Final Fantasy XIV Launches The Official Endwalker Benchmark

Sharlayan Keeps Its Council

After a rough start way back in 2010, Final Fantasy XIV has made an absolutely stellar comeback to take its place as one of the top MMORPGs of this generation. This year, the storyline that started in the game’s 2013 relaunch A Realm Reborn will end in the climactic Endwalker expansion, setting the Warrior of Light against the legendary Garlean warrior Zenos yae Galvus. Before Endwalker’s launch in November, you can test your PC’s capabilities by downloading the official benchmark, a tech test featuring our first look at plenty of content set to be released in Endwalker.

Probably the most sought-after feature that’s in the benchmark is the character creator, including the brand-new male Viera race that’s been added to Endwalker after massive fan demand. These rabbitfolk, based on the Final Fantasy XII race of the same name, act as woodland protectors, only rarely returning to the towns and villages that the females of their race have established. Is it a bit of a convoluted reason for Viera to have previously been a female-only race? Probably, but at least we got one.

Also featured in the benchmark are a few locations that are set to be important to the story of Endwalker: First up is Thavnair, an island in the Jade Sea that have maintained a fragile peace with the Garlean Empire. Thavnair is home to the city of Radz-at-Han, which will become accessible in Endwalker and is set to be similar in scope to Eulmore, one of the cities featured in the Shadowbringers expansion.

Perhaps more exciting for long-term players, though, is the stately city of Old Sharlayan, a land of scholars that we’ve been hearing about since the very beginning of the game. Here, the Warrior of Light will have to contend with stubborn scholars (including Alphinaud & Alisaie’s father Fourchenault) who are determined not to interfere in the coming conflicts.