Dawntrail Graphics Update - Eye Strain

[Wind-Krysvein]

When I contacted SE support regarding these eye strain issues a few weeks ago, they also provided this email address (their Accessibility team): contact-accessibility@eu.square-enix.com

I was hesitant to provide that email because its name implies it to be for European players only. Does anyone know if there's an American counterpart to it, as well?

Either way, yeah, people should definitely send a copy of their report to that email too.

[Ostheim89]

Sent them an email myself earlier today. Can't hurt. I emphasized a certain desire to see them publicly address this and linked to this thread, so y'know. Here's hoping.

[Wind-Krysvein]

I emphasized a certain desire to see them publicly address this and linked to this thread, so y'know. Here's hoping.

Every post, support center ticket and accessibility team email matters. They can't ignore us as long as we make ourselves heard by any means necessary.

[PinkSorrel]

Adding to this.
While I don't experience issues with most of the game, Vanguard is *HORRIBLE*. That purple hallway gives me headaches every single time. And walking through old maps and dungeons, the light-shadow contrast is indeed much, MUCH stronger than it used to be. I get it, it's pretty. But we need better options so we can customize the game for our needs.

I think i remember them removing that filter that made the game look gray? Bring it back as an option, please. Maybe that will help us Also stuff like glare/bloom, mount tilt, motion blur, etc should be toggles.

[Rekh]

I just want to say that I don't want them to revert the increased contrast, shadows, and lighting/magical effects. That's one of the things that has made Dawntrail really fun for me; it actually looks like a high end AAA game that belongs in the ps4/ps5 era as opposed to ps3 era.

What they should do is introduce OPTIONS. I know that word can be controversial for some game developers but introducing more battle effect options would be a great asset to FFXIV:

Option ideas:
1. Boss battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100
2. Party battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100
3. Others battle effects: On and Off. Opacity option 1-100

[Erinellza]

I just want to say that I don't want them to revert the increased contrast, shadows, and lighting/magical effects.

I don't want them to revert these changes either. But the options to turn off bloom/glare and wet surface effects used to exist before DT, I don't understand why they were removed. We also need an option to turn off graphics upscaling, which causes the blurring issues for many players. So yes, options are good, SE should add more instead of removing them!

[gllt]

If they let me change the default font I'd jump for joy

[GhostAlpaca]

the amount of effects used for bosses is downright insane, there should be a setting to lower it cause there is no need for giant flashes of lights and glitch effects that can trigger migraines and epilepsy. its not a mechanic its just annoying and it gets worse with each fight it seems, the content from shadowbringers compared to dawntrail is ridiculous. the final trial for dawntrail is the worst of them all and caused me and multiple party members to get sick from the glitch effects, moving floor, and flashing lights

there needs to be a setting to lower battle effects of each duty or something, cause this is unacceptable and as a player with epilepsy and migranes i shouldnt be risking my well being to enjoy and progress the game

[Zakuyia]

I'm not sure if its cause i play off ps4 or im at a distance but I'm thankful i never had this problem but i do agree vanguard a bit bright for my taste it makes it hard sometimes to see aoe and line attacks. Maybe give ur eyes a break thats about the most I can say outdide blue monitor but we've seen how disrespectful that one guy was. Take a break rub ur eyes play in well lit areas turn brightness down if not it may be ur eyes. No one in my fc mentioned this my fc is 100+ members. So yeah best of luck everyone remember no amount of gaming is worth at risk of you own health and well being.

[ThatOneDiviner]

Logged in to comment on this as well. I can't stay in Solution Nine for too long at a time because it's too bright and it hurts my eyes to look at, no matter how I change the settings. Which is a shame, because the city itself is beautiful and lively! Very vibrant, but I wish I was able to take in how vibrant it was without getting a headache after five minutes.

Also, it's not quite visual strain, but it IS tangentially related: the questionable mechanic color choices in fights are back. EX2 has some dark blue tethers set against a dark blue background with a dark blue boss taking up half the screen. I can't see them easily and with how large the boss is/how similar the color scheme is for them, it makes reading that one mech really annoying. My eyesight isn't great - I often rely on colors and being able to see and differentiate them to help me get mechs down. This is one mech I've resorted to sheeping because I can't read it with everything going on. I appreciate the fight's design, and I think with DIFFERENT visual indicators I would have an easier time reading it, but they went the direction of P3S again and I can't say I'm pleased with it.