Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[KienLowshore]

I’m very happy with the graphics update for characters, no notes! I hope they continue to do more as they implement more graphics updates in the future

[Mr_Gucky]

I really HATE!! the graphic update.

now the chars look lifeless/soulless and like bored (sorry) s*x dolls.

the male chars look like they didn't sleep for weeks and smoked weed (did you see the BIG eye bags especially at elezen and male hyuran faces?!)

no character look like before (in a bad way!!). its not about shades, etc.... the SHAPE of eyes and lips were changed!
so the chars became something you NEVER would have created...

since the update I didn't log into the game, neither renewed my abo payment...

I completely understand you.

Since the update, my playing time has been reduced by 80%. As soon as I log in and see the character screen, I no longer have any motivation.

Before the update, my female Au Ra WoL had a cool and tomboyish look. All the clothes are matched to it (Omega-M Attire , Lucian Prince's Set etc.), mounts too (SDS Fenrir, Regalia Type-G). Oh, of course she wears short hair, and only uses emotes that do her justice (so nothing cute). The face was the core element, it fitted the look perfectly. But unfortunately not anymore. Now she looks like a doll.

I used to love just spending time in the world of FFXIV, but it doesn't feel the same anymore. It's like playing someone else's character. Now I have to think about whether the game subscription is still worth it for me.

[shinjyu]

I quite disappointed about square enix, they were too hurry about graphic update and didn't know about what it will cause. it's become player's truble. even we pay same as other player, but we spent many time to feedback about face model, shadow, lighting or brightness etc. and we are not only deal with changed WoL with head glamour or glasses but also
argue with some player who have a different opinion.

this situations make let us down and give up. and this is not good for no one. the company lose the chance to accept feedback for make their game better and players lose comrade who fight together for their satisfaction.

we should know about we don't need fight each other, our upset and anger is came from unfinished graphic update. and we all know back to the old graphic is not the only option to satisfied us. we have so many discussion because we LOVE this game bottom from heart. if somebody can't understand about our feeling. then they can just pass. that's OK. we don't need someone's sympathy nor understanding. we need to see company's feedback accepting and sharing the process of adjustment. that's all. what a simple isn't it?

but company didn't say about it clearly. it's make us nervous and feel like we are ignored and left behind with WoL who got forceful plastic surgery. they should know this is not treatment for their reguler customer.

[Cheapshot]

I completely understand you.

Since the update, my playing time has been reduced by 80%. As soon as I log in and see the character screen, I no longer have any motivation.

Before the update, my female Au Ra WoL had a cool and tomboyish look. All the clothes are matched to it (Omega-M Attire , Lucian Prince's Set etc.), mounts too (SDS Fenrir, Regalia Type-G). Oh, of course she wears short hair, and only uses emotes that do her justice (so nothing cute). The face was the core element, it fitted the look perfectly. But unfortunately not anymore. Now she looks like a doll.

I used to love just spending time in the world of FFXIV, but it doesn't feel the same anymore. It's like playing someone else's character. Now I have to think about whether the game subscription is still worth it for me.

Your experience echo’s mine so closely. I didn’t play au’ra, but I think a lot of people used to choose miqo face 4 as the tomboy, less feminine option too. They changed it so much though, and needlessly I think. Completely restyling the eyelashes, or putting permanent lip gloss on weren’t necessary changes. It seems like it was their intention to make the less conventionally feminine faces look like pretty dolls with this update. I’m really frustrated by that outdated mentality. With multiple faces to choose from, why do they all have to be the same style?

I’ve also lost all motivation to play. Haven't logged in since early access and have barely touched dawntrail. I also used to just enjoy spending time in game because I felt such a connection to my character. I don’t anymore and it’s very demotivating.

[Hejligan]

I just wanted to highlight further with the use of this GIF just how profoundly different my character has become.



As you can see, her eyes have essentially been "lifted" and opened even more, despite already being quite large, giving her a really fierce stare, rather than the softer look of before, in fact I would go as far as saying that this change actutally has changed the very centrepoint of the eye itself. On top of that, it also brings them closer to the eyebrows, which makes her look angrier still. It is not easy to see in the picture but eyefolds have been reduced or hidden behind the eyelids, making her expression fiercer still.

Also note how the entire upper face has been changed, and a lot of detail has been made away with, removing some of that soft chubbiness of the cheeks that females Miqo'te tend to be known for.

Her mouth has also been significantly flattened and stretched.

For 9 years my intention with my character has been the one I created, this is not it.

I am trying to play the game but I am legimately finding it hard to continue. I say that with a very heavy heart, since I love this game. But so much of this game is interwoven with my character for me.

[Daralii]

Further complaining about eyes with an NPC example:

Why is there that much skin between her eye and the eyelash? This just from the camera looking down at her from an angle during a cutscene.

[Rueby]

Did anyone mention/notice how horrible dark skinned characters look in this graphical 'upgrade'?
Take Lyon for example




His skin has this strange sheen that looks like legit wet clay and he's got dents for abs (which were there before but this details it in a really bad way)...There's a too much detail on the collarbone area for every single character it downright looks abit gross. I don't know what's going on with dark skinned characters but Fran looks downright horrific. I'm scared to check Gaius up. I don't really have screenshot to screenshot as alot of my old shots were lost when my SSD ripped.

I honestly think the old graphics had some charm. These feel oddly flat. I hope they improve on that or do something to remedy dark skinned characters to make them look less clay/plastic like.

[azaleai]

Another thing that's been bothering me about the update is the hairs... updated resolution is nice (and much needed imo) but erm...



Why are some hairs super siny, while others are practically matte by comparison? they look as if they're using completely different shaders.

In game dev we have a thing called a 'style guide' that all artists have to adhere to to make sure all elements made by different artists look cohesive together - uniform colours and formats, tri counts and texture density. These don't look like they belong next to each other. I would say it looks like the top two are from one game and the bottom two from another, but top right has some really bizarre things going on near the plaits so the top two don't really match each other either.

I know the hairs were made at different points over the past ten years so you could expect them to look a little different, but surely with a large graphical update that would be a prime time to make them look more uniform, not less... If I had to guess, I would say it's likely the gloss/roughness or specular values are the mismatch. Which is something that a style guide should cover, or an internal review team should be putting the hairs next to each other to compare.

My hair is somewhere in the middle, it's got some shine to it in some lighting but it certainly doesn't match the first hairstyle here. But when I stand next to a friend who uses the Both Ways hairstyle (top right) it looks... pretty flat.

[Ashenfall]

Your experience echo’s mine so closely. I didn’t play au’ra, but I think a lot of people used to choose miqo face 4 as the tomboy, less feminine option too. They changed it so much though, and needlessly I think. Completely restyling the eyelashes, or putting permanent lip gloss on weren’t necessary changes. It seems like it was their intention to make the less conventionally feminine faces look like pretty dolls with this update. I’m really frustrated by that outdated mentality. With multiple faces to choose from, why do they all have to be the same style?

I’ve also lost all motivation to play. Haven't logged in since early access and have barely touched dawntrail. I also used to just enjoy spending time in game because I felt such a connection to my character. I don’t anymore and it’s very demotivating.

Ironically, I would've expected that female seeker face 1 would already be a generic cat girl kind of face. My original intention was to make my character doll-like, with big eyes and long lashes and other smaller, soft facial features. Instead, she looks like an exaggerated, uncanny wax figure with most of her delicate, feminine aspects gone. I'm guessing that wasn't the developers' intention, since female keeper face 4 seemed to have the reverse situation. Seeker Face 1 and Face 3 have similar facial features, too. I don't understand how they translated Face 1 to feel so different. Why can't they make even the most generic cat girl facial features cute and feminine?

I don't mind slight adjustments to the original features, but I don't want them to look uncanny or swollen either. I'm just now starting Shadowbringers and whenever I see her new face in cutscenes, my eyes keep straining to look at her, as if I'm manipulating myself to like it. And I guess I'm getting used to the new emotes, but I still want the old facial animations, which enhanced my character's cuteness factor.

Of course I want to keep playing for the story, but I play this game especially because I'm attached to my character. I spent hours on creating a character I liked and never used any fantasia for her face. I already tried other customization options but there really are none that would fit this character. I already invested so much into her and just want my character to be cute and pretty.

I've been seeing players in the JP forums growing frustrated and hopeless by the lack of communication from the devs. Sorry for the rant, but I'm also feeling the same and wish to be heard.

[Cheapshot]

Did anyone mention/notice how horrible dark skinned characters look in this graphical 'upgrade'?
Take Lyon for example




His skin has this strange sheen that looks like legit wet clay and he's got dents for abs (which were there before but this details it in a really bad way)...There's a too much detail on the collarbone area for every single character it downright looks abit gross. I don't know what's going on with dark skinned characters but Fran looks downright horrific. I'm scared to check Gaius up. I don't really have screenshot to screenshot as alot of my old shots were lost when my SSD ripped.

I honestly think the old graphics had some charm. These feel oddly flat. I hope they improve on that or do something to remedy dark skinned characters to make them look less clay/plastic like.

It’s because they’re using white light reflections on skin. Everyone looks either wet or waxy. A bit of white light reflection might make sense on a lip or maaaaybe the tip of a nose, but the whole body? Very odd choice. A lot of odd choices in this graphics update.