(Click for general game info.)
System requirements:
Latest drivers: (as at 21/12/2017)
Nvidia: 388.71
AMD: 17.12.2
Intel: Depends on your processor; download the driver update utility
Benchmarks:
Bit-Tech (English; launch build[?]; DX11)
Computer Base (German; launch build; DX11)
Computer Base (German; 09/09/2016 DX12 preview build; DX12)
GameGPU (Russian; pre-release; DX11 and DX12)
Guru3D (English; launch build; DX11)
HardOCP (English; launch build; DX11)
HardOCP (English; 17/11/2016 build; DX11 and DX12)
Legit Reviews (English; launch build; DX11)
PC Games Hardware (German; launch build and pre-release; DX11)
PC Lab (Polish; 09/09/2016 DX12 preview build[?]; DX11 and DX12)
PC Perspective (English; 24/10/2016 build; DX12)
TechPowerUp (English; launch build; DX11)
Tech Report (English; 09/09/2016 DX12 preview build; DX12)
Tips and tricks:
PC performance guide (Nixxes): See this Squeenix forum thread. (Credit to MasterMenace.)
PC performance guide (PC Gamer): See this article. (Credit to 4jjiyoon.)
Cap the framerate/potentially improve frametimes: Download RivaTuner Statistics Server, input your desired framerate limit in the "Framerate limit" box, and hit enter (the program comes bundled with MSI Afterburner and earlier versions of EVGA PrecisionX). Alternatively, those with an Nvidia GPU have the option of Nvidia Inspector, which can also be used to impose a framerate cap, either in a similar manner to RTSS or by way of forcing a different vsync interval (click the small tool icon to open the game profile section).
Note: Useful if you your system can't maintain, say, 60fps and you're sensitive to the wild fluctuations, or you're experiencing uneven frametimes. The greater window the engine has to render a given frame, if you're imposing a lower framerate than the game can otherwise provide, may also help in alleviating stuttering related to data streaming.
Stop the game from crashing after 15 minutes on touch-capable systems running Windows 10: Open the task manager, switch to the Services tab and disable TabletInputService.
Slightly improve performance: If you're using borderless window mode, use exclusive fullscreen mode instead. Also, if you're using the DX12 renderer, switch back to the DX11 one.
Skip the launcher: Append -nolauncher to the game's target line (right-click -> Properties -> Set launch options, or just right-click and Properties if you're running the game from a shortcut outside of Steam). (Credit to Parsnip.)
Skip the intro videos: Follow the instructions here. (Credit to ROFLCopter64bit @ Reddit via Tovarisc.)
Improve SLI performance: Using Nvidia Inspector, change the SLI compatibility bit in the game's driver profile to 0x2C0120F5. (Credit to ShaunBRS.) Alternatively, try using 0x281942F5 instead. (Credit to ambled_hoh.)
Note: Click the little tool icon to access the driver profile section.
Enable texture caching, texture dumping, and other assorted features: Download the Special K tool. (Credit to Kaldaien via Drogean.)
Correct the aspect ratio in exclusive fullscreen when using a non-16:9 resolution: Follow the instructions here. (Credit to Nyzme32.)
Work around blurry NPC faces: This is a bug as a result of using tessellation in conjunction with TAA. Disable whichever you can live without. (Credit to electroflame.)
Graphics settings:
Preset: Low; Medium; High; Very High; Ultra
Texture quality: Low; Medium; High; Very High; Ultra
Texture filtering: Off (1x); 2x; 4x; 8x; 16x
Shadow quality: Medium; High; Very High
Contact-hardening shadows: Off; On; Ultra
Temporal anti-aliasing: Off/On
Motion blur: Off/On
Depth of field: Off; On; Very High; Ultra
Bloom: Off/On
Volumetric lighting: Off; On; Ultra
Sub-surface scattering: Off/On
Cloth physics: Off/On
Ambient occlusion: Off; On; Very High
Tessellation: Off/On
Parallax occlusion mapping: Off; On; High
Screenspace reflections: Off; On; Ultra
Sharpen: Off/On
Chromatic aberration: Off/On
Level of detail: Low; Medium; High; Very High