Dawntrailis just on the horizon, and there’s anotherFinal Fantasy XIVLive Letter broadcast from director and producer Naoki Yoshida and his team to celebrate. While it heavily focused on the upcomingDawntrailgraphical update,there were other features and teases snuck in throughout, so to recap it all, we’ve got anotherFFXIVLive Letter summary below.
Although the Live Letter wasn’t broadcast in English, we have reliable translations on finer details to summarize thanks to the efforts of Minori and Miuna over on theFFXIVSubredditDiscord server.The community there notes these are not officially endorsed translations, and of course, there may be some interpretations not entirely clear.
FFXIVDawntrailBenchmark trailer and client
In a not-unexpected turn of events, theBenchmark for 7.0was announced at the very opening, and the trailer revealed many new and exciting things, including some never-before-seen Job Actions.
The Benchmark will be released within 24 hours from the time of writing on April 14. If you’re unsure whether your current set-up will be able to runDawntrail, this is the perfect opportunity to test, and Yoshida urged players to do so as soon as possible.
Update as of April 14: The Final Fantasy XIV DawntrailBenchmark is now live, and you can check out ourexplainer on the test appalong withFFXIV’s updated system requirements.
Dawntrailbrings DLSS, FSR inFFXIVgraphics update
The first half of the LLP (Live Letter from the Producers) focused solely on specific aspects of the long-awaited Graphical Update, with live in-game comparisons between 6.58 and 7.0. Yoshida showed off current locations and even a few that had never been seen in-game before, exploring with the graphical update in (mostly) full effect for the first time.
Everything newly added in 7.0 will benefit from the newly updated graphics, while some older items may have to wait their turn to get their glow-up. Version 6.0 Job gear will be the first in line for their makeover, which launches in Patch 7.1, except for Paladin. Paladin Job gear has been used a lot for testing, so this gear will be fully updated with the release of Version 7.0,Dawntrail.
Sneak peeks of Tuliyolal, including lighting and texture updates
Much to the development team’s discomfort, Yoshida insisted on showing off some of Tulliyolal in its vibrant, well-textured glory. This included a large number of objects we’ve never seen before and the area’s aetherytes, as well as lighting differences between night and day.
During this demonstration, eager viewers caught sight of a tower in the distance which Yoshida admitted was a ‘place you can get to if you try really hard’ before eluding to the fact that it may or may not be a jumping puzzle.
Yoshida also referred to the grapes, explaining, yet again, that there will be no more low-poly grapes. We also caught a glimpse of a small part of Solution 9, though Yoshida refused to turn the camera, citing his fear that the ‘scenario team will be very mad’.
FFXIVBlacklist improvements planned forDawntrail
Finally, after ages of begging, theFFXIVblacklist is no longer just a glorified mute button. The team is taking steps to add enhanced functionality with Dawntrail that provides plenty of filters for blocking or muting, and using those functions in places like yourFFXIVhousing/FC estate, the Lodestone, or just generally in-game.
Enhanced Lodestone privacy settings
Yo-kai WatchxFFXIVcollaboration event returns on April 24
The Yo-Kai Watch collaboration is on its way back, so get those Blue Mages ready for some FATE farming. Beginning on April 24, players have another chance to get their hands on all of the rewards associated with the previousYo-kai Watchcrossover and one very special new addition with a Framer’s Kit reward.
Full schedule forFFXIVin the run up toDawntrail
Between now and the release ofDawntrail, there’s a lot to look forward to, including two collaboration events (Yo-kai WatchandDragon Quest), the second half of Moogle Treasure Trove: The Hunt for Genesis, two more Live Letters from the Producers and a media tour.
That’s a lot to fit in, and we encourage you to check out Destructoid’s frequently updated list ofcurrent and previousFFXIVseasonal eventsscheduled in the lead-up toDawntrail. However, if you’re just looking for the new stuff, here’s a brief rundown of what Yoshi-P revealed in this recent stream:
Remember, if you want to participate in theDawntrailEarly Access, you’ll need topre-order theFFXIVexpansionand redeem the promotional code. Every version ofDawntrail, either physical or digital, grants you access.
SomeFinal Fantasy XIVstatistics to leave you with
Finally, in a touching moment, it was revealed whatFinal Fantasy XIVmeans to its players, by way of a touching word cloud:
