New Windows Version User Interface Follow

Greetings, adventurers.

As announced in the FFXI 2012 Roadmap, an extensive user interface overhaul is currently in development for the Windows version of FINAL FANTASY XI. Today, I would like to take this time to outline some of changes we have in the works for the UI of the Windows version of FFXI.

Multi-window Mode

Users will be able to open and manipulate multiple windows.

Layout Customization

Users will be able to drag UI elements with the mouse to new locations, which will be saved for future gaming sessions.

Multiple Log Windows

Users will be able to open multiple log windows and apply different filters for each one.

Font Vectorization

TrueType fonts will replace the current bitmap fonts.

Continual Display of Macro Palette

In addition to the existing Crtl/Alt macro palette, there will be an option to use a three-rowed palette that is constantly displayed and utilizes the 1 – 0 keys as well as mouse clicks to activate macros.

Macro Recast Time Display

The macro palette will display the time remaining until each macro may be used again.

Individual Magic/Ability Icons and High-Resolution Status Effect Icons

A new set of detailed high-resolution icons will be introduced, with new icons added for specific magic, abilities, and status effects.

Macro Palette Icon Display

Users will have the option to display icons for magic and abilities contained in macros.

User Customization Features

The window scheme and GUI scripts for FFXI will be released so users can design their own interface features.

Drag-and-drop Equipment Interface


Other, more technical modifications are also under development that will eventually culminate in an overhaul of the entire user interface.

As previously announced, we are planning to make it possible for area maps to be brought up at all times, which would be implemented in advance of the more comprehensive UI overhaul described above. More information on this will be forthcoming, so please check the forums periodically.

This makes me sad, if only they were making decent content to go with these kinds of changes I'd love to come back to this game.

User Customization Features

The window scheme and GUI scripts for FFXI will be released so users can design their own interface features.

Continual Display of Macro Palette

In addition to the existing Crtl/Alt macro palette, there will be an option to use a three-rowed palette that is constantly displayed and utilizes the 1 – 0 keys as well as mouse clicks to activate macros.

From what I gather, the 3rd line will be naked 1-0 keys without a CTRL or an ALT in front of it. So instead of typing out a 4 in chat when you press the 4 key, it would trigger the 4 macro.

From what I gather, the 3rd line will be naked 1-0 keys without a CTRL or an ALT in front of it. So instead of typing out a 4 in chat when you press the 4 key, it would trigger the 4 macro.

There's no delay now. You can hit ctrl+number on PC and there won't be delay a lot of people don't realize that.

Drag-and-drop Equipment Interface

You can drag and drop in FFXIV?

Sweet. Glad I ditched my paperweight (PS2) years ago.

at this point I don't completely trust them not to screw it up somehow

I just hope on of those potential 'screw ups' won't affect players who use a controller. Drag-and-drop game interfaces are all well and good, but I much prefer playing FFXI with a controller for ease of use. If the new UI doesn't cater well for that, I'm going to have troubles.

Oh, I forgot to mention this. For those who are very comfortable with the old UI, it will be possible to choose between the new and old UIs.
※This is an either-or selection, so it would not be possible to use parts of the new UI.


The new UI is geared for keyboard and mouse users, so these new pallets will only be implemented for keyboard and mouse use.



We have not finalized these details yet, but we plan on displaying recast timers for each macro palette. Also, if several commands with recast timers are registered on the same button, the longest remaining timer will be displayed.



We are looking into a frame layout for HP gauge displays. We are also looking into customization for the size and graphics of the bar graph.



We have received this request many times before, but there are many issues with this, so we cannot look into this at this time. Similarly, we have no plans to transmit additional data besides what is currently being transmitted between the server and client. Our goal is to improve the operability of what is currently displayed in the current UI. We appreciate your understanding.



2 chat windows can be displayed, so it would be possible to filter logs by displaying only important information on one window.

Regarding chat filter categorization, we will look into categories that are universal across all platforms, so we would like to discuss this separately from the Windows only UI.

We will have to take the memory capacities for each platform into account, but please submit any feedback or suggestions.



This would be very difficult to implement, so we would like to prioritize implementing the UI first. Based on our workload after that, we may look into this.