The Recluse Report - January 2026 Part 1

From Endgame Viable

January 16, 2026

About this episode

The host shares their experiences with the Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker expansion and their ongoing media production journey.

It’s one of those days where I wake up wide awake at 4 am, mainly due to the steroids I have to take before and after chemo infusion day. On this particular morning I notice that it’s January 15 and it’s the day I usually publish a new blog post, so I better get to writing something before the sun comes up. And oops, I forgot to post this yesterday. Gaming Most of my free time this year so far has gone into playing the Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker expansion. I have no idea where all this MMORPG energy came from. I can report that FFXIV is still the best traditional MMORPG. The combat systems are perfectly balanced between casual and hardcore, and you can engage with them at any level you choose. The story is super duper anime themed but it’s mostly engaging, if lengthy. Endwalker swings between “power of friendship” nonsense and scene-chewing cartoon villainy nonsense and then goes into really interesting historical geopolitical allegories and cultural commentary. Media Production As per tradition since the start of Stormblood, I’ve been recording my journey through the Main Scenario Quest of Endwalker. Mainly this involves reading out all…

Topics covered

  • Gaming
  • Media Production

Keywords

  • Final Fantasy XIV
  • Endwalker
  • MMORPG
  • gaming
  • media production

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Final Fantasy XIV, Endwalker, FFXIV, Python

Books & works: Stormblood, Endwalker, A Realm Reborn, Heavensward

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