FFXIV's Server and Graphics Upgrades Makes the Decade-Old MMORPG Feel Endless

Two and a half years after the prior Final Fantasy 14 expansion wrapped up a massive, decade-long story arc, the more casual Dawntrail is finally out to the masses, and players have wasted no time in traveling to Tural for the next adventure. 

The Main Scenario Quests and new content have given people a lot to say—and a full review of that and this patch is forthcoming (and I know there’s going to be a lot to talk about). However, regardless of how one feels about it, I’m optimistic about the game’s quality of life so far, as both the graphical update and the server stability have held up beautifully throughout Early Access and the first days of the official launch. 

During the Endwalker FanFest in 2021, the team announced its plans to create some longevity for FFXIV, with a goal of lasting at least the next ten years. The first major part of the plan was scaling down the numbers affiliated with combat, such as XP and HP, and this was implemented during the 6.0 patch for Endwalker. Making a game last that long means a lot of changes had to happen, though, and the 7.0 patch is the biggest jump so far. 

Stunning visual changes 

The graphics update is more than a start, even if it requires some updates from players. In all fairness, FFXIV hasn’t been shy in the past of growing out of its own requirements; for Stormblood’s launch, the game departed from its Playstation 3 compatibility as its maps and other requirements grew. 

These new graphics aren’t incredibly perfect; I mentioned previously from the media tour build that it suffers from classic edge-of-object blockiness that plagues older video games in general. However, now that we’ve seen the final update in action, we’re learning about the true power of good lighting, which feels like that cinematic trick where everything looks natural despite being obviously set up by a rig, enhancing things while not coming off as too harsh. 

More than that, the shine on objects and characters is much more refined. I’ve been