Final Fantasy 16's PC Launch: A Mixed Bag of Triumphs and Tribulations
After a prolonged wait of over a year, Final Fantasy 16 has finally made its debut on PC. However, the launch has not been entirely smooth. While the game enjoys a Very Positive rating on Steam, many reviews highlight the necessity of an unofficial mod known as
Key Enhancements from the FFXVIFix Mod
The standout feature of the
In addition to lifting the frame rate cap, the mod provides comprehensive support for ultrawide aspect ratios (21:9 or 32:9). Although the game technically accommodates these formats, it still displayed black bars, cropping the visuals to a 16:9 aspect ratio. The
While the primary enhancements focus on frame rate and aspect ratio, the mod also introduces several minor adjustments:
- Players can now modify the field of view during gameplay.
- Utilize DLSS 3 Frame Generation in cutscenes.
- For those who enjoy capturing moments in photo mode, the mod includes a JXL option for higher-quality screenshots.
Despite its initial challenges on PC, Final Fantasy 16 boasts a wealth of exclusive features tailored for the platform. In addition to DLSS 3 support, the game is compatible with AMD’s FSR 3 and Nvidia’s Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing (DLAA). Our performance analysis revealed that the game efficiently utilizes CPU resources, engaging all 16 threads with utilization rates between 30% and 50%. This balanced distribution is promising, as games that rely on only a few threads often encounter significant stuttering issues.
Although Final Fantasy 16 was one of the standout titles of the previous year, it is not without its flaws. As noted in our review, the epic RPG grapples with uneven pacing and simplistic side quests, which can detract from its otherwise thrilling battles and intricate political narrative.
