The latest Live Letter from the Producer was held over the weekend, and the presentation focused a lot on the anticipated graphical update that drops with the Dawntrail expansion on July 2, 2024. And to help make sure PCs are ready for the hefty overhaul to Final Fantasy XIV visuals, a Benchmark program was also released over the weekend to test system performance.
The benchmark will give tested systems a numerical score and one of eight possible ratings depending on test results. A score of 4000-7999 generally means a system should be capable of handling Dawntrail’s default settings. Scores higher than that window signify high-performance systems that can easily run the default settings and may consider more advanced graphical options. Scores below 4000 may encounter issues with running the game. For a full breakdown on how to use the Benchmark and what the different results mean, you can check out the official page for the Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Benchmark.
But there are other perks to spending a little time with the Benchmark software other than making sure your rig is prepared for Dawntrail. The Benchmark Trailer that plays while your system runs its performance diagnostics gives us a look at more Viper combat, some new Job Actions, and pretty views of Tural, the new world players will explore.
The Benchmark also comes with a character creator where you can see the graphical update’s impact on character visuals for yourself. You can create an entirely new character or transfer over your existing Warrior of Light–assuming you have the appearance data available. The newest playable race, Female Hrothgar, is also available for creation! There’s even a new sweepstakes on X where your work in the Benchmark Character Creator can win you some in-game items.
But if you’ve been curious about the graphical update’s capabilities, the Benchmark offers a first real look at what’s coming. Truth be told, while the side-by-side comparisons of the current 6.58 version of Final Fantasy XIV versus the upcoming 7.0 update shown during the Live Letter were illuminating, they really don’t do the graphical enhancements justice. The Benchmark is the best way to experience the improved lighting, enhanced textures, and overall graphical improvements of Dawntrail for the very first time.
If you want to try it for yourself, here’s where you can download the Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Benchmark.