes of the Fallen,” left off, continuing the journey of protagonist Clive Rosfield as he uncovers deeper secrets behind the world of Valisthea. Players will explore the new hidden region of Mysidia, a lush, water-drenched zone teeming with lost magicks and forgotten civilizations. At the center of the expansion looms one of the most requested Absents in the base game—Leviathan, the Serpent Eikon.

Leviathan’s arrival isn’t just cosmetic. Square Enix confirmed that a full Eikon battle awaits players, with Clive harnessing Leviathan’s water-based powers through stunning new abilities. The battle is being teased as one of the most intense cinematic clashes in the game so far, on par with Ifrit vs. Titan and Bahamut’s airborne showdown.

In addition to new story missions and Eikon abilities, “The Rising Tide” introduces Kairos Gate—a fresh endgame challenge mode uniquely tied to New Game+ progression. Inspired by action-RPG boss horde modes, Kairos Gate pits Clive against waves of increasingly difficult foes in a time-limited gauntlet, offering rare crafting materials and unique armor sets as rewards. This mode is Square Enix’s answer to fans’ calls for more robust post-story content.

“The Rising Tide” will be available individually and as part of the Final Fantasy XVI Expansion Pass. Players eager for a return trip to Valisthea can also preload the update beginning April 16.

With just over a week until release, fans are already dissecting teasers and lore hints posted on the official website, speculating about Leviathan’s origins and how it may reframe key events in Valisthea’s lore. Whether you’re in it for the new Eikon powers, the deeper dive into Clive’s journey, or high-stakes combat, “The Rising Tide” is shaping up to be the biggest evolution of FFXVI yet.