The Graphics update was unnecessary

[Moshimoshikami]

But they should make an effort to fix the issues that are being raised so that all of this work is better appreciated and their customers are happier.

They stated in the benchmark download page that they are still working on improving the graphics.

On top of that, the Japanese forum is providing a strong, clear, respectful and organized feedback on what must be improved.
It will defenitively help the developpers to know what are the most problematic issues and how to fix them.

[Gyson]

On top of that, the Japanese forum is providing a strong, clear, respectful and organized feedback on what must be improved.

I can only speak on what I'm seeing here, and I do feel like much of the feedback currently being provided on this forum fits that description. However (and I don't know if this is the case for the Japanese forum as well) here we also have the problem of players running defense for the developers and challenging any feedback people are attempting to provide, which in just causing additional frustration and degrading the quality of communication. Nobody wants to try and express their frustrations over how their character has changed while someone else is insisting it's a non-issue.

Additionally, the lack of communication here with the developers compared to the Japanese forums has always been a frustrating reality, and it just becomes more so at times like this. It should not be surprising that the temperature here is different, and to be fair it is something Square Enix could help address by being more present here.

they look the same but one has way darker shadows

Much of the life feels gone from my character's eyes. The older hair seemed much more detailed and the two color tones blended together much better with the original art. The lip shape has changed and become larger (particularly the upper lip), and the painted on eyebrows have moved to a higher location on the forehead. The chin has been shortened. The ridge of the nose has been widened. The skin tone has changed. The quality of the lighting seems to also have taken a hit in the update as that's the same angle/location/time in both captures.

If you told me the one on the right was the low graphic settings and the one on the left was the high graphic settings in a video game, I'd say "Yes, I can clearly see that". That's the exact opposite of how a "graphical improvement" should come across.

[Moshimoshikami]

I do feel like much of the feedback currently being provided on this forum fits that description

There are very well redacted and helpful posts in the english forum as well.
But the chaos is so strong that it is hard to find them.
Too many threads and too many noise in each one of them.

I don't think the developers communicate in the JP forum though?
At least I am not aware of it...
But I agree that some official communication would be nice.

But at the end of the day, the graphics update is the focus of the dev team right now.
And thanks to the benchmark, players are finally able to provide some feedback.
So I am confident that things are going to get better soon.