Fifteen months after its initial release on the PS5, Final Fantasy XVI has made its way to the PC platform, bringing with it a blend of action-packed RPG elements and a cast of characters that straddle the line between the heroic and the bizarrely alluring. With the memory of Final Fantasy XV’s less-than-stellar PC adaptation still fresh in the minds of gamers, expectations were high for a more polished experience this time around.
Performance and Specifications
Final Fantasy XVI does introduce some enhancements, including a comprehensive suite of DLSS and FSR upscalers, along with improved mouse and keyboard integration. However, it falls short of being a top-tier adaptation, as it overlooks several key PC features and poses significant challenges for users with lower-end systems. While adjusting the quality settings can yield some improvements, the overall performance remains inconsistent, making it difficult to achieve a seamless gaming experience.
The game’s official system requirements are notably demanding, even by contemporary AAA standards. For instance, the once-popular Radeon RX 5700 and GeForce GTX 1070, which previously handled high settings at 1440p with ease, are now relegated to a mere 30fps at 720p. The RTX 2080, once a powerhouse, is now only recommended for 1080p gaming, and players are advised to have ample SSD storage, as the actual download size hovers around 152GB.
Final Fantasy XVI Minimum PC Specs (720p/30fps)
- OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 / Intel Core i5-8400
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 / Intel Arc A580 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB VRAM required)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 170GB (SSD required)
Final Fantasy XVI Recommended PC Specs (1080p/60fps)
- OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X / Intel Core i7-10700
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT / Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 170GB (SSD required)
Interestingly, while the GTX 1070 can manage 1080p on the Low preset, the game employs a strategy that combines graphics presets with both upscaling and dynamic resolution. Although these features can be disabled, some form of DLSS or FSR is practically essential at any resolution due to the game’s demanding nature.
Performance inconsistency is another hurdle. A configuration that runs certain areas smoothly above 60fps can unexpectedly drop to 30fps during intense boss battles or when navigating intricately designed villages. This unpredictability often necessitates lowering quality settings to create a buffer, ensuring the gameplay remains playable during challenging segments.
For benchmarking, a mid-range section of the game was selected, revealing that the GTX 1070 averaged 52fps at 1080p/Low settings, sufficient to maintain a playable experience during demanding sequences. However, for those seeking a more robust performance, newer graphics cards like the RTX 4060 can deliver an average of 60fps on Ultra settings, showcasing the need for more powerful hardware to fully enjoy the game.
Despite the improvements over Final Fantasy XV, which only offered DLSS at 4K, the current PC port of FFXVI still lacks comprehensive support for various resolutions and features. Ultrawide monitor resolutions are unsupported, and cutscenes are frustratingly capped at 30fps, leading to noticeable discrepancies in visual fluidity when transitioning from gameplay to cinematic moments.
Square Enix’s recent commitment to enhancing its multiplatform approach raises questions about the depth of its efforts. A more thorough embrace of the PC gaming ethos could significantly improve the experience for a broader audience, rather than catering primarily to those equipped with high-end hardware.
As with many demanding PC titles, Final Fantasy XVI encourages players to delve into the settings menu. While it may not support every resolution or include an FOV slider, it does offer tools to balance visual fidelity and performance. For instance, using the RTX 4060 as a control GPU, the difference between Ultra and Mid settings yielded only a modest increase in frame rates, suggesting that a sweet spot exists between performance and visual quality.
Optimal Settings for Performance
For those looking to maximize their gaming experience, here are some recommended settings that can enhance performance without sacrificing too much visual quality:
- Super Resolution: DLSS 3/FSR 3
- Dynamic Resolution: On
- Upscaling: Auto
- Motion Blur: 0
- Vignette: Off
- Chromatic Aberration: Off
- Nvidia Reflex Low Latency: Enabled + Boost
- Graphical Fidelity: Medium
- Shadow Quality: Mid
- NPC Quantity: Mid
- Screen Space Reflection: Off
- Ambient Occlusion: Off
- Bloom Shader: Off
While these settings may not deliver the same visual splendor as Ultra, they maintain high-quality textures and terrain details while achieving a frame rate of 73fps on the RTX 4060. Ultimately, the focus should be on establishing a solid foundation of performance before relying on frame generation technologies, particularly for those utilizing the RTX 40 series cards.
