FFXIV Dawntrail Graphics Update Before and After Detailed Comparison

Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail Early Access is here and the new graphics update looks amazing!

I recorded some character models, lighting, cities, landscapes and glamours before and after the Dawntrail patch so we can see the changes easier. We have some big upgrades to textures, lighting and models especially! Here are some detailed comparisons, my first impression and thoughts on the FF14 graphics update!

What do you think about the FFXIV Graphical update? Do you like your Warrior of Light's new look? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!

Subscribe for more Final Fantasy XIV content, useful guides, and other gaming shenanigans!
Second Channel: @avyclips

Join our growing FFXIV Discord community!

[buchholzphoto]

My middie Hyur looked like I hadn't slept in three days and had been crying. Puffy bags under the eyes. As long as the Fantasia has caffeine in it, I should be fine.

[CaelusHelldiver]

The graphical update made my male Xaela go from scary Yakuza boss to how my wife describes it, "Bad Boy with a soft side Daddy vibes" and she wont stop simping. It made her Raen a trillion times more adorable and protectable though so its only fair.

Its insane how much better the update made our characters look.

[natebroadus]

What surprised me is how subtle changes can make a huge difference with this update. My old Highlander was perfect, but he didn't feel right in Dawntrail and I couldn't figure out why.

I realized the old eyes I chose were just slightly smaller in the update. The result: his face looked chunkier.

I used my Fantasia, colored his eyes more of blue steel, sorted through the options and switched from #1 eyes to #6 eyes--suddenly, my boy looked like my boy again.

[bloodmoon]

This update gave me a huge glow up. I play as a dark skinned midlander, and I can attest to square giving dark complexions some love, and it really toned my muscles. I almost look hot for a middy.

[junkfolders]

Like many others, I believe that the facial adjustments still need some work. But I have faith that the team will deliver. The environmental updates were a breath of fresh air, especially the work on the shadows (no more 10 fps shadow movement)!

[Rhomagus]

I ran Copperbell Mines yesterday and it was gorgeous. After doing that dungeon I've seriously considered doing another run through the story in New Game +. The shine on the rocks, especially in the wet areas, was phenomenal.

[meriwidget]

I love how my lala looks now! The small shine added to their eyes is so nice looking.

[noOtherFs]

I loved the upgrades. I know they did say that it's gonna take them some time to upgrade literally everything and they mention some things take priority over others, but I am kinda disappointed when I found out that apparently the Exarch isn't one of that priority list considering that 1) he's an important MSQ character which they mentioned would be high in priority, 2) he has crystalline textures all over his body that would look just stunning if it matches the update the aetheryte crystals get. Heck when I checked the cutscenes with him in it, his staff actually got an update and not a single pixel on him did

[TheGameKat]

That setting switch from 100-->99 makes a surprisingly large difference! tysm

[adtsiriusstarr]

The first thing i noticed was now my avatar has eye bags.
Eye bags perhaps were already there at least since Shb/ew, but in DT more visible

[liliakasem]

I am very attached to my female midlander and honestly I was a bit sad after I logged in the first day of early access. While before the update she looked youthful but not childish, now she looks like she is 40 or smth. She has these weird shadows close to the bridge of her nose (between the corners of the eyes and the nose) and the bags under the eyes in 60% of lighting types is depressing. In tavern lighting she looks sweet though. I used the fantasia to alter her jaw and make her eyes brighter, but I don't want to change her race and face (because the other midlander faces are absolutely not my cup of tea)
The texture update is very pleasing, on the other hand

[Marinterre]

My elezen man’s face changed and some small details are off. The previously flat eyebrows have an arch now. It seems insignificant but it really alters his look and makes him look expressive. The old brows gave him a very fae and unaffected look. Overall I’m satisfied with the update but I wish we could have the old brow option.

[ofanichan]

The update completely changed my hyur... Like the character I've been playing for years is no longer the same person, and I am trying to get used to it... Cuz I wanna get through MSQ with the girl whose been doing all the work.
They changed her eyes completely, and nerfed her chin hard. I'd argue the change made her prettier, but it's still weird. (Midlander face 3 if anyone is curious)

[ShadowFennixx]

As soon i loged in It was raining in Limsa. I was like holy crap the cobble stones when it rains was freaking pleasing to see!

[AlexSuns]

Update messed up my character's face, probably gonna fanta. The environment textures /lighting/ shadow updates are really nice. However, i feel like there is something wrong with the anti aliasing. Seems to be more jagged edges than before. Also, i can't understand how some armor pieces that got texture updates have low and high res textures on the same piece of armor. it makes the low res texture part stick out like a sore thumb. looks so bad.

[Gadgadashvara]

Type "BOB ROSS????" into wrong chat. Man disappears. Pan camera to angry face...
Genius. Diamond encrusted golden morsel of comedy you gave us at 8:40ish.

[martinosmera]

I started the game about a week ago.
I log out in Ul'dan and yesterday when I log in I was like "Oh something is different... The game suddenly doesn't look so bad..." 😆 So I found your video. Thank you for comparsion. 😊

[Topher_]

I was blown away absolutely by the Aetheryte crystals. So beautiful. You can see the water like Aether flow within them now. The metallic parts of the weapons look amazing. Those flowers looked amazing.

[Dreded]

I wasn't all that excited about the graphics update from the benchmark. It looked nice, but not OMG this is a HUGE difference to me.
Then I saw a cutscene very early in DT where the sun was shining on my Au Ra through a window, and her horn was glowing from the sun shining through it. That was my "A Ha" moment for this update. That and I love how her umbral eye rings glow at night now.

[williek]

The biggest change I noticed for my mooncat was that the irises are particularly well-defined and have little lines in them. Also, her fangs are thankfully not as short as I was fearing.