Square Enix praised for latest Final Fantasy 16 patch

The new update casts the spotlight on several additions under the System tab of the Main Menu. The biggest enhancement is the introduction of the Motion Blur Strength adjustment. With a scale of 0 to 5, this slider lets the players manipulate the potency of the motion blur effect during character and camera movements. The default setting rests at 5, which is the max intensity, but can now be dialed down or switched off altogether for players seeking a crystal-clear view of their in-game actions.

Players have reacted warmly to this update, thanking Square Enix for responding to feedback. The motion blur effect is one of the biggest grievances among users since FF16's release. Further enhancing user control, the update introduces a slew of new camera settings: Player Follow (Movement) and Player Follow (Attack). When disabled, these settings stop the camera from auto-tracking the player's movements and attacks, enabling players to wield more command over camera positioning during gameplay. The Camera Sensitivity options, both Horizontal and Vertical, now offer an expanded range, with maximum settings boosted from 10 to 20.

In tandem with these improvements, three new controller layouts have been introduced, labeled as types D, E, and F. These augmentations provide players with a greater variety of customization options, taking the gaming experience a notch higher.

Square Enix hasn't left any stone unturned in its quest to iron out glitches. The update solves a previous issue affecting the stability of some menus and has fixed some text issues, improving the overall gaming experience.

The 1.03 update isn't all about technical enhancements, though. It also features the hashtag #FF16, automatically added when players share screenshots or video clips on platforms like Twitter or YouTube. This move is an acknowledgment of the game's online community, fostering a vibrant digital sphere around the game.

While the updates are lauded as significant improvements, it remains unclear whether the 1.03 update addresses some of the performance issues previously reported by players. There's no mention in the patch notes about the specific cutscene that was causing heating problems on the PlayStation 5, an issue that sparked considerable discussion. Square Enix might not have initially planned to release a series of post-launch patches, but it seems that feedback from the gaming community nudged the developers to rethink their strategy.

However, there's legitimate criticism about whether the issues with FF16 is Square Enix's fault or a design flaw of the PS5. Keep in mind that the overheating issue isn't an isolated incident. Everything from Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man: Remastered, Diablo 4, and even God of War: Ragnarok, have all reportedly resulted in PS5 units turning off on their own. If we argue that FF16 pushes the PS5 more than the aforementioned games, the flagship console should be capable of handling it properly, especially given the close ties between Square Enix and Sony.

On the PC, firmware updates are pushed to video cards and CPUs to fix these sorts of issues. On the PS5, it isn't Square Enix's job to manage its failing thermals. The PS5 automatically shutting down means that the hardware isn't doing its job correctly.

The only silver lining here is that the PC port is coming, which should give fans the definitive version of FF16, similar to the result of bringing Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the PC.