Final Fantasy 16 Steam Deck performance proves an upgrade is needed

by

Final Fantasy 16 Steam Deck performance proves an upgrade is needed

As a dedicated gamer with a decade-long history of gaming on various platforms, I have to say that my initial excitement for Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck was quickly dampened by its performance issues. Having played numerous games on the Steam Deck, I can confidently say that it’s no slouch and often outperforms systems like the PS4. However, when it comes to Final Fantasy 16, even with the lowest settings, the framerate is unstable, hovering around 25fps and lurching during big set pieces or cutscenes.

Following a year of exclusive release on PlayStation, Final Fantasy 16 is now making its way to PC. Interestingly enough, the game’s performance on the Steam Deck by Valve suggests that an upgraded system may become necessary in the near future.

How bad is Final Fantasy 16 Steam Deck performance? 

Currently in its pre-launch phase, you’re able to experience a substantial demo of Final Fantasy 16 on the Steam Deck. Unfortunately, the gameplay on the Steam portable device is less than ideal at this time.

Even running Final Fantasy 16 on the absolute lowest settings with FSR image reconstruction, it’s impossible to keep a stable framerate. Instead, the game hovers around 25fps with lurches in huge set pieces or cutscenes. 

Initially created with the PS5 in mind, Final Fantasy 16 wasn’t intended for a device as small-scale as Valve’s hardware. Although the handheld can perform games even more efficiently than a PS4, it falls short compared to Sony’s current console in terms of power.

On PC, Final Fantasy 16’s minimum specs require an Intel i5-4460 and an Nvidia GTX 1060 which substantially outclasses the Steam Deck. While a very powerful handheld, it just can’t handle the brunt of Square Enix’s massive RPG. As a result, Final Fantasy 16 Steam Deck performance is too unstable to recommend. 

Time for Steam Deck 2? 

Although it’s not immediately crucial, the suboptimal performance of Final Fantasy 16 on the Steam Deck underscores the need for a subsequent console to be launched. With this generation of gaming at its peak, boasting titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar, the Steam Deck is starting to lag behind.

Given the current state of affairs, many AAA titles may not run smoothly on the Steam Deck due to performance issues. This implies that the release of a Steam Deck 2 might be imminent to address these challenges. However, existing owners can still savor their handheld gaming experiences for the time being.

If you’re still looking to play Final Fantasy 16 on the portable, you can still play the game in its entirety. On the other hand, if you have a decent internet connection, the game can also be played via GeForce Now. 

Read More

2024-08-29 15:40