Playing Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck: A Complete Guide

Gamers can finally enjoy running Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck as the game was officially released on PC on September 17, 2024, following a one-year exclusivity period on the PlayStation 5. Since the Steam Deck operates as a PC, it can run this title natively.

However, due to its compact size, the handheld console lacks a dedicated GPU, and its integrated graphics chip isn’t very powerful. To optimize your gaming experience, the right settings are essential.

This article will guide you through the best graphics settings for Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck to maximize performance.

Optimal Graphics Settings for Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck

Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16 (Image via Square Enix)

Here are the recommended settings to ensure you achieve the best performance in Final Fantasy 16 on your Steam Deck:

Display Settings

Graphics Card: No changes required
Display: No changes required
Screen Mode: Fullscreen
Screen Resolution: 1280×720
Refresh Rate: 60
HDR: Off (Enable if using Steam Deck OLED)
Vsync: On

Graphics Settings

Graphics Presets: Custom
Screen Brightness: Adjust to user preference
Super Resolution: AMD FSR 3
Dynamic Resolution: Enabled
Upscaling: Performance
Sharpness: 5
Frame Generation: Enabled
Frame Rate: 60
Motion Blur: 4 (User preference)
Vignette: Disabled
Chromatic Aberration: Disabled
Nvidia Reflex Low Latency: Greyed out
Graphics Fidelity: Low
Texture Quality: Low
Terrain Detail: Low
Shadow Quality: Low
Water Quality: Low
Clutter Density: Low
Screen Space Reflection: Disabled
Ambient Occlusion: Disabled
Bloom Shader: Disabled
Variable Rate Shading: Enabled

Performance Analysis of Final Fantasy 16 on Steam Deck

Final Fantasy 16 in action (Image via Square Enix)

The performance of Final Fantasy 16 on the Steam Deck can fluctuate significantly. With the recommended settings, initial cutscenes and the starting area generally run smoothly at around 60 FPS. However, frame rates may dip to as low as 30 in certain areas, particularly during intense battles.

Notably, performance drops can even occur during some cutscenes, which might seem odd. Players may also experience shader cache and traversal stutters, indicating that Final Fantasy 16 could benefit from fixes and patches from Square Enix.

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