As is the case with most modern games in this current console generation, Final Fantasy 16 comes with a couple of graphics options to choose from. Many games ask you to choose if you want to prioritize the graphical quality or a higher framerate, and that's how things work in FF16.
Final Fantasy 16 comes with two options for graphics modes: Graphics or Framerate. These two offer different experiences for the game, and neither is bad. What it will come down to is your personal preference for how you want to experience the game as you start out.
Updated by Shane Black on July 3rd, 2023: This guide was updated to give further insight to the game’s performance and the issues that are present in it. Specifically, the update gives more detail on the game’s use of motion blur, and the way that it is causing the gameplay to feel more sluggish than it actually is.
Graphics Mode
The first mode is Graphics, and this is the option that will prioritize the graphical fidelity of your game. In this mode, the game will run at a 4K resolution (upscaled from 1440p) at a solid 30fps. This means that the movement of everything will be a little more sluggish but will offer the best-looking graphics. It will give you better shadows, better Anisotropic Filtering, and improved post-processing effects.
In graphics mode, the cutscenes and environments really pop, and you can definitely tell the difference in image quality when playing through it. You will suffer a little bit in combat due to how off it may feel at 30fps, but not to the point where it is unplayable.
It is worth noting, however, that the game can sometimes dip into 1080p resolution in this mode, and while the framerate will stay pretty consistent throughout the whole time, it is something to keep in mind when deciding which option to choose.
Framerate Mode
As you can probably gather from the name, Framerate mode prioritizes getting more frames out of the game, giving you a smoother experience when playing. This is at the cost of resolution, as this mode operates with 1440p (upscaled from 1080p) with 60fps.
The game aims to keep this framerate consistent by occasionally dropping the resolution during the more "busy" times on-screen. For instance, when you are in a combat situation with a lot of enemies and different things going on on-screen, then the game will drop the resolution down to 720p sometimes to give more rendering power to the framerate. It's, luckily, not really noticeable, as there are so many things going on at the time that you can't pick up on it.
As is the case with Graphics mode, there are reports of the frames dropping in this mode despite its commitment to getting the most out of the game. Reports have indicated that the game will drop to anywhere between 40 and 50 frames. There are even reports of the game dropping to close to 30 while exploring. These drops don't happen often, but they were present in the game's demo and seem to have persisted into the full release.
Framerate mode gives you a better experience in combat, with the game feeling really good to play without having to worry about the movement feeling too slow due to the framerate. This is where it really stands out and will offer the biggest difference in the game.
Of course, this can be patched later, as can the resolution drop in Graphics mode.
Which Mode To Choose?
There isn't really a right answer to this question. The mode you choose to play on is going to come down to your preferences.
If you are someone who enjoys a game that looks the best and can forego having more frames, then Graphics mode is going to be the one for you. It gives you, technically, the best-looking experience and stays solid at 30fps, which is more than playable. This mode is really great if you have a high-resolution monitor that you want to get the most out of.
However, if you want the smoothest experience and are looking to capitalize on what this new generation of consoles is offering, then choose Framerate. Even with the occasional dips, the game still runs fantastic for the most part, and you can feel the improvement in smoothness when you choose this mode. This mode is perfect for those of you who have a lower-resolution monitor with a high refresh rate.
It is important to note that at this moment, there are many more reports of the frames dropping in the Framerate mode of the game. Even after the Version 1.02 update was released on the game's release date. The Graphics mode, however, has been reported to be as stable as can possibly be, staying at 30fps no matter what is happening on the screen.
So if you are someone who values consistency, then you will want to go for Graphics mode since Framerate is still pretty inconsistent. It all depends on what you prefer and if those drops in frames is noticeable enough to you.
It is, however, important to note the game's use of motion blur, which is reportedly causing some players to feel nauseous while playing. Motion blur is a common tool used in game's to try and amplify realism and, in some cases, imply speed or power. This effect blurs the surroundings in the game when moving the camera, bringing everything back into focus when the movement stops. Usually, games include an option to turn this feature off and smooth things out. However, Final Fantasy 16 does not have an option to turn it off, yet, and as a result, the game feels choppier than it should.
For this reason, if you are finding yourself feeling sensitive to motion blur, then Framerate is the mode to choose. While it may not be as consistent as players want right now, it still brings a smoother experience that can help compensate for the motion blur effect. Hopefully, the game will be patched to include an option to turn it off. But for now, Framerate is your best bet to deal with it.
Even better, if you keep going back and forth, you can change the mode at any time in the game by going to the Settings menu. You can switch whenever you like to compare and contrast until you land on the mode that feels best for you. While it may be frustrating at first, you will find the solution you are looking for.
In order to change the Graphics Mode, just follow these directions:
- Go to the Menu by pressing Start
- Use R2 to cycle to the Settings tab
- Use R1 to go to the Graphics section
- Select the second option on this screen, Game Performance
- Hit left or right on the D-Pad to change between Graphics and Framerate