In a saga spanning over a month now, we have a new update on the Benchmark software for Final Fantasy 14’s newest expansion, Dawntrail, thanks to a translated letter by director and producer Naoki Yoshida.
As a recap, this Benchmark software was especially important, as it not only tested computers for compatibility for Dawntrail’s upcoming graphic update, but also provided players with first looks at their characters as rendered by the particular update. However, many players provided critical feedback about the state of the rendering and their favorite races’ updated features, which caused the FFXIV team to go back and look at various issues, including a well-outdated character creation screen.
We’ve already seen an update or two from the team about the changes, including some serious improvements, but this one makes the re-release officially imminent.
The Benchmark was aimed for a late-May re-release, but due to software instability, it was pushed back. Plus, the Square Enix building is literally closed for inspections, apparently, so the new target date is June 3.
All the graphical and rendering updates described will also apply to the main FFXIV client once Dawntrail drops, which really makes sense because the Benchmark is a test mini-client for the official release.
One of the major updates for this benchmark is the adjustment of the primary character creation screens, the classic “Aetherial Background” one that’s a giant sea of blue and stars. Now, you have the option to change lighting through the previously-unutilized “Adjust time of day” option, which allows you to see your character with strong lighting.
The developers also made major updates to the rendering of many character featuers. In prior versions, lighting was just “drawn in,” but new updates to the lighting system make it so that there’s actual mild rendering on the eyes, bringing a little bit of life back to them. Plus, lips were adjusted to look more full with their lighting as well.
There are also adjustments made to low-resolution textures, facial “wrinkles,” and ambient environmental lighting. Yoshida teases “numerous other adjustments” to come as well, and the Lodestone post itself has more sample images and changes.
If you’re still not happy about how your character turns out, it’s confirmed that a spare Fantasia will be given by way of a new quest being released in 7.0. And if you’re still not happy with that, a previous Live Letter confirmed a 60-minute grace period of gameplay time to change your character after a Fantasia use. Time to glam your hearts out.
(P.S. This catgirl will remain in hero image use until both the Benchmark and MMORPG reader morale improve.)
