Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Developers
	Square Enix
	tri-Ace
Publishers
	Square Enix
Engines
	Crystal Tools
Release dates
Windows	December 10, 2015
Reception
Metacritic	66
OpenCritic	61
IGDB	70
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Microtransactions	None
Modes	Singleplayer
Pacing	Continuous turn-based
Perspectives	Third-person
Controls	Direct control, Point and select
Genres	JRPG, RPG
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Fantasy
Series	Final Fantasy

Key points

Includes all DLC except for an Aerith-themed garb, the Siegfried garb, and 14 adornments. All can be patched back in with two fan-made mods.

PC exclusive graphical features include a new lighting engine, an alternate color palette, glare and texture filtering improvements, with 4K resolution support.

SFX, voice overs, and music are slightly higher in audio quality compared to the console versions.

Outside engine pre-rendered cutscenes have lower quality audio compared to the PS3 version.

General information

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Publisher website		European store
Publisher website		North American store
Green Man Gaming
Humble Store
Microsoft Store
Steam

Essential improvements

Console Button Prompts

This mod adds PlayStation or Xbox buttons back from the original console releases.

Higher Quality Audio for Pre rendered cutscenes

This mod adds in higher quality audio from the PS3 version for the PC version's pre rendered cutscenes

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Steam	<Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\345350\remote\SquareEnix\LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/345350/pfx/

Save game data location

System	Location
Steam	<Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\345350\remote\
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/345350/pfx/

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Steam Cloud		Up to 64 save files (128 MB) can be synced.
Xbox Cloud

Video

Graphics settings menu.

Graphics feature	State	Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen		See the related WSGF post.
4K Ultra HD		4K is the maximum resolution.
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed		Exclusive fullscreen unavailable.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Listed in options as Texture Filtering.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		SSAA available through built-in scaler. Can be used to downscale from 4K, if your screen resolution is lower than that.
Vertical sync (Vsync)		Always on.
60 FPS
120+ FPS		Capped at 60 FPS.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

Keyboard remapping screen

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		No mouse support.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		Confirm and Cancel buttons can be swapped in the Control Options menu.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion		X-axis inversion also available

Additional information
Button prompts		For DualShock button prompts use FFXIII-LR - Console Button Prompts mod.
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		No volume settings of any kind.
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Japanese edition features only the Japanese language.

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Brazilian Portuguese				Fan translation – download.
Russian				Fan translation by "ZOG", [1].
Spanish

VR support

3D modes	State	Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision		See Helix Mod: FINAL FANTASY XIII LIGHTNING RETURNS.

Issues fixed

Some bugs occur when the game is running at 60 FPS

The Gysahl Green patches after planting seeds can sometimes become non interactable.

Rocky crag moles can sometimes become non interactable, making it unable to be collected.

When picking up the fireworks in Yusnaan from one of the chocobo girls, the Miqo'te garb can sometimes not be obtained even though Hope says you got the garb in the conversation that is triggered after you get the Fireworks. Also, one of the fireworks may not be obtained making it unable to even proceed through the story as well.

All of these bugs can be solved if the game is running in 30 FPS

Save the game before interacting with the Gysahl Green patches to plant a seed or when collecting the Greens. Set the frame rate to Fixed and reload the save file. the patch should now be interact able. Before collecting the Rocky Crag moles, save the game and set the frame rate to Fixed. the crag moles should be obtainable. When doing the fireworks quest in Yusnaan, save the game and set the frame rate to Fixed. Reload the save file and start the quest.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	9Ex

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Miles Sound System
Input	DirectInput
Cutscenes	Bink	Out-of-engine and few in engine cutscenes.

Outerworld Addons

This mod restores the Siegfried garb. It also restores the 14 adornments, but only after completing the game once.

Aerith Garb

This mod restores the Aerith garb.

The Thirteenth Ark

The ability to give custom names to schemata was taken out of the PC version. This utility effectively re-enables that function, and adds the ability to lock names to specific slots.

Incompatible after the 12/7/2021 game update

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP SP2	Vista, 7, 8
Processor (CPU)	2 GHz dual-core CPU	Intel Core 2 Quad (2.66 GHz) Phenom II X4 (2.8 GHz)
System memory (RAM)	1500 MB	2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	22 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce 8800GT ATI Radeon HD 4770 512 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible	Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 ATI Radeon HD 5770