In November, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will be released. The official benchmark tool has now been presented, which allows you to test how well Endwalker will run on your PC. Find all the information here.
What is this about? Final Fantasy XIV developer Square Enix has released a benchmark program today that allows players to find out how well the upcoming expansion Endwalker will perform on their PCs. There are various options that can be pre-set.
Besides the pure hardware assessment, the tool is very interesting for players for two other reasons. On one hand, you can see a lot of new scenes, characters, and monsters that will play a role in Endwalker. You can see the new areas of Garlemald or the densely populated city of “Old Sharlayan,” which will serve as a city hub for players in Endwalker.
You can also experience the two new jobs “Sage” and “Reaper” in action in the benchmark. This allows you to gain a deeper impression of their combat styles. The events are accompanied by a fitting soundtrack, so make sure to turn on the sound.
1. The benchmark tool is for everyone
What do I need if I want to try the benchmark? The good news is that every player and even non-players can try and use the tool. In particular, those who have not yet been convinced to buy can find out whether the game will run on their system.
How do I get the program? You can easily download the program from Square Enix’s official benchmark page. The download is a zip file. Simply unzip it to your preferred location. After that, you can execute the benchmark file. You will enter a menu where you can make graphic pre-settings, create or select a character for the test, and start the test.
How does the benchmark proceed? In the benchmark, you don’t play yourself but accompany the Warrior of Light through 5 different scenes. Some of these show you battles, while others focus on the game world. During the scenes, a score will be calculated for you. At the end of the several minutes long benchmark, your score will be evaluated and a recommendation for your graphics settings will be given.
If you don’t want to download the tool but still want to see the scenes, you can do so in this YouTube video:
2. A first glimpse into the creation of the new male Viera
What else does the benchmark offer? As reported, the benchmark provides the ability to create your own character for the test. For the first time, you can create a male Viera, who will be playable as an extension of the previously solely female rabbit race in Endwalker.
Many players will likely want to take advantage of this opportunity, as the announcement of the male Viera has sparked excitement for many. MeinMMO has already reported on the male rabbit beings.
- Male Viera exist in the two subgroups of Rava and Veena.
- With a height of 172.2 cm to 186.5 cm (without ears), they are generally smaller than female Viera. Compared to other races, they are about as tall as humans.
- In the benchmark tool, there are 17 hairstyles and 4 faces to choose from.
- Male Viera can have a beard.
A Viera of the Veena 
A Viera of the Rava. 
Male Viera can wear beards.
3. Users of the benchmark can win prizes
Is that all? No, coinciding with the release of the benchmark program, Square Enix announced a screenshot competition. There you’ll find all the information. If you want to participate, you only need to submit a picture of your benchmark score or a picture of a male Viera you created.
The competition runs until July 26 at 14:59. You can win various in-game items, from which you can choose one. Included are the hairstyle of character Strife, several clothing pieces, and a saddle for your Chocobo mount.
In his benchmark, our author Matthis Dillmann achieved a score of 17898, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at maximum details. How did you do? Did you run the benchmark tool and achieve a good score? Or are you more focused on creating a male Viera character?
Finally, Final Fantasy XIV has also succeeded in breaking its own record for the largest number of concurrent players on Steam. You can read more about it here.
