Final Fantasy 16 has had an interesting life on PC, as it’s one of the franchise’s most demanding titles for computers. Things just got more interesting for the JRPG, as Square Enix has removed Denuvo, making it easier to play this game for a number of reasons. It’s big news, especially since Denuvo has been a pain to many gamers.
When checking the game’s patch notes on SteamDB (via Overclock3d), it was revealed that Denuvo had been removed with this new update. Naturally, PC fans are really happy with the move, as it makes playing this RPG a bit easier. That probably won’t increase how it runs on a Steam Deck, but this is still pretty cool.
Denuvo is a huge pain to players because it sometimes affects the performance of games, which was often the case for Final Fantasy 16. Because this was ported over from the powerhouse PlayStation 5, this action RPG had performance issues and plenty of stuttering. Updates have made performance a bit better, even on Steam Deck, but most fans would recommend playing it on PS5.
Another reason why gamers hate Denuvo is because it makes these PC games impossible to pirate. It’s why games like Persona 5 Royal and Sonic X Generations haven’t been cracked by a certain section of fans. Obviously, we’d rather fans support the developers and publishers by buying these titles, but considering how games quickly get delisted, it's clear to see why people take the piracy route.
Even though the game launched with bugs and various issues, Final Fantasy 16 is still seen as a high point in the series. While this is more of a character action game than a proper JRPG, it still has great combat and a solid storyline. The DLC was also pretty solid, giving fans Cloud’s Buster Sword and an extra chapter to play through.
Pretty much anyone can get Final Fantasy 16 now, which is readily available on PC and PS5. If gamers want a more Steam Deck-friendly title, get Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.