Final Fantasy XVI Test Raises Questions About Steam Deck “Verified” Rating

A few days ago, Valve gave Final Fantasy XVI a Steam Deck “Verified” rating. SteamDeckHQ has now tested the game on the hardware, and its results question how much the rating actually tells users about the overall experience.

The results are not particularly surprising considering how demanding Final Fantasy XVI is. Combat generally holds 30 FPS, even during attacks and fights with around five enemies, but performance drops significantly during exploration. The frame rate can fall as low as 18 FPS, with high CPU usage, slowdowns and stuttering, particularly in forest areas.

Cutscenes can drop even further to 13 FPS, while the visual compromises also become much more noticeable, with blurry faces and muddy-looking environments.

While the test found that combat is playable, the large performance drops outside battles led SteamDeckHQ to conclude that Final Fantasy XVI should not be considered Steam Deck Verified.

More importantly, the results raise questions about Valve’s verification system. A “Verified” rating can give the impression that a game offers a solid experience on Steam Deck, while Final Fantasy XVI’s test shows that a game can meet the requirements for the rating while still suffering from major performance and visual issues in parts of the game.

Source:

steamdeckhq.com

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About FINAL FANTASY XVI

FINAL FANTASY XVI introduces players to an original standalone story in the FINAL FANTASY universe, an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realm of Valisthea – a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon known as Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

The first DLC chapter, “Echoes of the Fallen,” unlocks new story, battles, weapons, accessories, level cap and more. The adventure begins before the base game’s final battle, as strange, dark crystals begin to circulate on the black market. Players will follow Clive and company during their investigations as they encounter a group of suspicious traders, leading them to a long-abandoned Fallen tower known as the Sagespire and the terrible secrets that await within.

The second, and final DLC chapter, “The Rising Tide,” brings an all-new story, battles, sidequests, weapons, accessories, level cap and more, adding a new depth to Clive’s journey before the exciting conclusion of FINAL FANTASY XVI. Players will gain new Eikonic abilities, explore a beautiful new area in the hidden land of Mysidia, and dive into battle against the legendary water Eikon, Leviathan the Lost. This DLC also adds brand new end-game content with the Kairos Gate, where players will challenge 20 stages of intense scored and ranked battles against waves of enemies.