Explore the key differences between Final Fantasy XIV's PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows game clients, including UI, controller support, graphics, and more.
This guide outlines the major differences between the three current game clients for Final Fantasy XIV: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows.
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 | Windows | |
| Maximum resolution | 720p | 1920x1080 | Varies depending on GPU |
| UI options | Controller-driven | Mouse-driven or controller-driven | Mouse-driven or controller-driven |
| Default UI option | N/A | Controller-driven | Mouse-driven |
| Controller support | PS3 controller | PS4 controller | Any USB or Bluetooth controller that supports the HID standard; comes with pre-sets for the Xbox 360 controller |
| Max. # of objects on screen | Few | Many | Many |
| Sold on disc | Yes | Yes | Collector's edition only? |
| Sold as a digital download | PlayStation Network | PlayStation Network | Ad-hoc or Steam |
| Requires disc in drive to play | No | Yes (if bought on disc), No (if bought/upgraded on PSN) | No |
| Requires manual intervention to apply game patches | No | Sometimes | Yes (UAC prompts) |
| Requires PSN or Steam to play | Yes | Yes, PS Plus not required | No |
| Settings & hotbar transfer between platforms (for users with multiple clients) | No | Yes, from PS3 only | No |
| Can tell if other players are on PS3/PS4 or Windows | Yes (when viewing a character, if they are on PS3/PS4, their PSN ID will appear in the window) | Yes (same as PS3) | No |
| Voice chat | No | PSN party chat only | Third-party tools only |
| Third-party tool support (excluding Web sites) | No | No | Yes, but some tools are not allowed (parsers & bots) |
| Can run the game and a Web browser at once | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can be played on-the-go | No | Yes, with a PlayStation TV or Vita | Yes, on a laptop |
| Gameplay streaming | No | Yes | Yes, with a third-party tool |
| Graphics API used | libgcm | Don't know, assuming libgnm | DirectX 10 |
The PS4 client is a significant upgrade from the PS3 client, which operates at a low resolution, lacks native mouse-driven UI support (though it can use mice as a secondary input), and deliberately omits drawing objects in busy areas. The Windows and PS4 clients offer comparable graphics and features, with the Windows client potentially performing better on high-end PCs.
Both PS3 and PS4 clients necessitate PSN access and are unplayable if the PSN is offline. Sony permits third parties to utilize the PSN as a conduit to their own networks but prohibits games on their platform from operating solely through a third-party network, a policy stemming from historical laissez-faire approaches that contributed to early console obsolescence.
Purchasing each client separately is required for playing on both PlayStation and PC. Square Enix charges full retail price, which includes an additional month of game time. PS3 and PS4 players must also link their account to a PSN ID; shared PSN IDs require separation for simultaneous play.
Until March 31, 2015, a free upgrade from the PS3 to the PS4 version was available. This required owning both consoles, having installed the PS3 version at least once, and was irreversible.
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