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Something to look forward to: Square Enix has been hinting at a PC release for Final Fantasy XVI since before its initial launch on PlayStation 5 last year. Now, the company has confirmed that the port will arrive in less than a month. Users can test how well their PCs will handle the game by downloading the free demo and checking the system requirements.
Pre-orders are now open for the PC version of Final Fantasy XVI, which will be available on Steam and the Epic Games Store starting September 17. A free demo is currently available on both platforms.
The demo allows users to benchmark the game's performance and explore PC settings. Square Enix has also provided basic system requirements, noting that the full release will require a substantial 170 GB of storage space – considerably more than the increasingly common 100 GB titles.
Other system requirements are on par with those of recent high-end games. Final Fantasy XVI requires a minimum of 16 GB of memory and 8 GB of video memory to achieve 30fps at 720p resolution.
For that performance level, Square Enix recommends GPUs like the AMD Radeon RX 5700, Intel Arc A580, or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070. To reach 60fps at 1080p, you'll need at least an RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 2080. The recommended CPUs are an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or an Intel Core i7-10700.
While system specs for 1440p or 4K gameplay aren't provided, Final Fantasy XVI supports DLSS 3, FSR frame generation, and XeSS, which can help achieve those higher resolutions. The RPG also supports DLAA and a maximum framerate of 240fps. Square Enix is offering the base game for $50 and a complete edition with two expansion packs for $70.
The original PlayStation 5 edition of Final Fantasy XVI sold below the publisher's expectations, but director Hiroshi Takai recently assured Rock Paper Shotgun that the future of the long-running franchise is secure. Despite Square Enix's market cap falling by 30 percent last year, stable revenue from its successful MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, helped offset some of the losses.
There is speculation that Final Fantasy XVI may have disappointed some fans due to its focus on action-based combat, which is a departure from the franchise's traditional RPG roots. Additionally, the PS5's relatively limited install base compared to previous platforms that hosted Final Fantasy games might have contributed to its initial sales performance.
Takai explained that a simultaneous PC release was never feasible, even if Square Enix had not signed a six-month exclusivity deal with Sony. The studio responsible for developing the game began work on the PC port only after the PS5 launch.