Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[ElysiumDragon]

I would strongly advise people in this thread visit the aesthetician, and I say that with all sincerity. There's a small chance the devs accidentally reset people's non-Fantasia facial features like lip color, shadow, and eyebrows, and those can have a significant effect on how a face looks. I just did the same and managed to get back most of the features that defined my character, just by changing a few small things!

[VessLynn]

I really really hate it. They added puffy bags under my characters eyes (Hyur Middie Face 1) and it's bothering me so much. So much to the point I finally made a forum account cause It's genuinely ruined a lot moments in the game so far in the expansion.

[RareItems]

Loved the Graphics Update, it's definitely worth the wait! FFXIV is the best looking MMO right now beating even BDO!

[Len_]

The only thing frustrating me right now is the mindset of this forum. For an opinion thread it doesn't seem to be open for BOTH sides - For those who like the changes AND for those who dislike the changes.
All I'm seeing now is that the few people who don't take a ride on the hate train because they're actually satisfied are being called out and barked at. Very rudely at that.

There's a difference between an improvement from a technical point of view - because yes, higher poly count IS undeniably an improvement - or from an aesthetical standpoint.
While I understand that people have gotten used to their characters over the years, I cannot, for the love of me, fathom how and why so many are clinging to old graphic flaws as if their life depends on it, much less wanting them back. It's beyond me.

REAL issues are another matter, of course, like textures not having been upscaled properly. But too many are getting a crisis and an emotional breakdown over slight and subtle changes, stating they don't recognize their characters when they're looking almost exactly the same.
I'm sure if all had the DT graphics first and would have gotten the EW graphics after, they would whine all the same, just the other way around. I don't know what's at work here, but it's neither reasonable nor constructive.

I, for one, am gonna enjoy the game and be happy with the new graphics and stop looking into these threads because it's weighing me down. The only hope I have left is that the developers won't go back on any more choices they've made - because unfortunately, they already have - to appease an unhealthy over-attachment to an outdated character model display. Goodness.

I'd like to call your attention to this person who shared a positive opinion and got a decent amount of likes on his post without anyone bothering him or trying to argue with him. Did you notice how he just said how he felt about his character instead of having an emotional outburst against other people minding their own business who happen to feel differently about their characters and the update? Maybe take a hint.

My opinion on the actual Dawntrail version of my WoL:

He's better than I hoped. It's so good. I was 100% not expecting the smolder but what a pleasant surprise. I am over the moon pleased with how my WoL turned out. I started playing 2 1/2 years ago and in all that time I had never been able to see the color of his eyes, and now I can, plus his nose doesn't look like it's missing something anymore.

[LlymlaenGreene]

Yes, the noses 7.0 and 6.58 are still not pixel to pixel, but they are very similar, and I am satisfied with this result. I think we all ask for the most similar, not a copy of old things. This nose is a good proof of that. What can not be said about the nose 1.1. Look at what a striking result.
And now imagine that they will fix the lips to look similar. And so it is with every character. And this is me saying, who has all the critics messages of this update, heh. Yes, because of the slightly changed eyes and especially completely different lips, I still can't say that I'm completely satisfied, but the nose is a great improvement! :3






for comparison 1.1 benhcmark character with strange nose

[AddictedToWitches]

Made a thread about it but femhroth gear proportions seems off for a lot of sets, and headgear as well
For example, look at how the proto ultima horns look on them

[Zaniel]

I rolled the lucky dice and am absolutely 1,000% happy with how my character turned out, it's a 1:1 exact perfect replica but somehow even better looking. Not everyone got this result.

Also, there is a distinction between looking "bad" and looking "different". A lot of these characters do look amazingly good but they aren't "modern replicas" of the old character, they are actually different in various ways, be it large or small. Which is still a problem for that player.

[noumen0nn]

I really really hate it. They added puffy bags under my characters eyes (Hyur Middie Face 1) and it's bothering me so much. So much to the point I finally made a forum account cause It's genuinely ruined a lot moments in the game so far in the expansion.

I have a lot of issues with fem midlander face 1, but this is one of the worst. We look like we've been stung by wasps.

[Eien713]

I really don't want to be a hater but I don't like the new graphics. My character looked way prettier before. There's something off about her new face. She kinda looks sad/bored/tired, and her eye colors look less vibrant than before. Sometimes I feel like she's even cross-eyed in certain 3/4 angles. And don't get me started on how her face looks in the portraits. Her eyes are so dark and dull in color. I'm gutted. I wish I could have my old character back. She was perfect (T_T). I had my fears/doubts ever since I saw the showcase of the update for Elezens, and they have sadly become reality.

[Dragondancer]

This may be the first of many posts, but majorly agreeing with everyone who said Dawntrail's graphical ""update"" completely changed their characters to strangers. The environment looks great without a pixel off and yet our characters went through bad plastic surgery. My male keeper miqo'te was especially badly hit. He went from a gorgeous, active, suspicious but sweet boy to a doe-eyed dopey-looking person with an off-colored scar.

Honestly the picture says everything, but in summary:

Face 1- all the small changes end up adding up to something flattened
eyes (eyes 1) worst offender: eyes are down-turned at the corners, making them look doey instead of alert and suspicious.
Pupils also blend with irises giving a dark lifeless effect that misses the colorful shimmer of his old irises.
mouth (mouth 3) flattened, losing its expression, lip color spread too far from the lips so they lose their definition
scar over eye: WAY longer and also doesn't match his grey skin tone. It should be nose-length not down to his mouth. We're currently missing the shorter scar in CC; it's just gone.
hair (black) has no definition, looks greyish in most light and 2D. Missing the saturation and shine to it.
jaw (jaw 3) too wide and ill defined
nose (nose 3) flattened and shrunk, may also be due to wide face and puffy cheeks

His old self on the left, New DT version on the right:


My friend took the side by side images in photoshop and edited them himself and fixed a lot of these issues. If he can do that surely Square can handle it. Give my boy's personality back!

Example 1, candid screenshot from BEFORE, his lovely expression:

Example 2, candid screenshot from today in Dawntrail. Completely dopey looking, lacking life.

Example 3, photoshop fix where my friend took the DT one and rough-edited Liren's features back to more match the prior ones. It's a rough edit but my miqo'te already looks way way more like himself just from this bit of tweaking back to the way he's supposed to be. If my friend can do this, THIS CAN BE FIXED. PLEASE DO SO.


The other catboys I know have been complaining about their looks too. This is a major issue. Give us back our facial structure! That's literally the most important thing; I'm still shocked that Square could mess this up this badly. They said they didn't want to change our characters, so what is this?

I gave feedback on both the prior Benchmarks but these issues were not fixed. Please listen.