Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail PC Benchmark previews the game's upgraded graphics

Square Enix has released the official PC benchmarking program for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, the upcoming expansion to Final Fantasy XIV. As with other benchmarking programs released for the game, the Dawntrail benchmark evaluates a player's computer hardware specs to determine how well it will run the game, assigning it a numerical score.

This new benchmark is also the most substantial look players have had at Square Enix's planned graphical improvements to Final Fantasy XIV, many of which will go live with Dawntrail. The improvements include features related to modern graphics card technology like Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution, and changes to the way FFXIV processes lighting and visual effects. Of course, the upgrades also correspond with a rise in the game's hardware demands, so players on lower-spec PCs will need the benchmark to see which settings may need to be compromised to maintain adequate perfomance.

For those on console or just wishing to see the Dawntrail benchmark's in-engine cutscenes and character models, Square Enix uploaded a trailer to show off the new content:

In addition to the graphical updates, which will apply to all FFXIV players regardless of whether or not they own Dawntrail, the expansion will add playable female Hrothgar characters, and two new playable classes, the melee DPS Viper and the magical DPS Pictomancer. The Dawntrail benchmark sequence includes demonstrations of both classes, with the Warrior of Light able to appear in Viper gear, while their friend and fellow Scion Krile uses the Pictomancer's powers. Dawntrail takes place mostly in Tural, a continent that the people of Eorzea call "The New World". Tural's environments appear inspired by those found in the real-world American continents.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail debuts on July 2, 2024.