Final Fantasy XVI GDeflate Implementation Shows How GPU Decompression Still Has a Long Way to Go

Sep 9, 2024 at 07:35am EDT
Final Fantasy XVI

The soon-to-be-released PC version of Final Fantasy XVI uses GDeflate, a GPU decompression standard, but it seems the technology still has a long way to go to bring significant improvements, judging from a recent comparison video based on the demo version.

The comparison video shared by Compusemble puts the game running at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p resolutions with CPU and GPU decompression side by side, highlighting how there's no tangible performance benefit with GPU decompression. Loading times are also identically with CPU and GPU decompression, further highlighting how the technology still has a long way to go to bring significant improvements, although, according to Compusamble, Final Fantasy XVI's implementation of the technology is a step up from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, as in the Insomniac Game, GPU decompression also impacted performance.

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Final Fantasy XVI is now available on PlayStation 5 and will be released on PC on September 17th. You can learn more about the latest main entry in the series by checking out our review.

Final Fantasy XVI heralds in a new standard for Japanese role-playing games and while the RPG components themselves are limited by Square-Enix standards, it's the narrative and gameplay that exceed all expectations. What begins with kingdom-wide subterfuge and destruction ends with a world forever changed and the player, as Clive Rosfield and Ifrit together, are the driving force to see it all through until the end.

About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.

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