Upon the release of Final Fantasy XVI on Steam, I wasted no time in queuing up the download. While I plan to delve deeper into the PC version upon its arrival on September 17, my initial impressions are quite positive. The port seems well-optimized for CPU performance, offers a plethora of graphics options, and is rich in PC gaming features. However, there is one notable issue that I hope to see addressed before the official launch.
The game’s roots on the PlayStation 5 are evident, where it originally ran at either 30 frames per second (fps) in resolution mode or a fluctuating 60 fps in its performance mode. Despite the PC version supporting frame rates up to 240 fps and running smoothly on modern hardware, remnants of its PS5 origins are still noticeable, especially in cutscenes.
Cutscene Concerns
The cutscenes are locked at 30 fps, exhibiting the same judder seen in the PS5 version. Given the game’s frequent transition in and out of cutscenes during gameplay, this issue becomes more pronounced, affecting the overall immersion, especially in the opening segments of the game.
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My primary concern lies with the Cinematic Strikes. These quick-time events often result in a noticeable frame rate drop, akin to a transition to a cutscene. While this can be attributed to the dynamic nature of these events, the stark frame rate difference during Cinematic Strikes compared to regular gameplay is concerning. It is essential for Square Enix to address this issue to provide a smoother gameplay experience.
Impressive Performance Elsewhere
Despite these minor setbacks, Final Fantasy XVI delivers exceptional graphics and smooth performance on PC. Running it on an RTX 4090 at 4K with the Ultra preset resulted in around 80 fps with DLAA enabled. The game’s support for various upscaling technologies, including DLSS and FSR, allows for customization to achieve optimal performance.
The game’s CPU scalability is commendable, with efficient utilization of resources across threads. However, memory usage at higher resolutions and quality settings may require additional resources beyond the recommended specifications.
While there are minor issues to address, my overall experience with the demo of Final Fantasy XVI on PC has been positive. With further optimization and a focus on addressing frame rate discrepancies, the game has the potential to shine on the PC platform.
