Graphics Update Discussion

[Tiramu]

I'm not looking forward to it only because I might have to buy the game and expansions on my PS5 because my PC just isn't up to snuff. I will wait and see though. If a GTX 1070 and i5-4670k can still do higher than 30 fps, then I'll be happy.

Similar situation here. Despite my laptop exceeding minimum specs (at around recommended), it struggles with some content, Rabanastre can be barely playable.

So, I hope it doesnt push it up too much, or we can tone stuff down. Its mainly the OTT particle effects and shadow casting in some areas that can cause problems for me.

I'm playing on a 2020 Macbook, so its not like its an old or bottom market laptop either.

[Shougun]

Similar situation here. Despite my laptop exceeding minimum specs (at around recommended), it struggles with some content, Rabanastre can be barely playable.

So, I hope it doesnt push it up too much, or we can tone stuff down. Its mainly the OTT particle effects and shadow casting in some areas that can cause problems for me.

I'm playing on a 2020 Macbook, so its not like its an old or bottom market laptop either.

Lol, I'm sorry but since you mentioned Mac book gaming I have to ask if you've seen the viva la dirt league videos...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IYv3-HfRNcA

Graphic warning (blood/violence):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0M_UEXvJu5U
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GCrfWmaBy6k


Being more serious though, hopefully there will be good scaling options for everyone . I remember playing FFXI on a laptop (PC) way way way back, it was like 5 fps... Good times haha.

[reginleif-]

The one that really blew my mind is the shot of Sharlayan during foggy weather. My issue with what they've shown so far is that it can be sorta hard to tell what's changed. What I really want to see at JP fanfest is some just raw gameplay of someone running around a zone in the current graphics and the exact same video with the upgraded graphics. Or better yet, show a pre graphics update trial and that same trial post graphics update.

That fog screenshot was really beautiful. If anyone would like to look or refresh their memories: Updated Fog in Sharlayan from EU Fan Fest

Same wishes to see the new environments live, especially in the underlit areas like Ultima Thule, overlit ones like Mt. Gulg, and lush green ones like Island Sanctuary. Please show the extreme cases of environments where the lighting update is welcome for the eye ease: little light, a lot of light, a lot of a single bright color.

[CidHeiral]

The more I see about it the more excited I get. I was fully expecting them to just run the textures through an upscaler and call it a day but all the ones they've shown so far have been completely remade which is insane.

The thing I'm looking forward to the most however is the added object density in zones. The forest actually looks like a forest now and not three trees and a shrub. I can't wait to see how they update the older zones and cities!

[Denji]

The more I see about it the more excited I get. I was fully expecting them to just run the textures through an upscaler and call it a day but all the ones they've shown so far have been completely remade which is insane.

The thing I'm looking forward to the most however is the added object density in zones. The forest actually looks like a forest now and not three trees and a shrub. I can't wait to see how they update the older zones and cities!

not to put a damper on things but they'll probably be just the 1.0 cities now that we have machine strong enough to display them in their proper glory instead of the sad versions we have now.
for those unaware: in 1.0 (before ARR) things like flower pots had similar amounts of polygons as player characters and would cause even the best computers to grind to a halt.

that aurum vale update we got? they basically just used a bunch of 1.0 assets to make it closer to the original version (which iirc was actually directly attached to dezamel darkhold?)

[Iscah]

that aurum vale update we got? they basically just used a bunch of 1.0 assets to make it closer to the original version (which iirc was actually directly attached to dezamel darkhold?)

Were Aurum Vale and Dzemael both on the same map, or was Dzemael much bigger previously? I previously noticed that there seem to be more locations sketched out on the dungeon map some distance from the parts that you visit.

[Denji]

Were Aurum Vale and Dzemael both on the same map, or was Dzemael much bigger previously? I previously noticed that there seem to be more locations sketched out on the dungeon map some distance from the parts that you visit.

It's been a very, very long time but I think they were both one single dungeon if I recall correctly.
Also thousand maws was an end-game dungeon.

...

It was weird.

[DiaDeem]

It's been a very, very long time but I think they were both one single dungeon if I recall correctly.

No, AV and DD were never the same dungeon.

As for the graphical update itself, I'm just gonna quote myself:

One of my main complaints about XIV's graphics, besides lighting has always been the awful implementation of FXAA as the sole solution for antialiasing in the game, and after watching the Keynote from EU, I'm a bit concerned.

FXAA is an (ancient) post processing solution that's just not very good at handling jaggies. You know how stairs look all jagged and flickery? That's FXAA unable to properly treat the image:




This image is from the EU Fanfest keynote:


And if you take a look to the right:


The steps are a jagged mess, and so are the tracks and boards on the platform on the right side of the image. This isn't game breaking, but it's the kind of thing that once you see, you can't unsee. This is also just not enough for what's being sold to us as a major graphics update that's supposed to last for another ten years at the minimum. FXAA is 14 years old at this point time, and it's just good enough for modern games.

What we need:
- More options for native resolutions such as MSAA and TAA
- Implementation of FSR, DLSS and XeSS

Though FSR, DLSS and XeSS are meant as upscalers, their AA treatment is just vastly superior to FXAA, not to mention these upscalers are just good to have to play on higher resolutions while keeping performance.

I'm very excited for the graphical update, but the current state of AA shown in it so far is just very lacking, and I hope something can be done about it in time for release.

[SargeTheSeagull]

The one that really blew my mind is the shot of Sharlayan during foggy weather. My issue with what they've shown so far is that it can be sorta hard to tell what's changed. What I really want to see at JP fanfest is some just raw gameplay of someone running around a zone in the current graphics and the exact same video with the upgraded graphics. Or better yet, show a pre graphics update trial and that same trial post graphics update.

[PEANUT]

I would really enjoy that as well!!!