The wait for Final Fantasy XVI on PC will soon be over, as the game is in the “final stages of optimisation,” according to producer Naoki Yoshida. There’s a catch, however — while the exact system requirements have yet to be officially listed, expect them to be a higher end.
“In terms of where we are in development currently, we’re trying to figure out the final stages of optimisation right now,” he told Game Informer. “When we can release the PC version might be dependent on that – the system requirements and specifications for PC that players will need, so we’re trying to figure that out. Naturally, [the PC specifications] are looking to be somewhat high.”
The news doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that the original PS5 version clocked inconsistent frame rates even when visual fidelity was prioritised over performance. Previously, Square Enix also had issues porting Final Fantasy VII Remake over to PC, which saw stuttering and minimal graphical options on more powerful desktops.
For those unsure whether their rig will be able to handle the heat, here’s some good news. Square Enix plans to release a demo ahead of launch, so they can put it through its paces before committing to the full game, which currently has no release window. It’s expected to arrive sooner than later, however.
“We’re looking to release a demo for the PC version as well. Again, we can’t really talk about too much in terms of details of when it’s going to come out — I think in a little bit more time we’ll be in a better place to announce things. But one thing’s for sure: It won’t be too distant in the future; it won’t be a year, it won’t be two years, it will probably be shorter than that, so stay tuned,” shared Yoshida.
Final Fantasy XVI was first reported to hit PC last year. It received the Echoes of the Fallen expansion six months later in December, and will follow-up with the second part, The Rising Tide in Spring 2024.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
