Xbox Series S Outperforms Nintendo Switch 2 in Final Fantasy VII Remake Texture Quality Despite Lower RAM

Release of Final Fantasy VII Remake on New Consoles

Square Enix recently launched the much-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake on Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2. These releases follow a successful run on the PlayStation platforms, reigniting enthusiasm among gamers for this classic title.

User Feedback and Performance Analysis

Initial reactions from gamers, particularly about the Nintendo Switch 2 version, have been quite positive. However, a closer inspection by Digital Foundry reveals that the Xbox Series S version stands out as the most technically impressive in the lineup.

Hardware Insights: Xbox Series S vs. Nintendo Switch 2

The Xbox Series S has faced frequent criticism for its hardware limitations, particularly regarding RAM. Remarkably, despite the Nintendo Switch 2 offering more RAM—9GB compared to 8GB—the texture quality in Final Fantasy VII Remake is superior on the Xbox Series S.

While the Switch 2 appears to utilize a mix of assets from both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series S fully capitalizes on the high-quality assets of its more powerful counterpart, the Xbox Series X, as well as the PS5. Digital Foundry attributes this achievement to efficient texture streaming linked to its CPU capabilities. The Series S is equipped with a custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor, similar to that of the Series X, with a slightly lower clock rate. On the flip side, the Nintendo Switch 2 features a less powerful ARM Cortex-A78C CPU, which, although enhanced by NVIDIA DLSS support, does not match the graphical performance of the Xbox model in this context.

Graphics Settings and Performance Options

Regarding graphics settings for the Xbox Series S version, elements such as shadow quality fall between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions. Players have the flexibility to choose between resolutions and frame rates: either 1080P at 60 frames per second or 1440P at 30 frames per second. In contrast, the Xbox Series X mirrors the PS5 settings, offering 1512P at 60 frames per second in Performance Mode, and 2160P (native 4K) at 30 frames per second in Quality Mode.

Looking Forward: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

As anticipation builds for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, expected later this year for Xbox Series S|X and Nintendo Switch 2, early indications suggest that this upcoming installment may place greater demands on hardware. Given its expansive open-world nature, there are concerns about resolution compromises, even on the PlayStation 5. Observers are keen to see how developers will manage the balance between visual fidelity and frame rate across varying platforms.

Future of the Final Fantasy VII Trilogy

In related news, Square Enix has confirmed that the third installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy will continue to utilize Unreal Engine 4, opting against an upgrade to the latest Unreal Engine 5, as the development team remains more proficient with the former.

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