Overcoming Performance Obstacles in Final Fantasy 16

In preparation for the highly anticipated release of Final Fantasy 16, the developers have shared insights into the challenges they faced when incorporating the game's performance mode feature. As a continuation of Square Enix's celebrated franchise, Final Fantasy 16 tackles complex themes such as political intrigue, the spread of disease, and personal struggles of its characters. Drawing inspiration from titles like Devil May Cry 5 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2, the game offers a thrilling combination of swordplay, magic, and the awe-inspiring powers of the Eikons. While gamers can opt for a quality mode, Final Fantasy 16 also promises a performance mode for those seeking a smoother 60 frames per second experience.

When creating Final Fantasy 16's performance mode, the development team faced a major hurdle in fine-tuning the feature due to the inclusion of the iconic moogles. These fuzzy, bat-winged creatures have been a staple of the Final Fantasy series and serve as guides for players hunting notorious monsters. However, in the world of Valisthea, they appear even more outlandish and unique. In an interview with Square Enix's blog, art director Hiroshi Minagawa revealed that the moogles posed a challenge due to their high polygon count, and were even compared to hedgehogs at one point during the final iteration of the performance mode.

Minagawa and Yoshida revealed that tackling the morbol, a tentacled adversary, was a challenge they were excited to face from the outset. However, to handle the unique appearances of the moogles, they incorporated specific processing. It's worth noting that the moogles were not originally planned for Final Fantasy 16, but an assistant producer's insistence resulted in their inclusion. Ultimately, the producer's wish was granted, and it remains to be seen if the June 11 launch event in Los Angeles will mark the release of the much-anticipated Final Fantasy 16 demo.

Final Fantasy 16 launches on June 22 for PS5.

Source: Square Enix