Notice: This Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail evaluate is an in progress one which might be up to date with the ultimate rating after I’ve performed extra of the enlargement and have examined some extra of the sooner raids with the brand new graphics replace on Steam Deck OLED..
Again in Might, I wrote about Remaining Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck protecting tips on how to get it working, the way it performs, my ideas on the sport on the time, why it’s value enjoying, and extra forward of the massive 7.0 graphics replace and Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. Quick ahead to at the moment, Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail has been obtainable for a few week, and I’ve been enjoying it on each Steam Deck and Xbox Sequence X (together with distant enjoying it on my iPhone), and I’m very impressed with the visible enhancements and the enlargement up to now. Notice that I’ve not completed Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail but, so it is a evaluate in progress that may cowl the primary dozen or so hours of the enlargement and extra of the sooner areas I examined with the graphics replace.
I’m approaching this Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Steam Deck evaluate in two components. The primary half will cowl how the graphics replace runs, seems to be, and feels on Steam Deck OLED. The second half will cowl my ideas on Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail itself and the way it looks like the proper summer season trip that I wanted. There might be no story spoilers for Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail or prior expansions, however I’m protecting the NieR: Automata raid for my stress take a look at so preserve that in thoughts in case you’re avoiding all issues Remaining Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers as properly.
Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Steam Deck efficiency and settings
If you happen to learn my unique Remaining Fantasy XIV Steam Deck article, you noticed how properly the sport ran again then. With the Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launch and seven.0 graphics replace, Remaining Fantasy XIV seems to be higher than ever earlier than throughout the board, however efficiency has taken successful. On comparable settings, the sport can now drop to 30fps throughout busy boss fights, and through a stress take a look at shifting into first individual even resulted in sub 30fps. Having turned down shadows a bit extra, it holds the 30fps or increased goal properly. That is with dynamic decision enabled.
I opted to play the sport with a 45fps at 90hz goal. The busier cities nonetheless drop to the 30s usually after they was once within the excessive 40s at worst earlier than this graphics replace. I particularly needed to do as a lot stress testing as attainable flying round within the new Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail zones, trying out raids, and doing FATEs with plenty of particle results apart from simply attending to dense cities. If it solely dropped under 30fps in first individual mode in a raid and held 30fps or above exterior, issues are trying good. I must do a bit extra testing, however I believe I’ll be capable of get Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to round 45fps for that candy spot of 45fps at 90hz. Notice that I performed at 800p for all this testing and used GE Proton 9-9. There was no exterior software or mod used to play. I uncapped the body price from 45fps to see how excessive it may, however caught to enjoying at 45fps at 90hz once I was enjoying it exterior testing for this evaluate.
Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail graphics settings
I used a customized preset with LOD on, real-time reflections on customary, FXAA, regular lighting and grass high quality, excessive parallax occlusion, excessive tessellation, glare off, all shadows being displayed, shadow decision (1024p or 512p (higher)), regular shadow cascading, strongest shadow softening, forged shadows set to minimal, 16x AF, regular texture decision, and dynamic decision. I haven’t had time to do the same raids with the decrease presets to see how they give the impression of being, however I used to be proud of the picture high quality right here for the 30-45fps within the dozen hours I’ve spent with the enlargement and a dozen or so extra revisiting prior areas and content material.
Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail story and music impressions
I’d classify myself as a extra informal Remaining Fantasy XIV participant proper now. I’ve been enjoying it on and off for years for the story and music before everything. Every part else is secondary, although I do take pleasure in enjoying with associates when timezones match. Thus far, Remaining Fantasy XIV: Heavensward stays considered one of my favourite Remaining Fantasy experiences basically, not simply in Remaining Fantasy XIV. Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail looks like a trip at the very least within the first dozen hours I’ve put into it exploring, doing the MSQ, and simply testing it on Steam Deck. The brand new characters are colourful, and my solely actual criticism is there not being extra voiced dialog. I really feel like it’s lower than prior expansions and patches. I’ve not tried out the brand new jobs but, and have been specializing in my Marauder playthroughs solely. I might be testing them out as a lot as I can once I replace this evaluate sooner or later.
I wish to spotlight Soken and Co’s music right here. Remaining Fantasy XIV has considered one of my favourite soundtracks in gaming, and I believe the Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail music is past unbelievable. This could be my favourite regular battle theme in all expansions, and I simply adore the vibe and tradition within the music up to now. I bought my acoustic guitar right here with me and I’ve been enjoying together with the battle theme at any time when I take heed to it on YouTube or when watching my associates stream. I can’t wait to see the way it evolves by the remaining story content material as I get to it. I’m aggravated that I can’t purchase the Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail soundtrack on iTunes or on disc already although. Make it occur, Sq. Enix.
Remaining Fantasy XIV Dawntrail on Xbox Sequence X
With the Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail replace, the Xbox Sequence X and PS5 variations now have 120hz help. That is good as a result of I’ve VRR on Xbox, and will see how different the efficiency is with metrics in actual time on my monitor. I normally don’t take a look at these whereas enjoying usually, however since I used to be testing, I made a decision to take a look. I noticed the sport hit above 100hz usually but it surely additionally dropped under 60hz in some components when working at 1440p. Working at 1080p (from in-game) ends in higher efficiency throughout the board. I ended up sticking to this on Xbox Sequence X on my 1440p monitor whereas enjoying. Exterior that, I really like how attractive the brand new places in Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail look. I’m to see how the Xbox handles the precise huge battles within the enlargement afterward. The screenshot above exhibits how the phrase filter works for Xbox Sequence X for one thing just like the flying Cumulus mount. Nonetheless fairly humorous.
I additionally examined it over Xbox distant play, and I can’t imagine how poorly this runs in comparison with PS5 distant play. I had to ensure I used to be close to my router to have a remotely playable expertise on my telephone when my console was wired and never wi-fi. I assume this has to do with Xbox distant play working over the web and never domestically regardless of each units being on the identical community, however it’s disappointing to see it not work in addition to PS5 distant play at any time when I take a look at.
The Remaining Fantasy XIV login must be improved on PC and PS5
This isn’t one thing that impacts the enlargement or my evaluate a lot, however I needed to make a particular word of it. I observed that Remaining Fantasy XIV on Xbox permits you to immediately launch the sport and login along with your particulars saved. On PS5, it saves your username and password, however it’s worthwhile to enter your OTP every time. On PC, it’s worthwhile to enter your password and OTP every time. I don’t perceive why all platforms can’t have the identical login methodology. I hope that is fastened as a result of typing out my password and OTP on Steam Deck every time is past annoying. It could be nice if all platforms may have a login system just like the Xbox Sequence X model.
Thus far, Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the summer season trip all of us wanted after a busy launch season. At the very least I wanted a break after placing in tons of time into Trails by Dawn, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and nonetheless enjoying Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree. Remaining Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail seems to be nice on Steam Deck and Xbox, it sounds unbelievable, and I can’t wait to see the place issues go afterward. I simply hope we get extra voiced dialog added.