Ffxiv's Zones Looks Extremely Bad and Outdated

[KizuyaKatogami]

Yeah I get that textures are bad in some places and could be optimized, that's a fair assessment. But PS2-era graphics? These people should play FFXI and see an actual PS2-era MMO.

I mean, i get this isnt a zone persay but

I swear this looks like ps2 spyro graphics right here. Its godawful.The zones really arent that far off from this either.

[SilverObi]

I swear this looks like ps2 spyro graphics right here. Its godawful.The zones really arent that far off from this either.

I won’t argue some character model textures, cause I agree on that (Raubahn’s cloak or Hien’s attire). I’d argue the worst offenders are some distant parts of ARR since let’s face it, the world was designed a theme park where you’re not meant to notice the far off background.

This is probably my age showing but I preferred the zone design from 3.0-onward for the very vastness, bleakness, and emptiness that people here are complaining about. Because that’s far more realistic whereas ARR is a theme park designed like Disneyworld to have eye candy at every corner rather than a real world.

But basically it’d be nice if folks here argued in good faith and dropped the hyperbole. Aesthetics and taste are incredibly subjective so let’s argue the objective: a lot of people feel textures could use improvement, so let’s get an optional graphic upgrade for PC (probably feasible for ps4 pro and ps5 as well).

[Tarrick]

Try hard what ? Just TP to Middle La Noscea.
But agree with you on the 2nd sentence because indeed, we were not supposed to fly here at first. But devs could have been work a bit.

Edit. No need to fly actually :

So you're making a conclusion that FFXIV zones are "outdated" based on what an out-of-bounds area that doesn't contain any landmarks or points of interest looks like? Is that really a worthwhile evaluation?

If you're going to hold this screenshot up as an example of FFXIV, then you need to find a similarly out-of-bounds area in WoW as a comparison. Development priority is placed where it will be most utilized. The area that you're showing cannot be traveled to even by flying and it's really only visible from this one section of the map that has very little interaction. Going just north or south of the town will obstruct your view with hills and trees with only some small parts of the unfinished grass beyond remaining visible. Beyond this one spot your view is completely obstructed if not flying. This example is meaningless.

The OP's statement was broad and made no such limitations about distant out-of-bounds areas or anything else. This does not prove or even support his assertion.

[KizuyaKatogami]

But basically it’d be nice if folks here argued in good faith and dropped the hyperbole. Aesthetics and taste are incredibly subjective so let’s argue the objective: a lot of people feel textures could use improvement, so let’s get an optional graphic upgrade for PC (probably feasible for ps4 pro and ps5 as well).

I mean it really should be an upgrade for ps4 as well. They’ve stated numerous times they’ve barely scratched the surface of what the ps4 can do. It’s their engine holding them back. In reality, we really shouldn’t have had to wait, what, 12 years it’s going to be? Maybe even more if they don’t add it in 7.0, all for a graphic update that will most likely be incredibly minor. They haven’t even updates the character customization once in this games lifespan. I agree that it’s necessary but i’ve lost all hope of it happening, or if it does we’ll for some reason lose out on a lot of content to make it happen.

[TroySoFab]

This has been a request from the community since 2.0. Overworld zones just don't look that good up close. Its mostly a texture issue. Still waiting for an official high resolution texture pack.

[Hyperia]

I mean it really should be an upgrade for ps4 as well. They’ve stated numerous times they’ve barely scratched the surface of what the ps4 can do. It’s their engine holding them back. In reality, we really shouldn’t have had to wait, what, 12 years it’s going to be? Maybe even more if they don’t add it in 7.0, all for a graphic update that will most likely be incredibly minor. They haven’t even updates the character customization once in this games lifespan. I agree that it’s necessary but i’ve lost all hope of it happening, or if it does we’ll for some reason lose out on a lot of content to make it happen.

If the world was not suffering from COVID-19, Japan especially, they may have been able to accelerate their graphics upgrade work somewhat. But with the way things are, I believe they are focusing on finishing the 6.x series, new DCs and use the revenue they are receiving from the new subs to do the upgrade in 7.0.

Yes, it’s a long time but a graphics overhaul is no easy task, especially for this game. They also need to have an AI that will upgrade their assets as they have so many now that it’s just not feasible for them to upgrade them by hand.

This is mostly an issue for the 1.x through 2.x assets as they did not keep the original art for those. Why? They were super focused on saving the game back then and not worrying what would happen 10 years in the future.

The upgrade is coming and will be worth it, please look forward to it.

[KizuyaKatogami]

If the world was not suffering from COVID-19, Japan especially, they may have been able to accelerate their graphics upgrade work somewhat. But with the way things are, I believe they are focusing on finishing the 6.x series, new DCs and use the revenue they are receiving from the new subs to do the upgrade in 7.0.

Yes, it’s a long time but a graphics overhaul is no easy task, especially for this game. They also need to have an AI that will upgrade their assets as they have so many now that it’s just not feasible for them to upgrade them by hand.

This is mostly an issue for the 1.x through 2.x assets as they did not keep the original art for those. Why? They were super focused on saving the game back then and not worrying what would happen 10 years in the future.

The upgrade is coming and will be worth it, please look forward to it.

Please look forward to it is what people have been hearing for the past 8 years on things that still haven’t been fixed or implemented. They hadn’t said anything about it even before covid-19, so i’m not inclined to think it was really a priority for them even then. Especially considering the missing genders backlash. It’s just weird to me how after all this time, this much growth, and this much money we haven’t seen anything put towards graphics or character overhauls. It’s sad really.

[Shougun]

Kinda ironic thing to say as a wow refugee ngl.

I disagree. There's a lot of love and care put into the zones in both WoW and ESO that simply isn't present in FFXIV.

For years, I've seen requests about making FFXIV's game world look and feel better to explore - but the bulk of relevance is always in the initial MSQ's and then entire zones are left largely irrelevant after their initial exploration.

Whereas WoW might bring you back to older zones by having a new threat show up and launch an attack that changes the landscape and ESO is constantly adding new features that retroactively apply to older zones such as archaelogy...FFXIV simply isn't particularly bold when it comes to its open world.

If anything, it has slid backwards in some regards. Remember Aleport? You can practically enter every building in many ARR settlements. You can't in latter expansion settlements as they're sealed off - which is weird, given the huge amount of role-players that the game has attracted.

Furthermore, a lot of us came over from WoW long before the recent influx. Personally I think it's great to see more players from another MMO showing up and comparing what FFXIV does well and what it does not.

Blind worship of a product rarely ends well, after all.

There are a lot of pretty zones in FFXIV, but I wanted to join that I pay attention to other MMOs and other MMOS, including WoW (and ESO) have some gorgeous areas too. With not uncommon to see cute interactivities or little extra touches because "because I can and so I did". GW2 I often hear being an example of one that didn't do half bad on giving areas some cute flare. I do like the little attentions to detail that I see more often, imo, in other mmos when it comes to action/actionable roleplay. Something I feel is one of FFXIV's weak points in comparison to many other MMOs. That isn't to say there aren't great story details or occasionally a little nod here and there, but it's pretty easy, obvious, or common at least, to see in other MMOs these npcs doing something, behaving differently, given this little extra of not... terrible importance but.. the dev thought "it would make more sense if they were doing this, or did that, or if you prayed at this shrine something would happen" just this "action" roleplay that generally I feel FFXIV just shrugs at.

It's true if you had things like graphics or hyper roleplay elements and you put them up against more core tenants like "game has good game play" "story isn't chocobo refuse" that you'd pick the later, but... "why not both" lol. Some might start pulling out the abacus and bean counting for FFXIV, but unless they're part of the internal team I think that's a terrible idea for any of us to do.

I shouldn't have to but before someone assumes too far, just because I think one element FFXIV could use improvement on or doesn't do as well as others in a similar field doesn't mean I view the whole piece that way. "If you hate it why do you pla-" No.. shhh shhh *finger on mouth* lol. Game is good, I like the game, if someone asks which MMO should I try unless they're like "hardcore sandbox mmo, give me a recommendation" I'm going to say "have you tried the critically acclaimed MMO, FFXIV?" ( ), I feel that this element is a weak point of the game though. I'm sure the most logical response is this strong approach to the macro and not so strong to the micro (tiny roleplay like details) allows them to meet their schedule easier or turn on the dime easier, but I still would love it if they could find a way to incorporate it better / more often (as they grow maybe even just make it a department lol, "the department of adding tiny details to everything- don't ruin the gameplay balance but best of luck to you guys!").

[Jin-]

Agree OP. They still look like PS3 zones with no life in them. Square can't design open world maps at all. Old FF games also have this problem imo.

Zones are 99% flat ground, no hidden routes or caves to explore. No rare treasures in the world. I would rate them worst open world zones I've seen in any mmorpg I've played. Too bad since this is one big what is missing from the game.

There is one exciting tomb in Stormblood map but it's empty and worthless

[MoofiaBossVal]

GW2 I often hear being an example of one that didn't do half bad on giving areas some cute flare.

GW2 is graphically pretty meh, and the vast majority of the zones are forgettable, but the Maguuma Jungle in the first expansion was bonkers. Most video game maps (especially MMO zones) are extremely flat, but in Maguuma it emphasized verticality. The maps were super tall jungles and caverns. You could jump from the top and spend a long time falling before you'd hit the bottom, and you'd pass through all these different layers of caves (more caves) and jungle (sadly I couldn't find a video that really conveys just how multilayered the jungle is), and at any point you could unfold your glider. It was awesome! I was incredibly disappointed that they dropped the vertical map design (the second expansion's maps are incredibly flat and boring) and I'm surprised no other games borrowed from the Maguuma Jungle.