Dawntrail Graphics Update - Eye Strain

[Wind-Krysvein]

When I contacted SE support regarding these eye strain issues a few weeks ago, they also provided this email address (their Accessibility team): contact-accessibility@eu.square-enix.com

I was hesitant to provide that email because its name implies it to be for European players only. Does anyone know if there's an American counterpart to it, as well?

Either way, yeah, people should definitely send a copy of their report to that email too.

[Erinellza]

When I contacted SE support regarding these eye strain issues a few weeks ago, they also provided this email address (their Accessibility team): contact-accessibility@eu.square-enix.com

I sent a polite and detailed e-mail earlier this week. Never got a reply but I hope they read it.

[DaveFishnomer]

I've been struggling with this severely throughout Dawntrail's MSQ too. Everything is just very flashy and there's a lot of eyestrain and photosensitivity related issues this time around. I deal with migraines and seizures, and I've had to permanently leave the Battle Effect settings on "Show Limited" because of this. Viper and Pictomancer are way too intense. Several of the areas are just way too flashy and full of eye straining effects, especially the Dawntrail zones.

Many of the dungeons, especially if they have moving effects or strong bloom or visual effects, cause so much eye strain that I've had to look away or just... stop playing. I've had to run a few Dawntrail dungeons with Duty Support so that I could go at my own pace too because I have no idea when a boss battle is going to leave me unable to continue.

Has anyone had issues with the final trial to Dawntrail specifically, however? It's so bad it delayed me finishing the MSQ for a week. I couldn't complete it the first time because it left me with a severe migraine, and had to abandon the group I was in because I was afraid of it getting worse. I was eventually able to complete it thanks to some suggestions to minimalize the visual impact (playing in a window with all the brightness settings at the lowest, and using the Windows Night Light feature), and the aid of a full group giving me a danger dorito so I could avoid looking at certain screen effects. But it still left me with a pretty bad headache.

If there isn't a way to reduce the battle effects and deal with the eyestrain, I'm probably going to have to significantly reduce how much I play FFXIV or stop altogether. Which sucks, but I don't really know what else to do at this point. :\

There are ways to reduce battle effects, I dont know that will help with eyestrain, but there are ways.

[Ostheim89]

Sent them an email myself earlier today. Can't hurt. I emphasized a certain desire to see them publicly address this and linked to this thread, so y'know. Here's hoping.

[Wind-Krysvein]

I emphasized a certain desire to see them publicly address this and linked to this thread, so y'know. Here's hoping.

Every post, support center ticket and accessibility team email matters. They can't ignore us as long as we make ourselves heard by any means necessary.

[PinkSorrel]

Adding to this.
While I don't experience issues with most of the game, Vanguard is *HORRIBLE*. That purple hallway gives me headaches every single time. And walking through old maps and dungeons, the light-shadow contrast is indeed much, MUCH stronger than it used to be. I get it, it's pretty. But we need better options so we can customize the game for our needs.

I think i remember them removing that filter that made the game look gray? Bring it back as an option, please. Maybe that will help us Also stuff like glare/bloom, mount tilt, motion blur, etc should be toggles.

[Rekh]

I just want to say that I don't want them to revert the increased contrast, shadows, and lighting/magical effects. That's one of the things that has made Dawntrail really fun for me; it actually looks like a high end AAA game that belongs in the ps4/ps5 era as opposed to ps3 era.

What they should do is introduce OPTIONS. I know that word can be controversial for some game developers but introducing more battle effect options would be a great asset to FFXIV:

Option ideas:
1. Boss battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100
2. Party battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100
3. Others battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100

[Erinellza]

I just want to say that I don't want them to revert the increased contrast, shadows, and lighting/magical effects.

I don't want them to revert these changes either. But the options to turn off bloom/glare and wet surface effects used to exist before DT, I don't understand why they were removed. We also need an option to turn off graphics upscaling, which causes the blurring issues for many players. So yes, options are good, SE should add more instead of removing them!

[gllt]

If they let me change the default font I'd jump for joy

[GhostAlpaca]

the amount of effects used for bosses is downright insane, there should be a setting to lower it cause there is no need for giant flashes of lights and glitch effects that can trigger migraines and epilepsy. its not a mechanic its just annoying and it gets worse with each fight it seems, the content from shadowbringers compared to dawntrail is ridiculous. the final trial for dawntrail is the worst of them all and caused me and multiple party members to get sick from the glitch effects, moving floor, and flashing lights

there needs to be a setting to lower battle effects of each duty or something, cause this is unacceptable and as a player with epilepsy and migranes i shouldnt be risking my well being to enjoy and progress the game