The PlayStation 5 release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade has been a primary focus for Square Enix in recent months. But Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn't the only game in the franchise that's coming to PS5. Final Fantasy 14, Square Enix's popular MMO, is also coming to PS5 soon. While some early details about the console upgrade were revealed in early February, Square Enix has shared some more information about Final Fantasy 14 on PS5 in preparation for its upcoming open beta.
A short list of features planned to be included with the PS5 upgrade of Final Fantasy 14 covers improved resolutions with support for up to 4K, an overall improved framerate, faster loading times, as well as support for PS5 console features like haptic feedback and 3D audio. The news notably doesn't mention specific details. For example, it isn't clear what Final Fantasy 14's targeted framerate on PS5 is, nor what kind of tech is being used for resolution -- dynamic or full, as examples.
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What is clear is that the PS5 upgrade of Final Fantasy 14 will perform significantly better than on the PS4. Specifications on the PS4 include a standard 1080p mode with an uncapped framerate that hovers or surpasses 30fps most of the time. It also supports a 720p mode, but it downscales from 1080p so that it doesn't offer any meaningful additional fps. Loading times are likely to be significant in comparison, if only because the PS5's solid-state drive has such a significant performance increase over the PS4's HDD.
Even the PS4 version of Final Fantasy 14 was impressive in certain ways, however. It offers similar maximum settings to the PC, including image quality features like texture blur and sub-pixel elements. In other words, the PS5 isn't likely to improve on in-game visuals meaningfully outside of resolution and frame rate. That doesn't mean that the PS5 version of the game won't feature an overall more polished visual presentation in less obvious ways.
PS4 Final Fantasy 14 players interested in checking to see whether the PS5 version of the game is worth upgrading to will be able to try for free starting April 13. The PS5 open beta is planned to launch alongside Final Fantasy 14's upcoming 5.5 patch, carries over all of players' PS4 data, and has no currently announced end-date.
PC players have a lot to look forward to with Final Fantasy 14's upcoming 5.5 patch, as well. The Death Unto Dawn update will be the final major content patch for the current Final Fantasy 14 expansion, Shadowbringers, in preparation for 2021's next expansion, Endwalker. It's a very exciting year for Final Fantasy 14 players, regardless of their platform.
Final Fantasy 14 is available now on PC, PS3, and PS4, with a PS5 version also in development.