Games

Final Fantasy 16 Releases New Update for October 2024

Published

1 month ago

October 17, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Square Enix has released a new patch for the PC version of Final Fantasy 16.
The update addresses crashes, fixes issues causing graphics not to display properly, and improves overall performance.
Fans are still hoping to see better optimization going forward.

Square Enix has released a new update for the PC version of Final Fantasy 16. The patch aims to address some of the more pressing issues fans have been having with the new port of Final Fantasy 16, which was initially released as a PlayStation 5 exclusive in June 2023.

While Square Enix has stated that the game failed to meet expectations, the newest mainline entry in the Final Fantasy series sold over three million copies on PlayStation 5 in its first week. In September 2024, players were finally able to purchase Final Fantasy 16 on PC, along with its Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide DLC expansions. While this opened up the RPG to a larger audience, its large file size, lack of features, and performance issues on PC have caused frustration for many new players. A new patch seeks to address some of the more glaring issues found throughout the port.

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Final Fantasy 16’s Cid is arguably one of the best versions ever to appear in the series, but he doesn’t come without one significant downside.

Patch 1.02 for the PC version of Final Fantasy 16 addresses a number of issues causing graphics not to display properly on certain screens and fixes an irritating issue with mouse scrolling when using an aspect ratio setting other than 16:9. The developers at Square Enix also noted that overall game performance has been improved following adjustments to the title’s Graphical Fidelity settings. As they explore the many unique and complex locales found in Final Fantasy 16, players can also expect fewer crashes following this new update.

While PC players are sure to be happy about these helpful fixes, many in the community are hoping for better optimization going forward. Many Final Fantasy PC ports have been lacking, with the Final Fantasy 13 games being particularly notable for their performance issues and constant crashes. In the case of Final Fantasy 16, many players were surprised to find that the PC port doesn’t include ultrawide support, something modders quickly remedied. The in-game cinematics remain locked at 30 FPS, and the game still doesn’t have an FOV slider, something else that requires a mod to fix.

While certain Final Fantasy PC ports are far from perfect, fans are still happy to see the games reach a larger audience. In May 2024, Square Enix announced that it would embrace a multiplatform strategy going forward to combat declining sales, intending to release titles on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo going forward. Currently, fans are excited to find out when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will finally make the highly anticipated jump to PC.

Final Fantasy 16 PC Version 1.02 Patch Notes

Change Log:

A cursor lock option has been added to Settings in the Main Menu. Default is set to OFF.
Timing for the shutter click sound effect when taking screenshots has been adjusted.
Help text for Photo Mode has been tweaked to improve clarity.
Shadow Quality settings have been adjusted to include cloud quality at all three levels—low, medium, and high—instead of only at high. This should improve performance when low or medium is selected.
Graphical Fidelity settings have been adjusted to improve overall game performance.

The following have also been addressed:

Issues with mouse scrolling when using aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
Issues with locking on during the Eikonic Feat Blind Justice when using aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
Issues with in-game access point interaction when using borderless window mode in conjunction with aspect ratio settings other than 16:9.
Issues with the last device used not remaining active when playing with multiple controllers.
Graphics not displaying properly on certain screens.
Issues with UI continuity.
Unexpected crashes with select hardware setups.
Other minor issues.

An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.
This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

Systems

Released: June 22, 2023
Engine: Proprietary Engine
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
How Long To Beat: 36 Hours
PS Plus Availability: N/A
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty