Everything You Need To Know: FFXIV on PS5

Final Fantasy XIV is hosting an open beta on PS5 beginning April 13. Here is everything you need to know about the upgrades coming to FFXIV on PS5.

Are You A Warrior of Light or A Warrior of Darkness?

Whether you are an up-and-coming Warrior of Light or a hardcore Warrior of Darkness, it could not be a better time to high jump into Final Fantasy XIV. If you happen to own the game on PS4, great! Current players will be able to download the PS5 open beta and carry over their waddling Lalafell character with ease. For new players, Lead Project Manager Shoichi Matsuzawa confirms the Free Trial version will be available as well. And yes, your progress in the Free Trial will carry over to your purchased version should you decide to do so!

The mentioned Free Trial comes packed with a beefy amount of content. In it includes the base game (A Realm Reborn) and the first expansion pack, Heavensward. Job levels are capped at level 60, but there are over 10 to pick from like Dragoon, Paladin, and Black Mage. The Heavensward expansion features the Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist Jobs. However, classes like Samurai and Red Mage can only be played by purchasing the Stormblood expansion or the current Complete Edition of FFXIV. The same goes for the Dancer and Gunbreaker classes, which are tied to the Shadowbringer expansion.

If all goes well with the open beta on PS5, Square Enix plans to move right into full service on the console. Come April 13 and during the week, be patient with the servers. Not only will the PS5 beta be going live that day, but FFXIV‘s highly anticipated penultimate patch as well. Patch 5.5 Part 1 is going to include some resolutions to side quest storylines, the final NieR-inspired Alliance Raid, and set up part of the next expansion’s story.

See More: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Announced, Detailed

PS5 Enhancements

For an MMORPG, FFXIV runs surpassingly well with a controller. On PS5, Square Enix is taking a step further and including DualSense features. Matsuzawa explains:

“First, we implemented haptic feedback for a number of actions to deepen our players’ immersion further: this includes [introducing unique haptic feedback to things like] the footsteps of various mounts, actions for Disciples of the Land and Hand, and more. When it came to battle content, we deliberately kept the feedback to a minimum—for example, when a player uses a limit break—as we did not want to interfere with players’ concentration during a fight. We would love to hear player feedback regarding this, as we can take that into consideration as we make future adjustments.

When it comes to adaptive triggers, there aren’t too many areas within the game’s systems to which this feature would apply, but we did integrate it into smaller-scale content where we could, such as quests where you enter an FPS-type mode to complete certain objectives.”

The PS5 version of FFXIV will have better frame rates and new display options, even 4K output. Matsuzawa says PS5 players can choose 4K (2160p), WQHD (1440p), or Full HD (1080p). He adds the game should run at 60 FPS at 1440p and 1080p. At 4K, expect frames to be around 40 FPS. Regardless, these are massive improvements to the PS4 version. There are also some areas (like cities) where a lot of players will be on screen at once, so expect some dips there, which goes for any version of the game.

Crispy and Clean UI, Loading Times, 3D Audio

Final Fantasy XIV on PS5 will receive an update to in-game menus and UI for a more fresh and cleaner look. This includes inventory, the Armoury chest, and action bars. Additionally, loading times have been greatly improved when logging in and fast traveling. The PS4 version has also received some loading enhancements as well.

Regarding 3D audio, Matsuzawa said, “We are utilizing 3D audio output for the PS5 version of FFXIV. Since our initial launch, ambient sounds in FFXIV were assigned different parameters, such as audible range, but with the implementation of the 3D audio feature on the PS5, these settings can be fully leveraged. For example, whenever you change the position of the camera, the location of the surrounding ambient sound will shift accordingly, bringing you a more immersive experience. I would recommend trying it out with headsets that support 3D audio.”

The team is looking to bring more updates to the PS5 version as we head towards Endwalker, the MMO’s next expansion this fall.

If you are asking yourself whether you should finally dive in, the answer is yes! While it is an MMO, Final Fantasy XIV is a singleplayer game at heart. It tells an enriching and epic story that elevates the franchise’s storytelling into greatness. If you happen to get lost or confused, no worries. The FFXIV community is incredibly generous and is always eager to help new players. See below on where and how to get started:

FFXIV: YouTuber Suggestions To Get Started

Click here for the game’s official news and community site.

Click here for the game’s official forums.

If you are wondering when the game will reach Xbox consoles, click here for why you may be waiting for quite some time.