With the influx of console games getting the PC port treatment, it can be a hit or miss when it comes to launch day performance. Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition, thankfully, sticks the landing with all the elegance of an Imperial Dragoon.
Initially a PlayStation 5 exclusive, Final Fantasy XVI is a showcase title for the platform, one that pushes Sony’s hardware to its limits. Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition not only collects all the available downloadable content made available for the game but also does so in a package that far exceeds what is possible on PlayStation 5.
With Sony’s recent announcement of the PlayStation 5 Pro, in theory, players can eventually not have to choose between performance and graphic fidelity. Still, for now, Square Enix makes a strong argument by providing a solid-performing version of Final Fantasy XVI on more capable hardware.
Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition, running on my AMD 7900XTX yields an impressive 160fps on average, with the FPS uncapped. While sticking with my OLED’s refresh rate, I can comfortably run the game at 4k max settings with FSR3 enabled at a mostly locked 120 frames per second, while any perceivable hitches or stutters were not apparent thanks to VRR support (Variable Refresh Rate).
“Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition not only collects all the available downloadable content made available for the game but also does so in a package that far exceeds what is possible on PlayStation 5.”
Unfortunately, one minor issue regarding performance in Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition stems from its liberal use of pre-rendered cutscenes that run at a much lower 30FPS. Despite adding to the cinematic feel of more exposition-heavy scenes, Final Fantasy XVI can feel jarring on PC, as some scenes are still rendered in-engine, meaning you’ll be jumping around a silky smooth 120fps in one instance, only to slow down when things heat up, which can be a little distracting from an otherwise, pristine presentation.
Overall, though, Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion really shines where it counts — in its gameplay and combat sequences. With a heavy focus on real-time battles, Final Fantasy XVI is a joy to play on PC, thanks to everything feeling an order of magnitude above what is possible in the console counterpart.
Booting up Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion for the first time, like any modern port, first requires a somewhat lengthy shader caching process, but one that, at least in my use case, results in a smooth gameplay experience, free of any hitches or stutters, or other signs that are indicative of shader related issues.
“Overall, though, Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion really shines where it counts — in its gameplay and combat sequences.”
Square Enix has also made it possible to use a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller with Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion. PlayStation controller support allows adaptive triggers and the nuanced rumble from its PlayStation 5 release to remain intact. As a small caveat, it should be noted that upon launching the game, you do receive a message stating that DualSense support only works via a wired connection. However, I was able to use mine via Bluetooth, thanks to DSX, and with Sony’s recent PlayStation Accessories app on Windows, it may be possible to use official software to get the job done.
With a playtime of roughly 40 hours, not including the new downloadable Rising Tides and Echoes of the Fallen content, which further adds another six hours of gameplay to the base experience, Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion will keep you busy. And if you have the hardware for it, it may even be worth it for those who want to double dip for the significant performance boost, thanks to an excellent porting job.
When it comes down to it, Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edtion is a solid port of an already great experience, now made free from the restraints of a home console title, held back ever so slightly due to an over-reliance on pre-rendered cinematics that becomes overly evident on PC.
