Summary
- Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail drops July 2, 2024, offering a new adventure after a three-year wait.
- The Benchmark Tool previews the game's enhanced graphics and helps players determine if their device can handle the game.
- An ideal benchmark score for Dawntrail is around 5,000 for smooth gameplay; lower scores may require hardware upgrades.
Dawntrail, the newest expansion of the massively multiplayer online game (MMORPG) Final Fantasy 14, is set to drop in July 2, 2024. It's been almost three years since the last major DLC called Endwalker was released, so fans are hungry for a new adventure. They can get a taste of what's to come by downloading and running the Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail Benchmark Tool, which comes with a few previews of the DLC's new and unique content.
Final Fantasy 14 was originally launched in 2010, but it received negative reviews from players and critics, so Square Enix overhauled the game and re-released it in 2013. Version 2.0, as the game was codenamed during development, featured a revamped engine, story, gameplay, user interface, and even server programming. This time, it was well-received and gained a massive fanbase, which helped the developer return to profitability after a year of issues. The game has released four major expansions since its release, featuring big updates to the game's setting and story. Dawntrail follows one of the best Final Fantasy 14 DLCs (Endwalker) in terms of story and scope, so it has big shoes to fill.
What to Expect from Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail's Benchmark Tool
Dawntrail gives the game its first major graphical update. It will feature improved texture, material, and shadow qualities, requiring significantly more graphics and processing power. Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail's Benchmark, like other similar tools, lets the users know if their device can run a game smoothly. All they need to do is download the around 4 GB zip file from the official website, extract it, and run the tool. Users can also tweak the quality of the benchmark to fit their PC's perceived performance.
The benchmarking process involves running simulated scenes from the game, which features the default character for Final Fantasy 14's new Viper job. The tool will also measure metrics like frames per second, CPU and GPU usage, and system temperatures in the background. These numbers will culminate into a final score, informing the player if they can run the game at all. Higher scores usually mean the user can play the game with higher graphics quality or resolution without sacrificing many frames.
The Ideal Benchmark Score for Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail
Dawntrail also measures loading time and the maximum benchmark score that a user gets. The lower the loading time and higher the score, the better. There are eight ratings that a user can get depending on which range their score falls into:
- Insufficient Performance (Below 1,000)
- Low Performance (1,000 to 1,999)
- Slightly Low Performance (2,000 to 3,999)
- Standard Performance (4,000 to 5,999)
- Fairly High Performance (6,000 to 7,999)
- High Performance (8,000 to 10,999)
- Very High Performance (11,000 to 14,999)
- Extremely High Performance (15,000 and above)
The ideal score for running the game smoothly would be around 5,000. This way, they can get a smooth experience using the game's default graphics settings. Those with scores around 4,000 and below should consider upgrading their hardware if they want to run the game without frame drops, crashes, and other performance issues once the Dawntrail expansion pack rolls around.
Dawntrail's Benchmark Tool Gives a Sneak Peek of the Character Creation Screen
Apart from measuring a PC's ability to run Final Fantasy 14, the Dawntrail benchmark tool also gives would-be players a glimpse of the game's character creation screen. Users can save their character’s look and load it into Final Fantasy 14. It’s a great way to introduce people to the game, and even convince those on the fence into buying it once they’ve created their ideal character.
The character creation tool will also let users create a playable female Hrothgar character, which wasn’t possible before. Some fans have been campaigning for this option for over five years. Better late than never. This character type will be available once Dawntrail drops, but newer players should note that they need to have a Shadowbringers expansion installed or at least have a product key for it. Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail looks to be the next-generation upgrade for this decade-old game, and its benchmark tool is the perfect litmus test to see if players are ready for the new adventures that lie ahead.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 92%
- Released
- August 27, 2013
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Crystal Tools
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn
Create your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.
Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward
Take your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.
Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood
Journey to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.
Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers
Travel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.
Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker
A great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope's last bastion.
Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail
Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope's light dawns once more.
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
- Metascore
- 90
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4 & PS5
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
