Dawntrail graphics update is very disappointing.

[CuteBucket]

I was really looking forward to the graphics update. Now that it's here, I'm...eh...

There's some really good stuff here, like how much better the metallic, rock, and cloth textures are. When I went to Kugane at night in the rain I was STUNNED by how beautiful it was. I stopped what I was doing and just wandered around the city, looking at it in the new lighting, mesmerized. The top-down lighting on characters in certain settings looks way less janky than it used to. And the textures on new gear are really nice.

But on the other hand...

In comparison, all of the older crunchy textures look even worse as they now have to sit next to all the pretty new upgraded stuff. When you find some glam or a bit of scenery that the devs haven't upgraded yet, it's really obvious and makes the game look rather (dare I say) sloppy and unfinished in its current state. I know they plan to upgrade stuff over the course of 7.0, but this transitional period is awkward to be stuck in. And I unfortunately as a male miqo face 4 & female au ra face 3 player got royally screwed over by the character model "upgrade." My boy's eyes have this heavy shadow over the iris that makes him look half asleep at all times and my girl's lips have had their shape totally changed and her eyes have these bigger pupils that make her look dead. I don't even like to turn the camera around to look at my WoLs or gpose because they look so different now. It actually makes me sad to look at them. I don't understand why we couldn't have had some nicer lights and textures without altering my character's faces so dramatically.

[Ath192]

They need to keep upgrading the graphics 100%, but they were needed badly and the game still looks better now than before. To suggest it was better before is ignorant and asinine. I just hope they don't leave it as is and call it good.

[UNDEAD10000]

The thing about all the examples on the left is that... some people like vegemite, I guess.

While wholeheartedly agree with the poor implementation of DLSS and FSR and the lack of proper customization options for the visuals, downplaying all the work done here while being irrationally attached to rather ugly PS3 models is something I just don't understand.

Those screenshots are few good example when lighting is done correctly in cutscenes but in many of the Dawntrail cutscenes, the characters have the odd glow on them in low light condition, it's like there is someone pointing with a flashlight at the characters behind the camera all the time.
(note, i have character lighting set to 0)

They need to keep upgrading the graphics 100%, but they were needed badly and the game still looks better now than before. To suggest it was better before is ignorant and asinine. I just hope they don't leave it as is and call it good.

Graphics update was not needed, especially when it's rushed and poorly made and FFXIV devs really should have spend at least 2-3 years longer making the graphics update.

Calling people ignorant and asinine who did like Endwalker graphics more then Dawntrails graphics is not nice to say when it's nothing more then their opinion.

[Cheapshot]

The thing about all the examples on the left is that... some people like vegemite, I guess.

While wholeheartedly agree with the poor implementation of DLSS and FSR and the lack of proper customization options for the visuals, downplaying all the work done here while being irrationally attached to rather ugly PS3 models is something I just don't understand.

So a few things I disagree on. First, while the before and afters you posted show a large increase in visual clarity, they also show a marked decrease in how dramatic the lighting is. Lighting is one of the best ways to set the mood of a scene from a direction standpoint. A lot of cutscenes have suffered from new flatter lighting with less contrast. The scene at the end of ARR when Raubahn snaps and we get such intense shadows and red lighting is a good example. In the new lighting that scene is significantly less dramatic and impactful now. I think it’s important to preserve the original artistry of this game with this graphics update. Hopefully that’s something that will be worked on going forward.

Secondly, I take issue with your dismissive comment about “being irrationally attached to rather ugly PS3 models”. Besides feeling like this is a pretty rude comment on its face, there’s also a few things wrong with it.

The original models were never ugly. Ffxiv has been a beautiful game for a long time, and any gposer can show you how good those “ugly ps3 models” could look, especially with quality lighting and post processing. There’s nothing irrational about being attached to those models. They’ve been with us for 10 years afterall. It’s honestly kind of disrespectful to even describe them that way.

The other thing wrong with your statement is that the new models aren’t actually a massive upgrade in quality or complexity.
Take my character in profile for example:

You can see that from endwalker to dawntrail my face actually lost complexity and detail in a number of areas. My nose lost all its curves, my lips look even flatter and lower poly now, and my forehead now has two sharp angles when it looked curved and smooth before. This isn’t an improved model. It’s just a new model that helps them streamline their animation process by using a universal base mesh. You are simply responding to improved light quality and higher resolution skin and hair textures which change your impression of the models. The geometry of the old models would have looked exactly as good in Dawntrail, and these new models will lose nothing by being adjusted to match old facial shapes or having old facial shapes re-added as additional CC options. I would be overjoyed with either outcome.

I hope you’ll consider what I’ve said and rethink that statement going forward. Maybe there are things you hadn’t considered when you said that?

[Granyala]

I hope you’ll consider what I’ve said and rethink that statement going forward. Maybe there are things you hadn’t considered when you said that?

I still think the GFX look way better now.

Is the update perfect? Of course not.
Do I want to go back to the old system: hell no.

Was the update worth it: In my opinion: yes.

People here blare about "BUT CRAPPY MSQ!!" not realizing that these are done by entirely separate teams.
Sticking to the old visuals would NOT have made the story more engaging. You'd have gotten Wuk Lamat just the same.

[Cheapshot]

I still think the GFX look way better now.

Is the update perfect? Of course not.
Do I want to go back to the old system: hell no.

Was the update worth it: In my opinion: yes.

People here blare about "BUT CRAPPY MSQ!!" not realizing that these are done by entirely separate teams.
Sticking to the old visuals would NOT have made the story more engaging. You'd have gotten Wuk Lamat just the same.

I was pointing out very specific things about lighting in cutscenes and the detail and complexity of the new models. I said nothing about the MSQ, story, Wuk Lamat or even about the overall impression of the new graphics as a whole. Could you please go back through and re-read my post? I really feel like you just read my last statement and responded to it without reading anything else I said.

[Einnecy]

All of these examples lack proper mood lighting which is important for visual storytelling. Emet-Selch looks like he is on a green screen and looking at Miounne's neck gives the impression she has a light bulb where her brain should be.

Tweaks were needed, but this was overdone. I expect immersion out of a story game. Looking at certain scenes now feels like they prioritized screenshot value as opposed to storytelling.

[GrizzlyTank]

Should have stuck to better shades and better textures.

Then next expansion updated character models.

[Arlessa_Ezzy]

I don't mind if they take longer to update the environmental graphics, but I do mind that they scrapped everything about my character's face and many others, and have said nothing for weeks to acknowledge that they've even seen the feedback, let alone whether they'd give us those options back. The only interaction I've heard of is deleting comments, which, even though it's just a rumour from what I can tell, would be a very weird response from the one and only official avenue for giving feedback.

[SophiaDL]

This community has such low standards it's actually not even that funny anymore, with that said the fact people call this a "graphical update" is absolutely comical.

Same vibe as "Here's a desk"
*adds one snowflake to the desk*
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW THAT'S SO GOOD !!!!!"

I don't understand how people can complain about a graphical update that was announced as incomplete.

I have an idea

Dont release an incomplete graphical "update" and release an actual complete product.