Final Fantasy 16 Performance Mode Explained – What’s Best?

Final Fantasy 16 is the best-looking title in the franchise so far. How can you make the most of the game with the Final Fantasy 16 performance mode though?

In recent years, the Final Fantasy series has become one of the benchmarks for visual quality and fidelity. FF VII Remake was breathtaking, and 16 looks just as amazing in a bit of a different way. If you want to get better performance out of the game though, you might not be playing on the highest graphical level. Final Fantasy 16 performance mode can change the focus of your settings, switching to a higher frame rate or performance in areas that you’re struggling with.

On consoles, a lot of games have been offering a performance mode. It’s often a simple division between graphical fidelity and frame rate. Essentially, do you want a good frame rate or do you want ray tracing? When it comes to the Final Fantasy 16 performance mode, things can get a bit muddled. We’ll cover everything you need to know about the modes here and how you can get the most out of the title with the FF 16 performance mode.

Final Fantasy 16 Performance Mode

On PS5, Final Fantasy performance mode is one of two different options for your gameplay. These have a major impact on how the game is presented to you. There are two options, Quality and Performance mode.

The names give a few clues as to what you can expect. Quality is focused on presenting the most impressive visuals at whatever cost. However, Final Fantasy 16 performance mode has a bit more of a balance. It tries to get a decent visual look for the game but with FF 16 combat it's stronger there from the frame rate.

The details of the difference between the two modes is a bit more complicated though.

What is Quality Mode?

In Quality Mode, Final Fantasy 16 is running at 1440p. That native resolution will then be upscaled up to 4K, which is 2160p. That’s a considerable graphical jump. Although, if you don’t have a 4K TV or monitor then this is one area where it doesn’t hurt to stick with Final Fantasy 16 performance mode.

It isn’t just the raw resolution though. The game has a few other settings which are altered in performance mode. You’ll get much higher-quality shadows, anisotropic filtering, and more post-processing effects. The shading from light is considerably improved in Quality mode too thanks to light beams. That’s one of the most impressive visual developments in the game, but ultimately it’s not entirely necessary if you’re just looking to enjoy the Final Fantasy 16 story and lore.

In terms of actual performance, the frame rate is pretty important here. It’s an area where FF 16 performance mode gets kind of complicated. This is the big difference between quality and Final Fantasy 16 performance modes. The frame rate for Quality mode targets 30 FPS.  Although performance mode might aim higher, it does tend to drop more often. The last major thing to think about for Quality mode is that load times are very low.

Final Fantasy 16 Performance Mode

The performance mode of the game is built to target a higher FPS or those who prefer reliability in their combat over the graphical flare. There are a few main differences between this and the Quality mode. The first is frame rate.

Performance mode aims to hit a stable 60 FPS. However, in more intensive scenes it can drop as low as 40. While you’re getting a high frame rate fairly often with this mode, it can still dip. However, it is pretty much always a better frame rate than Quality mode, just less reliable, which is worth bearing in mind.

The resolution in Performance mode is at native 1080p, although that is scaled up to 1440p. The shadows and other effects like lightning are also toned down. The difference isn’t as jarring as some other performance-mode games though.

Which is Right for You?

Out of Final Fantasy 16 performance mode and quality mode, it comes down to personal preference. However, there are some key take aways from how both work. The main difference in frame rate between FF 16 Performance mode and Quality will be the deciding factor for a lot of players.

The Final Fantasy 16 performance mode manages to hit the heights of frame rate that the core mode cannot. However, it is much more prone to drops in frame rate. By targeting a higher rate, it drops more often and can sometimes judder more. Quality mode might be lower but it is more stable. If you’re not too fussed about frame rate then Quality would be for you. If you care more about getting a higher response during combat then Performance is the right pick.

The shadows, lightning, and other minor quality differences don’t make the most difference here. Players likely won’t miss them too much in performance mode. For slower cut scene heavy portions of the game though, it can’t really hurt to max things out on Quality mode and see just why the visuals have been praised so much in Final Fantasy 16 reviews.

Will Final Fantasy 16 Performance Mode Improve? 

One thing to keep in mind about the difference between quality mode and Final Fantasy 16 performance mode is that it might improve. The Day One FF 16 patch could make big differences to the performance of the game. Over time, we might see more improvements being made. The unreliable frame rate has been picked up on pretty widely already, so it’s possible Square makes some optimization changes to get the game running smoother as you make your way through.

At least at launch, those are your two choices for how to play Final Fantasy 16. The FF 16 performance mode is definitely worth using during combat. Quality works better for dramatic sections or going through vistas riding a Chocobo in FF 16. If you play the whole game that way or use quality for the extra effects and more stable rate though just comes down to personal preference.