Proper now, most individuals enjoying Closing Fantasy XIV are seemingly prepared for Dawntrail, the following main enlargement due in a few month. All my pals enjoying the sport have a number of characters or courses prepared for the enlargement, they usually’ve all been trying on the varied trailers and job particulars for what’s subsequent in Closing Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. I’m not even near Dawntrail proper now, and have slowly been chipping away at Closing Fantasy XIV’s principal story for a few decade at this level. I used to be very gradual getting by means of Closing Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on PS3 and PS4, and solely actually began correctly enjoying it as a lot as I might about two years in the past. I’ve been wanting to jot down about Closing Fantasy XIV for some time although, and with how a lot it has impressed me not only for its story, but in addition with the way it performs on Steam Deck, I made a decision to jot down about what it’s good to know to play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck in 2024, and in addition why it’s value your time.
How one can play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck in 2024
For those who’re simply right here to learn to play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck, it’s fairly easy. For those who personal the sport license on Steam or need to play the Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial on Steam, you possibly can simply declare it in your account and get began. Closing Fantasy XIV is formally marked as Steam Deck Playable by Valve. It is because the sport’s launcher requires utilizing the touchscreen or mouse cursor and manually invoking the on-screen keyboard for textual content enter.
For those who’ve not put in GE-Proton but, I like to recommend doing so simply normally on your Steam Deck as a result of it helps quite a lot of video games run even higher. GamingOnLinux has a step-by-step information here on doing it. I’ve had quite a lot of of us who play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck advocate utilizing GE-Proton to play, and I’ve had zero points utilizing it.
One last item to remember is Closing Fantasy XIV’s area lock and account system. On Steam, you possibly can solely entry the model meant on your area. For those who play utilizing the standalone license, you don’t have any restrictions like that. Most individuals I do know play on NA accounts regardless of residing outdoors NA or having moved outdoors NA. On Steam, they’d be compelled to create a brand new account and character for an additional area. Test the Steam sport web page for Closing Fantasy XIV earlier than logging in or making an account when you plan on enjoying by way of the Steam license. I like to recommend utilizing the standalone license for flexibility. Even when Steam solely serves you the PAL model and also you need to play utilizing the NA area account, the information under will assist.
Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck with standalone license
For those who personal Closing Fantasy XIV by means of its standalone license or the Mog Station like I do, you possibly can nonetheless play by means of Steam by following this guide. It makes use of no mods or plugins. This has labored completely for me for months now on each my Steam Deck LCD and OLED fashions. The one factor you want to remember is ensuring to sort your password, then hiding the keyboard. Don’t press enter or click on login right here. For those who achieve this, you get an error. When you sort your password after which cover the keyboard, transfer the cursor to the one time password discipline after which sort that by invoking the keyboard. At this stage, hit return on the keyboard/proper set off. This can allow you to play with out points. I’m undecided what the issue is for clicking or not doing it this fashion, however I’ve examined a number of instances and the one manner to do that with none friction is hitting enter/return/proper set off after the one time password has been crammed. You additionally want GE-Proton to make sure stability.
How does Closing Fantasy XIV run on Steam Deck OLED
As of this writing, I’ve made it to about 10 hours into the Closing Fantasy XIV: Stormblood storyline. I’ve not performed Shadowbringers or Endwalker but so can not touch upon the content material in these expansions, however the whole lot in Closing Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, patches, and no matter I’ve performed of Closing Fantasy XIV: Stormblood up to now is great on Steam Deck OLED, with it working properly above 60fps nearly on a regular basis. I’ve even executed dungeons with pals at 80-90fps.
Whereas I’ve not executed too many raids, I need to spotlight that it does play rather well even in Crystal Tower with all the results and ran noticeably higher than after I performed on consoles. You simply have to get used the muddle on the small display. I’ve been pleasantly shocked at how properly Closing Fantasy XIV runs and performs on Steam Deck by means of the numerous dozens of hours I’ve put into it lately and within the final two years throughout updates.
Closing Fantasy XIV Steam Deck graphics settings
I’ve been utilizing the 150% UI setting, windowed mode, customized 1280×800 decision (with 16:10 assist), the 90fps body price restrict, real-time reflections off, anti-aliasing at FXAA, clear lighting high quality and grass at regular, parallax occlusion and tessellation at excessive, map decision at excessive, and glare off. For shadows, I’ve all displayed with LOD set to low-level. Shadow decision at 1024p, cascading at the very best preset, softening at sturdy, anisotropic texture filtering at 16x, and dynamic decision off. I performed with dynamic decision on and off, so strive each and see which you like. If you wish to run at 60fps and never larger, you possibly can flip just a few choices larger. Since Closing Fantasy XIV is an online-only sport, I’m often enjoying at dwelling or after I’m close to my cellphone for hotspot, and I often have a cost close to me. This isn’t a sport I prioritize battery life with.
Closing Fantasy XIV management settings
The one factor I modified right here was PS5 gamepad sort controls so I might have the identical button prompts I’ve been used to for years. I additionally enabled DualSense options for after I play on Steam Deck over the docking station with my DualSense controller plugged in. One factor to remember right here is that the controller ordering generally causes points with which controller is energetic. Whereas in a roundabout way associated to controls, I don’t advocate utilizing the on-screen keyboard for chatting. I’ve been utilizing Discord voice to speak with pals whereas enjoying on-line right here.
Closing Fantasy XIV on Xbox Collection X
Since Closing Fantasy XIV hit Xbox Collection X lately, I made a decision to additionally cowl that model. Closing Fantasy XIV on PS5 feels fairly near the PS4 Professional model except for some minor visible enhancements. The massive increase was to load instances and the superb DualSense haptics. On Xbox Collection X, except for the controller options being absent, it performs nice and hundreds quick. I additionally recognize having VRR assist which I don’t have on PS5 when utilizing my monitor.
The largest benefit to enjoying Closing Fantasy XIV on Xbox Collection X is for my lazy aspect. Not having to sort the password and one time password every time is nice for getting me to play after I simply need to boot up the sport and do a quest or two. That is extra of a laziness situation, however it’s value highlighting, and I hope the opposite methods have this added as an choice.
How is Closing Fantasy XIV in 2024 for a brand new participant?
Regardless of having a personality from round 2013, I nonetheless take into account myself a comparatively new participant since I’m nonetheless enjoying story content material that hit again in 2017, simply with newer options added. Closing Fantasy XIV shouldn’t be solely a unbelievable Closing Fantasy sport, however it’s value your time even if you wish to play solo. Virtually all of the content material could be performed with a celebration of NPCs, and if you do have to do some content material that isn’t doable like that, the queue time could be very quick in my expertise. If I needed to depend, I feel I’ve had solely about 5 situations of needing to play with others in all of Closing Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and Heavensward with patches. Enjoying with others is extra enjoyable for certain, however you possibly can deal with this as a single participant Closing Fantasy sport, only one that’s online-only.
Whereas Closing Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has its ups and downs for the story, I loved nearly all of it main into Heavensward. Heavensward however is elegant for its narrative, characters, new areas, music, and extra. Closing Fantasy XIV: Heavensward is in my high 5 Closing Fantasy video games of all time. It’s completely value experiencing.
Having performed Closing Fantasy XIV on a controller because the early PS4 days and even distant enjoying it on PS Vita when you imagine it, I’ve at all times loved the controller enter technique. What I didn’t know till somebody in my free firm informed me, is the expanded maintain controls and different crossbar choices for a controller. This coupled with the Steam Deck’s Steam Enter makes Closing Fantasy XIV extra pleasing for me to play on Steam Deck than on PS5 and Xbox. It additionally helps that the sport runs brilliantly on Valve’s handheld.
For those who’re a longtime participant and also you simply need to replay the story, there’s a NG+ choice now, and that is perhaps the very best use case for experiencing the principle story on Steam Deck. For those who simply need to use the Steam Deck to grind out sure issues, that’s additionally an choice. Having a wonderful moveable model of Closing Fantasy XIV that even excels above the console variations won’t ever get previous.
The primary factor I’d wish to see addressed with Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck and PC normally, is the login system. Proper now, Closing Fantasy XIV on PS5 has you inputting your one time password to login. On Xbox Collection X, it saves the whole lot so that you simply have to boot the sport up and might immediately hit login and play. On PC, it’s a must to enter each the password and the one time password to login. Doing that is very annoying on Steam Deck. I hope we see the Xbox-style login choice added on PC and PS5 sooner or later.
The music of Closing Fantasy XIV
I’ve mainly caught to Closing Fantasy XIV all these years due to Masayoshi Soken’s music. I’ve been listening to it properly earlier than getting the expansions and even reaching these factors story sensible in-game. I do know this isn’t splendid, however the music in A Realm Reborn was too good for me to not take heed to it always over time. It was fascinating seeing the place every tune was used in-game although. I made a decision to place a pause on that for Endwalker, and have been saving that soundtrack for after I hear it in-game. Soken’s music in Closing Fantasy XIV is past unbelievable. I even love most of his work in Closing Fantasy XVI, however I feel the Heavensward and Shadowbringers music type among the collection greatest music of all time. It’s that good. I’ve been making it some extent to at all times purchase Closing Fantasy XIV music even when I’m not updated with the sport. I prefer it that a lot.
What’s subsequent for Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck?
Subsequent month, Closing Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail with a graphics overhaul arrives. It would make some features of this text out of date, however I can’t actually say proper now. I’ll attempt to preserve this up to date as soon as Dawntrail releases so these seeking to get into Closing Fantasy XIV with the brand new graphics can nonetheless play it on Steam Deck. Keep tuned for that. I’ll hopefully even be overlaying Dawntrail sooner or later.
Once I initially bought the Steam Deck again in 2022, it took me some time to se tup Closing Fantasy XIV due to how sophisticated all of the guides have been again then. In 2024, enjoying Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck is simpler than ever, and there’s nearly no friction concerned. It feels wonderful on the hand-held, and is even playable over a cellphone hotspot in my expertise.
As somebody who’s enjoying it just for the story and music, I’ve had a ton of enjoyable with it on my Steam Deck OLED and Xbox in latest weeks. For those who aren’t certain whether it is one thing you’ll get pleasure from, at the very least get the free trial as a result of Closing Fantasy XIV: Heavensward is well probably the greatest Closing Fantasy experiences I’ve ever had.