Final Fantasy XVI will feature near instant load times and a Frame Rate mode that targets 60fps with some compromises to image quality.
Speaking during a panel dedicated to Final Fantasy XVI at PAX East 2023, producer Naoki Yoshida revealed that the game features a Frame Rate mode that targets 60fps and demonstrated that it takes advantage of the PS5 hardware to deliver near instant load times.
During the demonstration, Yoshida revealed that Final Fantasy XVI will feature two Performance modes: a Graphics mode that targets 30fps while running at a resolution of 4K (2160p), and a Frame Rate mode that targets 60fps while compromising on resolution. While it was not explicitly stated what resolution the Frame Rate mode would run at, it’s likely to be close to 1440p.
Meanwhile, the demonstration also showed a save file being loaded during gameplay. The PS5 loaded the save file near instantly, taking around 3 seconds to return to gameplay.
In addition to shedding light on the above technical details, Yoshida also answered some “burning” questions that fans had been asking, revealing new details regarding the gameplay. In response to a question about the use of QTEs during battles, he mentioned that Final Fantasy XVI’s boss battles are split into multiple phases.
With each phase shift come certain changes to the environment and boss itself. He said that simple QTEs have been added in order to allow these phase shifts to feel “dynamic”. He added that QTEs are there to keep the player in the heat of the action, and failing one does not result in defeat. Yoshida explained that there are three types of QTEs in Final Fantasy XVI, namely Attack, Evasion, and Clash.
In response to another question regarding the size of areas in Final Fantasy XVI, Yoshida said that the game features both smaller areas and larger fields. He added that the map size, design, and layout are unique to each stage.
