Final Fantasy 14 Devs Address Character Model Concerns with New Dawntrail Benchmark

A recently announced PC benchmark program for Final Fantasy XIV will address concerns raised by fans regarding the alterations made to character models.

With the release of Dawntrail for Final Fantasy 14 quickly approaching, fans are readying themselves to embark on a journey to a new continent and discover forgotten riches.

The visuals in Dawntrail will give the world of Final Fantasy 14 a completely different appearance due to the implementation of a graphical update. As a result, the game’s PC requirements have been upgraded, which may require longtime fans to make necessary upgrades.

In order to achieve this goal, Square Enix launched a benchmark program that provides players with a preview of how the upgrades in Dawntrail will perform on their computers. This feature also includes a character creator, allowing players to envision how their Warrior of Light would appear with the enhanced graphics.

Regrettably, the alterations to Dawntrail’s benchmark were not met with universal satisfaction as numerous individuals voiced their discontent with the variations in teeth, hair, and eyes. These were deemed as inferior to the existing 3D models.

FF14 Dawntrail update makes drastic change to character models — Square Enix

An update on the official Final Fantasy XIV website from director Naoki Yoshida has revealed that a new benchmark is scheduled for release during the week of May 23, although this date is subject to change. The update will incorporate adjustments to the character creator, with a focus on lighting, to ensure that it aligns with the visuals in Dawntrail upon its release.

We hope that these modifications will alleviate the concerns fans have regarding Dawntrail’s upgrades. After all, players put in a lot of effort to obtain visually appealing gear for their Warrior of Light, and the motivation to acquire it would decrease if the character models no longer looked as impressive as before.

Dawntrail is set to launch on July 2, with select versions offering Early Access starting on June 28. This extended period allows for ample time for the developers to address any visual issues before the official launch, potentially avoiding a repeat of the last-minute delay that impacted Endwalker in 2021.