Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail pre-orders beset with issues

Square Enix has released the official benchmark tool for Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail. The benchmark tool allows Final Fantasy 14 players to see how well their computers can handle the visuals of the upcoming Dawntrail expansion, and even recommends the ideal settings for stable frame rates.

Final Fantasy 14 is getting a graphical overhaul with the release of Dawntrail, but some fans aren't happy with what they're seeing so far. The graphical overhaul promises to give characters new visual depth and more refined appearances, something many have been hoping for now that Final Fantasy 14 is over a decade old.

Ahead of the release of the Dawntrail expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix has released a handy-dandy free benchmark tool for players to test whether their setup can handle 7.0’s improved visuals. The new update will improve textures, hair, grass, shadows, and reflections, and will be the title’s first graphical upgrade since it was released in 2013.

Square Enix has released a benchmark tool for Final Fantasy 14 ahead of its upcoming Dawntrail expansion.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second part of the remake trilogy of the original game from 1997, was released in February. While developer Square Enix has not confirmed a launch date or the official title for the final game in the remake trilogy, the game should likely be released on PS5 sometime during the ongoing console generation cycle. Now, the studio has provided an update about the launch timeline for the third and final game in the Final Fantasy remake trilogy project.

Following the launch of the Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail benchmark, some players discovered an Easter egg that changes the default benchmark character to Hildibrand or Brandihild, depending on which PC time settings were changed. Final Fantasy 14 players shared the Easter egg on social media and discussed the methods that caused either character to appear.

Final Fantasy 16 voice actor Ben Starr, who plays protagonist Clive Rosfield, has humorously chimed in about a particular Cid – known in the series as a recurring character who's appeared in nearly all its entries. Starr, a self-professed fan of the franchise, has commented on previous Final Fantasy games with his opinions on various elements.

Spoilers ahead for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Despite releasing to universal acclaim from both fans and critics, it appears that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth may have failed to perform well sales-wise, according to a notable industry analyst. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth potentially underperforming may bring into question the popularity of the franchise as a whole.

Though Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is still weeks away, Square Enix revealed a calendar of events for players to take part in until the launch of the upcoming expansion. Among the events coming to Final Fantasy 14 throughout May and June, the return of the Yo-Kai Watch and Dragon Quest 10 collaboration events were confirmed, along with the dates for the next two Letter from the Producer Live broadcasts.

The latest Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth update patch is now available to download, and it fixes the infamous Platinum Trophy bug that’s been plaguing some players. Like most modern video games, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth includes a list of Trophies that players can earn by completing various tasks in-game. Some of these achievements are simply a matter of playing through the game’s story and reaching certain moments, while others require going off the beaten path and fulfilling side objectives. At the very top of every PlayStation achievement list is the Platinum Trophy, the ultimate accolade that signifies that a player has fully completed the video game in question.

A potential remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics has been in the rumour mill for several years at this point, and even though official word on whether or not it exists remains elusive, Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida – who’s also the director and producer of Final Fantasy 14 – has indicated that he, at the very least, is personally interested in seeing Final Fantasy Tactics be brought back.