Final Fantasy XVI is the 16th addition to the FF franchise that’s had rave reviews. However, some players also report that FF XVI doesn’t start on their PCs. For example, this is what a player said on Reddit, “Been playing it [FF XVI] on pc great since launch and now the game won’t launch at all (when launching on Steam I get the game cover art then it just stops).” This is how you can fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching on a Windows PC.
Verify the Final Fantasy XVI Files
Verifying game files is one of the most universal troubleshooting methods that can fix many technical issues. So, try selecting the Verify integrity option for FF XVI in Steam to fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching. Open this Steam page for details about how you can apply this potential resolution.
The Verify integrity of game files option
Erase the Sl.pcl.dll File
A widely confirmed way to fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching is to delete the sl.pcl.dll file. Sl.pcl.dll is a NVIDIA Streamline file, which can cause startup issues when corrupted. These are the steps for erasing the sl.pcl.dll file.
- First, open the \steamlibrary\steamapps\common\Final Fantasy XVI folder path in File Explorer.
- Click the sl.pcl.dll file there to select it.
- Then, click on the Explorer’s Delete option.
Delete the Shader Cache File
Players also confirm that erasing the ffxvi_b96bc3fb.psol can fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching. Ffxvi_b96bc3fb.psol is a shader cache file for the game. The game will recompile shaders when you delete that file. You can erase the shader cache file like this:
- Click the pinned File Explorer taskbar shortcut.
- Open the C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XVI folder in Explorer.
- Right-click the ffxvi_b96bc3fb.psol file to select its Delete option.
The ffxvi_b96bc3fb.psol file
Run the Game From its Folder With Admin Rights
Setting Final Fantasy XVI to run with admin rights will give it full read/write privileges. When you’ve done that, you can also try starting the game directly from its folder. This is how you can run Final Fantasy XVI from its game folder with admin rights set:
- Go into File Explorer and open the Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > Final Fantasy XVI folder.
- Right-click the ffxvi file to select Properties > Compatibility.
- Select Run this program as an administrator > Apply > OK to set the elevated privileges.
The Compatibility tab
- Then, double-click the ffxvi file in its folder to start the game.
Update Graphical Drivers
If the graphics driver on your PC is outdated, try updating it to fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching. Updating your PC’s graphics driver will better align your GPU’s communication software with the game, which can resolve graphics shader, missing optimizations, and compatibility issues. Our guide for updating graphics drivers covers how you can apply this troubleshooting method in different ways.
The NVIDIA driver download page
Reinstall Final Fantasy XVI (Preferably to SSD)
Reinstalling Final Fantasy XVI can potentially address a variety of launch issues. If possible, try to reinstall that game on an SSD (solid-state drive), which is the recommended storage. Purchasing an external SSD for Final Fantasy XVI and other games might be a good idea if your PC has HDD storage. These are the steps for reinstalling Final Fantasy XVI via Steam:
- Open the Steam gaming client software and select Library.
- Right-click Final Fantasy XVI to select Uninstall.
The Uninstall option
- Select Uninstall again.
- Then, click on your uninstalled FF XVI game and select Install.
The Install option in Steam
- Select an alternative SSD drive if you can.
- Then, click on Install to reinstall.
Other Possible Ways to Fix Final Fantasy XVI Not Launching
There are numerous other ways you might be able to fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching beyond those troubleshooting methods above. Here are some additional suggestions:
- Set different -dx11 or -dx12 launch options for Final Fantasy 16 within Steam.
- Add Final Fantasy XVI to Windows Security or third-party antivirus exclusion lists.
- Select the High performance option for FF XVI in the Windows graphics settings if your PC has two GPUs.
- Turn off the overlays in software that include them, such as Steam, AMD Adrenaline, Discord, and GeForce Experience.
- Apply the clean boot troubleshooting method covered in this Microsoft page.
I hope you kick-start FF XVI with one of the troubleshooting methods above. There aren’t any guaranteed ways to fix Final Fantasy XVI not launching, but some of those resolutions above have worked for players. You can also ask the game’s help service for more potential remedies from this customer support page.
