PlayStation 5 owners will soon get to test Final Fantasy 14 on the next-gen console through an open beta. Before that, however, Square Enix decided to showcase gameplay of the port during a recent Letter from the Producer stream. What audiences were treated with was over 16 minutes of footage, providing a better idea of how the MMORPG plays on the PS5.
Since viewers are watching the game being played on a television during the stream, it doesn't look as crisp as earlier previews which simply showed captured footage. The gameplay here is merely to demonstrate the interface, controls, and framerates that PS5 users will experience. While it's certainly not the most exciting gameplay to watch, anyone who is interested in playing on the next-gen console will get a decent idea of what that will be like.
In February, Square Enix held an Announcement Showcase for Final Fantasy 14, which laid out upcoming plans for the game. Among the various announcements was a PS5 Version Overview segment that provided a brief look at what was on offer with this version. It came along with the news that a beta test would also be available to those who would like to get a jump in early. While the actual release of this version isn't due until later this year, the Final Fantasy 14 PS5 beta is just a couple of weeks away.
To promote the beta, Square Enix has also released details on planned features for Final Fantasy 14 on PS5. Since it will be played on a next-gen console, there will be some obvious upgrades from the PS4 version. This includes improved resolutions with support for up to 4K, improved framerate, and faster loading times. There will also be support for PS5 console features like haptic feedback and 3D audio.
The open beta is certainly great for console owners, but the biggest news from February's Announcement Showcase was the reveal of the Endwalker expansion, the next major chapter in Final Fantasy 14's story. The announcement kicked off with a thrilling cinematic trailer that previewed one of the new upcoming jobs and key characters in the expansion. Perhaps one of the most surprising reveals was that players would eventually find their way to the moon. How and why wasn't elaborated on, but it has definitely piqued fans' curiosity.
It was confirmed that Endwalker would mark the conclusion of the main story arc, but players don't need to worry about the game itself coming to an end anytime soon. According to the game's director and producer, Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy 14 has at least 5 more years of life left in it. The game has a history of regularly updating the game after expansions with loads of content, so players will have a lot more time to spend in Eorzea.
Final Fantasy 14 is available now on PC, PS3, and PS4, with PS5 support coming in 2021.