Final Fantasy XVI on Handheld PCs: A Performance Review

The long-awaited PC port of Final Fantasy XVI has finally arrived, and with it, the question on every gamer’s mind: can it run on handheld PCs? In this article, we’ll delve into the performance of Final Fantasy XVI on the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, and explore what you can expect from this PS5-to-PC port.

A Rocky Start

The Steam Deck, Legion GO, and ROG Ally Z1 are the current flagship handheld PCs, and they’ve proven themselves capable of handling demanding AAA titles. However, Final Fantasy XVI presents a unique challenge. With its stunning visuals and complex gameplay, it’s a title that pushes the limits of handheld PC hardware.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800U processor, found in the Steam Deck.

Steam Deck Performance

The Steam Deck’s native resolution is a major hurdle for Final Fantasy XVI. Even with AMD FSR 3, Frame Generation, and dynamic resolution, the game struggles to maintain a smooth framerate. Without any scaling technologies, the game averages around 19 FPS, which is far from playable.

Activating AMD FSR yields a noticeable boost, but the game still feels sluggish during movement and panning. The framerate occasionally dips below 30 FPS, and open-world environments would likely exacerbate this issue.

ROG Ally Performance

The ROG Ally, on the other hand, offers a slightly better experience. With the resolution lowered to 1280x720, the game becomes more playable. The addition of Dynamic Resolution and AMD FSR brings the framerate to around 30-35 FPS, but this comes at the cost of stuttering and erratic frame pacing.

Zotac Zone: A New Contender

As the handheld PC market continues to grow, new devices are emerging to challenge the established players. The Zotac Zone, with its AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor and 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, looks to carve out its own niche.

The Zotac Zone.

Conclusion

While Final Fantasy XVI on handheld PCs is not yet a seamless experience, there’s still hope for improvement. With the game’s official PC release just around the corner, Square Enix has time to refine and optimize the port. For now, the Steam Deck and ROG Ally offer a glimpse into the potential of handheld PC gaming, even if it’s not yet fully realized.