The time has come for iPad Pro to get FFXIV

[Defmetal]

Now that the iPad Pro is running on an m1 processor/gpu, which is exactly the same as FFXIV on mac, and the mac client already is already translated to work on the M1 OS, its time to do a little extra work and make the portable version of the game. The game plays at 40-60 FPS on a Macbook Air on high settings, and the iPad pro has the -exact- same specs, and supports Xbox Controllers and Bluetooth keyboards. So a mobile FFXIV App that runs at 60 FPS at 1080p seems like a no brainer. Especially when the work has already been done.

(what they really should do is make a native App Store app, not a x86 port, and then it will run at 100 fps on the mac and iPad... square enix already has a ton of ios developers)
Benefits:
Instant on
5G Network Connectivity
Updates to iPad also update Mac OS client
more players than xbox
Great for travel (iPad easy to carry, add xbox controller to bag, done)
Plays better than most peoples laptops for the price

[Sotaris]

While I agree Mac client needs some well deserved love.

But 5G isn't going to be available for the masses for many years, at least not in Europe which I base my comment on.

So I would say, If you want a portable version is just get a "real" laptop in that case, especially when you're spending that kind of money.

[Defmetal]

a real laptop of $600 wont play FFXIV for crap. The iPad with an m1 is just as powerful as a mac with an m1 and that already plays at 1080p at 60 fps. Which its not an Alienware or a rtx 3080, its super convenient. Plus wifi 6, spatial audio, dolby atmos/vision, its a good device in that price range. Making it for iPad automatically makes it compatible with mac, so a native iPad app fixes the trashy mac app. (The current Mac App is using an emulated Windows x86, which is then further emulated to Mac OS x86-64 on Mac ARM, and STILL hits 60 fps, which means a native app would likely be exponentially better). So again, an iPad with a magic keyboard and an xbox controller make fantastic portable gaming machines for FFXIV, and they could even use Touch ID / Face ID to auto-login without using the authenticators.

[MiniTofu]

You don't really need a fast 5G - maybe for good ping but when the game is running. It is only using about few KBs send and receive. 4G is enough and you can always switch to wifi when available that is still better choice.



While iPad runs on the same M1, but the issue is the iOS vs Mac OS. It will need emulation to run FFXIV on iOS.

[Sotaris]

snip

I was refering to Macbook Air/Pro M1s. Since I thought the subject was about Mac version?

[Defmetal]

They already have emulation to get it to run on mac os. The Mac OS is running ios apps natively already, it actually emulates x86 now (On M1 macs). Since it uses the same hardware and same ecosystem the work to make an iPad app has been reduced dramatically since the new versions. Even last year it would have been a challenge. Now that hardware and software share the same ecosystem its like developing an app for windows 10 and xbox. Very similar, not identical but close enough. Square also has a lot of mobile dev experience so its not a stretch to make it work.
It would bring in more players than an xbox client.

[MiniTofu]

Interesting, surely hope it won't be another (platform copy) you have to buy to run it.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

How much space does the iPad pro have?

Do ios apps have a size limit?

Remember, the game is close to 70 gigs at this point.

[Defmetal]

2 TB, 16 gb ram (max configuration). 1600 nits HDR brightness too (on the new one).
iOS apps do not have a size limit. Genshin Impact for example takes up several gig, and the app downloads additional files once you open it. In this regard its likely the FFXIV app would be just the launcher and then download the entire game from the login screen as it does on PC and Mac.

[Sotaris]

How much space does the iPad pro have?

Do ios apps have a size limit?

Remember, the game is close to 70 gigs at this point.

Available in these.

128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
8 GB memory on 128-512 Gb model and 16Gb on 1, 2 TB

So currently a top-of-line model would be roughly €2800