How to fix FF16 motion blur: Can you turn it off?

Motion blur first started to become prevalent in games during the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era, a much-maligned time in video gaming history when titles such as Call of Duty and Battlefield seemed to suddenly become very brown-hued, adorned with lens flares - as if trying their best pastiche of JJ Abrams and Transformers films.

More advanced techniques such as per-pixel motion blur featured in boundary-pushing releases like 2007's Crysis, but even that had its naysayers and the debate surrounding the post-processing feature has never ended since.

Sixteen years since then, we have everything you need to know about Final Fantasy 16’s motion blur and if you can turn it off.

What is motion blur in FF16?

Motion blur is used a lot in Final Fantasy 16 with the custom engine created by Creative Business Unit III utilising a per-pixel motion blur technique - meaning that, rather than applying a generic blurring to the screen whenever motion is present, every object in the game that moves will have motion blur relative the player's speed.

While some appreciate the effect that it has — especially in the Quality mode preset, which sticks to 30 frames-per-second, where the long-shutter speed used in Final Fantasy 16 can help smooth the visuals — others disdain the use of motion blur as they believe it detracts from the visual clarity of the game and they’d rather see every pretty detail.

Different strokes for different folks and all that.

How to fix FF16 motion blur: Can you turn it off?

Currently, you cannot turn off motion blur in Final Fantasy 16. However, there is one thing you can do that might make it less noticeable for you. In your graphics settings, you should have the option to choose between Quality and Performance mode.

Choosing the latter, Performance mode, should reduce your motion blur problems to some extent and bump up the frame rate to boot.

That being said, some players may find that Performance mode doesn't look how they want it to, either, as it does not always hold onto a stable 60 frames-per-second.

Hopefully, in the future, Square Enix will introduce an option to disable motion blur properly for players who do not enjoy the look of it. It may also buy a little extra smoothness too if the developers aren’t able to get the Performance mode running that much better.

As soon as any developments are made in this regard we will be sure to update you. In the meantime, why not check out what else we have on Final Fantasy 16 while you wait for your clean and crispy visuals?

Read more:

• FF16 review - our final verdict
• FF16 Clive actor - Ben Starr in his own words
• FF16 trophy guide - all trophies listed
• FF16 chapters - main story levels
• How long is FF16 and is it open-world?
• FF16 cast - where you know them from
• FF16 characters - families and factions explained
• FF16 soundtrack - composer and details
• FF16 PC release - what we know
• Will FF16 come to PS4 and Xbox?

Subscribe to our free Gaming Newsletter for weekly insights, and visit our Gaming hub for all the latest news.

Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home — subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast