Oh dear, oh dear - Square Enix has gone and buggered it all up. Final Fantasy XV's latest update - patch 1.05 - dropped in the early hours of morning, and it's already got people shaking their heads in dismay. Teased before the game even hit the market, this update adds 60 frames per second support for PS4 Pro users, but the patch notes specifically say "up to" 60fps - and there's definitely a reason for that.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the game doesn't really come close to hitting that new 60fps cap unless you're purposefully staring at the ground, as comically noted in the Digital Foundry video that we've embedded above. The real issue here, though, is that this new, uncapped frame rate mode actually replaces the title's previous 'lite' graphical option, which saw the game run at a smooth and generally very steady 30fps. In other words, this is the new lite mode, only now you have to deal with a frame rate that jumps between 30 and 50fps on a near constant basis. Yikes.
It's a rather baffling decision on Square Enix's part, as it's essentially removed the best way of playing Final Fantasy XV. While a higher frame rate does have its advantages, the new lite mode obviously results in very choppy gameplay, making us wonder why the developer even bothered. At the very least, this uncapped setting should have just been a third option - why it's replaced the previously praised lite mode entirely is completely beyond us.
So, who's looking forward to that next patch?
Comments 38
It's time to stop, Square Enix.
Disappointing. I think the other thing is that this makes the PS4 Pro look bad, when in reality it's a developer biting off more than it can chew and making promises it can't keep.
That said, I have no problem with the "performance" option being there, but they should have kept the 30fps cap as well.
Square Enix is like that friend of yours that you can't stop liking even though he makes all sorts of stupid decisions.
@fchinaski
But isn't the high setting locked at 30fps now? Or can this dip below 30, is the thing I am not quite following.
Edit: Ah, I see, that mode has frame pacing issues. Used it only for a few seconds and than changed to lite forever. I might hold off updating for as long as possible by letting the game run hibernated, like I do all the time.
@finalstan The high setting does boast a stable frame rate, but it still has bad frame pacing issues.
@finalstan It used to be like this on PS4 Pro:
Lite: locked 30fps at 1080p.
High: iffy 30fps at 1800p.
Now it's like this:
Lite: unlocked framerate hovering around 45fps at 1080p.
High: iffy 30fps at 1800p.
@ShogunRok @get2sammyb Ouch.
I was holding off on playing the game specifically for the 60 fps patch that square Enix had promised. I really didn't think 30 fps was good enough for the ps4 pro. For me the pro has been a huge disappointment.
Its time for DF and in particular Reddit to stop banging on about Frame Pacing. Its like they've got a constant hard-on for it.
Up till this gen most people wouldn't have heard frame pacing being mentioned however now everyone and their dog is seemingly sensitive to it and its being brought up with nearly every game.
I really dont see whats wrong with the full pro mode that was already in the game. It was already smooth, ok it was at 30fps but otherwise it has been a fluid experience and ive struggled to see any frames being mis-timed.
Its not great that the new patch doesnt deliver on the 60fps promise but the video making out the full mode is more or less unplayable is quite frankly, strange.
Maybe im not 'sensitive' to it but its making a mountain out of a mole hole imo.
@solocapers I actually agree with you to some degree. Like, I get the point of Digital Foundry is quite literally to nit-pick, but I played the entire game in High Mode and it was fine.
I'm not saying the performance or this patch is acceptable, but sometimes there can be a case of making a mountain out of a molehill.
@get2sammyb Yea thats exactly the same experience I had. Its fine pointing out problems but the problem just doesn't seem to actually exist? Thats what really bothers me with their stance.
The patch is a shambles in that it doesn't achieve 60fps that cannot be denied.
My problem with the video and previous videos they've posted about FFXV's performance is that its doing nothing but create a largely toxic environment.
However, the "60fps patch" clearly is a problem so yea.. SquareEnix.. Sort it out eh?
I've played a fair bit of the game and I really didn't notice any frame pacing problems tbh.
The new patch is alright but it's probably best they should've just quit whilst they were ahead.
I know nothing about frame pacing but I thought the High mode was horribly choppy so I've been playing on Lite which is (was?) great. Will give it a go with the new update after work.
Yikes indeed. If that's the best they can muster out of the Pro, I might just have to hold off for the PC version, if one ever exists. Really makes me want to hold off on starting it even more.
I've been calling this one from the start. SE never confirmed a 60fps mode, just a high resolution mode. Now, since everyone has been calling it a 60fps mode, many people are disappointed it's NOT a true 60fps.
I'd rather them just fix the High Mode frame pacing (it doesn't bother me all that much, but it should be fixed anyways). This way, 1080p users can get their smooth locked 30 with down-sampling, but others can use the uncapped mode.
and this is why i didn't get a pro, most of these games wasn't built for the system so there is bound to be issues that would make running it hard
Square are probably doing the best they can with it at the moment and i'm sure there will be more patches to come to make it work
@get2sammyb @ShogunRok You guys left out carnival being removed. I know you didn't like it, but it was promoted, put in, then removed in the middle of the night. I know they said it would be removed but it's still lame removing something they marketed alongside the season pass. It should be removed for free users but those buying the season pass should keep it. You guys complained about them wasting time making it, we'll it's even worse they wasted time making it just to take it down after 3 weeks.
@rjejr Well this is one of the reasons @ShogunRok and I criticised it in the first place. It was always due to be a time limited thing, so why the hell did they bother spending all that time on it in the first place?
Wow. What a complete and utter disappointment. I was holding off to buy the game until this patch came out, and now the game's in an even worse state. What a mess.
I see this didn't play out as expected but have to say they always called it "Higher frame rate" and not 60fps, so part of the problem is people's expectations...
@NathanUC #truthfacts
@FullbringIchigo To be fair, Final Fantasy XV doesn't run perfectly on a standard PS4, either. Square Enix clearly went through a lot of trouble making this engine and getting it to work properly. I'd blame the company's own tech rather than the Pro.
I feel like I'm avoiding a lot of stress for not having a Pro. I'm keeping my standard PS4 until PS5 comes around, thank you very much.
I played the entire game in the high mode and the frame pacing never bothered me, if they simply fix this there isn't an issue but more options are always better
@FullbringIchigo up until this point I suppose you're right but from now onwards games will be developed with Pro in mind, with Horizon in particular not only having a higher resolution but graphical enhancements too and with a higher performance mode coming at launch
@solocapers Yeah I agree, when I'm playing bloodborne I don't have problem at all with the framerate and supposed frame pacing, sure it's not as smooth as, say, nier or nioh, but I only need about 2-3 minutes to adjust to the game framerate. And I'm sure most people doesn't have the problem too since all third party AAA games sold best on console, not pc.
The patch is dissapointing though, why squareenix wasting time making limited time event rather than focus making the patch good.
@get2sammyb Well obviously I remember you and Shogun criticizing it, but I don't recall time limited being a reason, but for you I'll go check.
Not in this one, where you seem to just dislike minigames in general.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/01/final_fantasy_xvs_moogle_chocobo_carnival_is_just_the_dumbest_thing
Not here. Though time limited may not have been a thing yet.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/01/final_fantasy_xvs_chocobo_carnival_event_invites_you_to_a_first_look_later_today
Shogun just seemed to hate it here, and while he did mention time limited, spending time to make something that was time limited didn't really register on his list of many reasons to hate it. Everything about it was more than enough reasons for him to hate it.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/01/final_fantasy_xvs_moogle_chocobo_carnival_is_just_the_dumbest_thing
It was over 9,000x better than Chapter 13 or Castlemark Tower but they still made both of those, and we actually had to play thru Chptr 13 while Castlemark Tower was at least optional, like this free fun diversion.
I was wrong about it being part of the season Pass though, I'll admit when I'm wrong, I thought I purchased the season pass for carnival admission. Oh well.
Worst past, b/c of the season pass stuff not coming out until who knows when I'm putting off my H:ZD purchase. It may be a 9/10 now, but who knows, it could be updated to a 10/10 by summer after they get feedback. Why play a 9 game when I can play a 10? The whole industry sucks now.
@ShogunRok probably why they are using Unreal engine on game now
also i haven't noticed any problems playing on the standard PS4 myself
@rjejr I feel the subtext of our point was why are they bothering making this rubbish - especially if you're only going to be able to play it for a few weeks.
@FullbringIchigo Nah, no real problems here either, but some definite frame rate dips in places.
And yeah, Unreal 4 is Japan's saviour!
Just to say.... The PS Pro rocks.
lol ps4 pro is a MESS
I know this may sound insane, but cant we have say a locked 40 or 45 frames per second? Sounds daft but its either 30 which is a little too slow or 60 which is practically perfect but unachievable with the effects.
@manu0 Kind of, but its because developers are going all mental with it.
I've mentioned it a few times but infamous second son looks incredible on the pro on a 4k tv as does Ratchet and Clank. Way better than ps4 scrubs - but the developers haven't over reached, worked within the systems limitations and made good use from the pro. The jump from 1080p to 1440p / 1800p is very noticeable on a 50 inch screen and looks incredible. 4k is simply too many pixels for £350 at this point in technology. They need to build in baby steps as 1440p is a huge jump in pixels from 1080p and although not 4k is all most of us actually need right now, its hard to describe but if I knew every game would have a 1440p option same frame rate as the original ps4. I would put that on every time.
@get2sammyb "I feel the subtext of our point was why are they bothering making this rubbish"
Well I got that point crystal clear, it certainly doesn't add anything to the game at all. Have you considered this game was due out so long ago the Carnival was supposed to be an add-on areas for Home on PS3. It sure felt like being in Home.
"especially if you're only going to be able to play it for a few weeks."
That subtext was too subtle for me I suppose, sorry, didn't really pick up on that at the time. I suppose if I go back and read it now while I squint a bit I can see it though.
I still liked the carnival for what it was, a Home clone, but I'll agree 100% it really seems like a waste if it was only going to be up for 3 random weeks in winter. What's the point of that, add it or don't.
@get2sammyb What. This makes zero sense. Just what is Squenix doing?
@themcnoisy My understanding is that 30 or 60 is preferable due to refresh rates and vsync/screen tear issues. I can't be more specific without researching but its an interesting point.
@kyleforrester87 I think TVs used to run at 50hz pal (50 fps) - obviously upped to 60hz universally (60 fps) when HD became a thing. We should of stuck with 50hz its more attainable lol.
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