FFXIV To Get New Graphical Update In Dawntrail Expansion

If you've logged into Final Fantasy XIV in the last year or so, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the MMORPG is starting to look a little dated. Given that the majority of the game's graphics are over a decade old, it's no surprise. Even the game's engine has remained pretty much the same since its release in 2010, so we're long overdue an overhaul.

Thankfully, some big changes are coming in FFXIV's next expansion, Dawntrail, set to release in Summer this year. Director Naoki Yoshida, and the wider FFXIV team, have been steadily unveiling upcoming improvements at recent Fan Fests.

At Fan Fest Tokyo 2024, the team gave fans a quick glimpse at some of the new updates coming to character models with darker skin tones. Fans had often voiced complaints over the game's ineffective rendering when it came to darker skin tones, that certain features weren't the most detailed, especially in low lighting, compared to other tones. 

"With dark skin, previously we only had the ability to change the color of your skin, but now we have this improved shine and depth. So that even if your character is in a dark environment, you will still be able to see all the features of your skin,"  said Yoshida, speaking at Fan Fest Tokyo 2024. 

Character models won't be the only area getting an upgrade. In Dawntrail, the wider world will start to look a little more vibrant, with improved lighting and shadows. There will be some immediate improvements with the launch of Dawntrail, and newer areas will likely look better than old ones at first. However, Yoshida has confirmed that many of these updates will be added over the course of the Patch 7.0 timeline, with areas getting their respective upgrades over time. 

Wondering what else is coming in Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail? Check out our guides to the two new DPS Jobs, and the new playable female Hrothgar race.