Was This Graphical Update Necessary?

[lushblush]

I guess I barely process graphics in that way. It's always been a non-issue for me. You'd have to point it out for me to even notice what details you're addressing. I didn't even know about the Pixel Exarch bit. And I've watched all the cutscenes.

you didn't notice exarch's ps1 body with all 7 of those illuminating pixels being heavily contrasted by his dark clothes...? if you're seriously not kidding then i'm almost jealous of this super power

[Jeeqbit]

I guess I barely process graphics in that way. It's always been a non-issue for me. You'd have to point it out for me to even notice what details you're addressing. I didn't even know about the Pixel Exarch bit. And I've watched all the cutscenes.

It's probably harder to notice if you have a smaller screen like a laptop. It's also harder to notice if you don't max your graphics and increase "Character Lighting" to 100%, because that tends to blur distant objects and reduce lighting on them.

Where it bothers me is that if I look at the walls in Old Sharlayan and Labyrinthos, pixelation is clearly visible and that's ridiculous. It's also visible on newer gear such as the Archfiend set when you zoom in. Pixelated gear is even visible on close-up shots of Clive in the latest crossover even.

The other big issue to me is really just how grainy everything looks and that will be fixed with the better anti-aliasing. You no doubt see it when you run towards lots of trees or grass. It looks like salt moving around in a jar.

I agree these things are minor overall, since obviously I still play the game, but with 1080p being the average/reasonable resolution to cover "most people" in 2024, and with 2060 being the average specs (980 Ti or some 10 series can be similar in spec), it makes sense to aim everything at the 2060. Even further because it's the first in the "RTX" series. If you're getting a gaming computer now, you would surely at minimum be wanting a 2060 or something with similar spec, so it's just logical to upgrade the game to this checkpoint.

Anyone who has a GPU below a 900 series, I'm sorry but they need to upgrade their computer. They are 9-10 year-old cards. You should be able to play to a similar effect with a 980 Ti because specs are similar to 2060 (minimum spec will be 970 though), but again we need to stress these are cards from 9-10 years ago. There's just no reason not to upgrade the graphics to 2060-level when you understand the context that even the best 10-year-old cards had specs similar to a 2060.

[Swordsman]

I think it was necessary. Even though I'm not exactly thrilled about how my char looks in the benchmark (changes to come hopefully), I think the updated environment looks great and was a much needed improvement for the game.

[xxmiamorecadenza]

I think it was necessary. Even though I'm not exactly thrilled about how my char looks in the benchmark (changes to come hopefully), I think the updated environment looks great and was a much needed improvement for the game.

I do hope they mend how your character - and a lot of other people's charries - looks. I've been seeing some... concerning screenshots. :V

[smashBG]

It doesn't lack polish at all, it's just showing its age with outdated texture resolutions and lighting. It's a testament to the strength of the art direction that the game still looks good after three console generations, but also definitely time for an upgrade.

[Ath192]

I absolutely believe so. Hope they keep improving the graphics. This is the sole reason I will continue to sub to this game and buy store items. It is finally keeping up with the times and modernizing. I was getting ready to hang up the sword and retire.

[hynaku]

FFXIV did need a graphics update very badly but one we got looks very bad. I think I'm going to have to race change because of how bad my Au Ra looks from it.

[xxmiamorecadenza]

FFXIV did need a graphics update very badly but one we got looks very bad. I think I'm going to have to race change because of how bad my Au Ra looks from it.

I'm sorry to hear that!

I can't imagine how disappointing it is to let go of the character you've stuck with you years. With any luck they'll accept feedback and mend some problems. :/

[dullneedles]

I've gotten used to my cat looking a bit different but all in all, it seems like it didn't really do much other than allow for more complicated maps (I LOVE Yak T'el) and did terrible things to the Scion's skin texture. Thancred is lookin rough in overhead lighting, man. Same with the twin's ear textures.

[Warkupo]

An interesting note about perception vs reality.

1) You aren't wrong to prefer how your character has looked for 10 years. Art is subjective, and even the slightest change to lips, eyes, etc. are going to be noticed on a face you've spent a decade acclimating and admiring.

2) Nobody complained about the graphical update or even the character updates *until* the benchmark landed; it wasn't until we got to see -our- specific character of the last 10 years with subtle differences that we began voicing our complaints. While I do think the intense hyperbole displayed on these forums is a bit overblown and disrespectful, there's nothing wrong with asking for things to be closer to our preferences if it can be done respectfully.

3) Objectively, character models *are* improved. Polygon count is significantly better meaning that there is significantly less "jagged" looking models. Rounded anatomy of the face like chins, noses, lips, cheeks, etc. etc are all a vast improvement.

4) The improvements are not purely aesthetic either; According to developer interviews, every character model is now "morphed" from a base character model, rather than being its' own separate model. This allows them to much more quickly create equipment since you are making adjustments from the one model, rather than adapting it to several different models.