Final Fantasy XV: Performance Analysis With 10 GPUs

By Yannick Guerrini
published

Conclusion

The first surprise this game throws our way is its Nvidia-oriented optimizations, particularly since Final Fantasy XV was originally developed to run on AMD-powered consoles. Nevertheless, a Radeon RX 580 proves to be faster than the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB in our benchmark (albeit with less stable frame times) with Medium and High graphics options. Once we step up to Very High, however, the GeForce jumps ahead, even if it cannot maintain a 60 FPS average.

Note that we didn't test this game with its first post-release patch (published on March 12th). The patch shouldn't affect our test results. But the latest AMD Adrenalin Edition 18.3.2 drivers could improve the performance of our Radeon RX Vega 64 and RX 580 by a few percentage points.

Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition is resource-intensive when it comes to host and graphics processing. With all of its detail settings maxed out, the game won't run smoothly on the mid-range PCs we simulate in our performance tests. You're capped at 1920x1080 and Medium or High quality in order to avoid choppiness that makes the game less enjoyable. At 2560x1440 or 3840x2160, you need a seriously high-end machine for any hope of playable frame rates.

As far as Nvidia's GameWorks initiative goes, we wanted to test the impact those features have on GeForce and Radeon cards alike. Our Radeon RX Vega 64 and RX 580 just couldn't juggle the GameWorks features. It's a bit unfortunate that you have to have a GeForce card to enjoy what those options bring to Final Fantasy. But if you already own a high-end Nvidia GPU, the features become added value.

And don't forget to be mindful of who is watching when you play Final Fantasy XV. As the European classification agency (PEGI) confirms, the game is not recommended for anyone under 16 years of age due to certain violent scenes.


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Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition
Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition
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Yannick Guerrini
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13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • redgarl
    We finally see what is going to happen with AMD graphic strategy by focusing on consoles. In the long term, this is going to be good for them.
    Reply
  • Diji1
    Yes, it's always tomorrow with the AMD crowd, it's going to run Directx 12 faster next year etc.
    Reply
  • aquielisunari
    Far Cry 5 or FFXV? I easily pick Far Cry 5.

    The bench isn't indicative of real world behavior? It's a FFXV trailer with a score. Who's line is it anyways... Look at us!!!!? Harvesting? Fortunately through Steam we can return most any game that we have played for less than 2 hours and within a certain window from the purchase date.

    Thanks for the real test Tom's.
    Reply
  • germz1986
    Where are the high resolution 1440 & 2160 benchmarks? Where are the higher tier graphics cards at?
    Reply
  • redgarl
    20810229 said:
    Yes, it's always tomorrow with the AMD crowd, it's going to run Directx 12 faster next year etc.

    Well, AMD cards are better at DX12 than Nvidia cards. Hardwarecanucks made that analysis a long time ago.

    However this is not really important here. The Xbox One X is hosting something similar to a RX 580. Of course if games are developed with the chip in mind, the port is going to swing on AMD side.

    There is a couple of game that I would love to have result with. Ports from the consoles like Tecmo games, Capcom games, Square Enix games, Konami games, Platinum games... basically the japanese devs.

    Reply
  • aquielisunari
    20810453 said:
    Where are the high resolution 1440 & 2160 benchmarks? Where are the higher tier graphics cards at?

    The higher tier GFX cards are there but aside from that I agree the test wasn't thorough.

    I was averaging around 90FPS at 1080p because of my 4690K at 100%.
    At 3840 x 2160 I was averaging around 50FPS. Looks like 1440p will be best for my setup.


    Reply
  • logainofhades
    Sounds like even my 980ti will not max this game out, especially since I now game at 1440p.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty
    20810565 said:
    20810229 said:
    Yes, it's always tomorrow with the AMD crowd, it's going to run Directx 12 faster next year etc.

    Well, AMD cards are better at DX12 than Nvidia cards. Hardwarecanucks made that analysis a long time ago.

    However this is not really important here. The Xbox One X is hosting something similar to a RX 580. Of course if games are developed with the chip in mind, the port is going to swing on AMD side.

    There is a couple of game that I would love to have result with. Ports from the consoles like Tecmo games, Capcom games, Square Enix games, Konami games, Platinum games... basically the japanese devs.

    It has yet to show this though. Not one game ported from consoles has shown any advantage to AMD at all and they wont because there is still differences in the hardware and the API and how it calls to it compared to PCs even with DX12/Vulkan.

    The only advantage is porting has become easier since x86-64 is the same base and the Xbox now uses a similar Windows 10 kernel, although modified for the Xbox.

    They still need to recode for PCs and their drivers/OS kernel. Then they need to optimize for both sides.

    Unlike most I am not surprised the game features NVidia tech when it was a console game first. That fact means nothing and NVidia is known to work more with developers than AMD does. Might change but NVidia does push that a lot.

    20810932 said:
    Sounds like even my 980ti will not max this game out, especially since I now game at 1440p.

    It would be close but the 6GB of VRAM will limit it. My 1080 is playing it nicely on highest, no AA, at 1080 and I am more than happy. I am just glad they included the soundtracks to all the old games for the car rides.
    Reply
  • Zaporro
    Why no 1440p with GTX1080ti??

    Why everyone is forcing 4k on GTX1080ti if its obviously not ready for it yet?
    Reply
  • Ionlydothis
    AMD's focus on consoles? Hardly a focus, more like desperate plea for money. They cut ridiculous deals for those consoles. Meanwhile, Nvidia leapfrogged AMD with the switch and it's a now relatively ancient chipset. Just wait until they put more money into developing Tegra now that it has a much bigger market than just set-top boxes and tablets.

    Meanwhile, AMD remains good at begging for deals, offering razor thin profit margins to keep their heads up while they offer nothing compelling and their "gamble" in the APU market has remained laughable.

    I really wish AMD was competitive again and that I could count on them to keep it together to really hammer Intel after Ryzen and provide real competition in the graphics market.

    But alas...Not going to happen.
    Reply