Final Fantasy 14's next patch promises improved "character toe detail" across 118 footwear options

Dawntrail, the first expansion of Final Fantasy 14, will receive its first major patch in a week. This patch will add the first alliance raid and ultimate raid to Dawntrail, as well as new main story quests. The patch also includes a number of changes to the quality-of-life. There's an update to the portrait, new features for the glamour dresser, and uh, there are toes. Well, there's toes. Toes that are improved There are 1,180 of them.

The patch notes mention that "Character Toe Detail when Wearing the Following Foot Gear Has Been Improved." They also list 118 footwear items from A Realm Reborn to Endwalker to Dawntrail, with the HD toe treatment.

Square Enix deserves credit for including a handy before and after image with the patch notes. It shows some impressive improvements in toe detail. Since I can remember, the "before" toes were pretty blocky with low-poly toenails. It's not the worst-looking foot in the world but it does remind me of a PS2 character with mittens as hands.

The toes will look more like real feet, with softer shadows, and a more rounder shape. Did I expect that today I would be talking in such detail about videogame toes? No way.

I'm unsure if this applies to every open toe shoe in the Game. Heavensward and Stormblood, for example, are not listed on the list. I also don't keep track of the locations where you can get every flip-flop or strappy wedge. It's safe to assume that most of them have had their features enhanced.

It's a small change, but it's a welcome one in Square Enix’s ongoing effort to zhush the game. The crusty-blockiness of the little piggies is something I've definitely noticed every time I put sandals on my Warrior of Light. It's a strange outlier to what is otherwise an excellent character model.

Not only that, but the graphics have also been updated. The vegetation in A Realm Reborn zones, as well as Endwalker's Island Sanctuary Mode, has been given a nice update. Some of the vanilla zones have also seen some beautiful environmental enhancements. This does not include the Gold Saucer or the Coerthas Central Highlands. The patch notes promise more polygons, new objects, and improved texture resolutions.

The patch notes also include a comparison pic between two versions of a market stall in Ul'dah, that appears to have high-res beans? The patch notes include a comparison picture between two versions of the market stalls in Ul'dah that appear to have high-res bean? Peas? Now, a sort of pea, plus some more appetising looking meat.

Patch 7.1 will be released on November 12.