The Final Fantasy XIII HD Project

NEW: Version 4.0.0 of this mod now upgrades some of the main character models in a similar fashion to the mod HD Models+.  The specific models chosen were for full compatibility with the game (not necessarily the best looking).  The models used are the ultimate models for Lightning (original hair), Sazh, Hope, Vanille and Fang.  If you wish to use any of the other possible models for these characters (alternate models, HD Snow, Lightning HQ hair, sculpted, etc.), they are available using the HD Models+ mod which can be run after this install.   HD Models+ is no longer required to improve the models if you just want to play the game with the better models and the original look (outfits).

When Final Fantasy XIII first came out in 2009 the visual quality was very good for that time period.  Over the years, however, modern game graphic quality has improved tremendously but even with the advent of the game on the PC, the visuals were hardly improved from the original.  This mod attempts to correct this oversight.  This project works on improving the textures in the game, most notably the environmental textures but also some of the NPC, Eidolons and weapons.  In addition to the mod itself, there is a .PDF included that details settings that can be used on some NVIDIA cards to further improve the visual quality, especially at above the 1080p.  There may be equivalent settings on AMD Radeon cards, but we did not have access to any so we could not test.  This document details how to set up the LOD (level of detail) to a negative value, forcing the graphics subsystem to choose higher resolution mipmaps.  This is similar to what was done on the XBox One X to improve the quality, however in this mod, we also provide many additional higher quality textures.  This LOD change can be used to improve the game quality even without this mod.  Note that negative LOD can cause aliasing in some cases.  If you have the choice of using DSR (Dynamic Super Resolution) or negative LOD, DSR is probably the better option.

A few comparison images taken at 4k have been uploaded to show the difference.  While the .jpg format does eliminate some of the improved detail, it is still visible.  In the first image of a close up of the bark on a tree in the Sunleth Waterscape, you can see the increased sharpness and detail in the bark.  In the second image which is a split into 4 sections (original / HD / HD / original), if you compare the detail in the flower in the two left images as well as the forest in the background, there is an improvement in the clarity and detail.  Likewise in the two pictures to the right, the rock formations and grass, even in the distance, show more detail and are not as blurred. The third one is of the Yaschas Massif.  The final one is Fang with her Bladed Lance.  Note the text on the lance along with the designs on the haft.  This image also shows the difference between the base model and what is loaded with "Model Swap HD".  The difference between Fang's hair and sari between the two images is striking. 

Cautionary Note: This mod pushes the limits of the game engine and its interface with the graphics system.  There is no guarantee that this mod will work with all graphics cards (the minimum graphics card we tested had 4GB of VRAM).  During development numerous game crashes occurred and a significant amount of work was done to determine causes and modify the mod sufficiently to eliminate the issues that were found.  At this point, there are no known game issues using our test hardware.  However, the testing was limited as we are not able, due to time requirements, to run multiple times through the entire game or have extended play sessions.  So the short of it is “Use at your own risk.”  There is an uninstall option, but having your own backup copies of the game files, or willing to take the time to have Steam verify the integrity of your files to get back to a base game may be a better option.  Should you encounter a crash, and it repeats either at the same place or after about the same amount of play time, please post your issue with as much detail as possible to help us troubleshoot the issue.  Also include your specific hardware setup including main memory, graphic card model, graphic memory and any mods you are running as we suspect many of these crashes are due to memory management issues within the game and system. 

Many players do not have any issues using this mod, however if you experience random crashes during gameplay, it is recommended to use FF13Fix.  The FF13Fix now has the capability of allowing the 4GB patch to work.  Implementing the 4GB patch should resolve most (if not all) issues.  See the instructions in the FF13Fix on how to enable this feature.

Installation:  Unzip the files into the directory of your choice although not in the game directory itself.  If you use the “HD Model+” mod, then installing them in the same directory is recommended as they will be able to share game files.   No matter where you install the files, run the batch file “_FFXIII HD Project.bat” file.  You will be asked what you wish to do (several install/uninstall options – recommended to just “Install All HD Textures”).  Once answered, it will begin a lengthy process of updating the game files.  This process will take between 10-45 minutes depending on your machine, specifically your hard drive R/W speed.  SSD drives will go much quicker, laptop hard drives, slower.  Informational messages are shown during the process.  Once the process is complete, you can start the game.  All previous save files will utilize the upgraded textures.


Q/A:

•   Will this mod work on AMD Radeon graphics cards?
  

It should.  There is nothing in the mod itself that should prevent this, although we did not have the hardware to test.

• Will this mod work on graphic cards with less than 4 GB VRAM?
  

Most likely.  We have reports of cards with only 2 GB working fine.  Give it a try.  If it doesn't work, you can always uninstall the mod.

• I don't see any difference in the visual quality.  What's wrong?
  

As long as the mod seemed to install correctly, then probably nothing.  The visual improvement depends on where you are.  Some textures have a much bigger jump in quality than others.  Places where you should notice a difference is where there is writing present, such as on Fang's bladed lance, or signs.  Also on Gran Pulse, rock formations, plants and grass should show significant improvement.  Higher resolutions will show more improvement.

• place or item xyz is still fuzzy or looks bad, can you improve it?
  

Some things in the environment have not been updated.  For example, the pulse Fal'Cie in the Hanging Edge has not been touched as it is part of a different game file so it still has the original quality.  It may be possible to upgrade that down the road.  But if there is a specific area, item or person that doesn't look good, let us know.  Maybe we can do something about it.

Test Hardware:
  For reference, the following systems were use for testing.
Dell 5577 Laptop with NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics.  (1080p only)
Desktop with an 8GB NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphics card.  16 GB RAM (1080p & 4K)
Dell laptop with NVIDIA GTX 2060 graphics (4K)
AMD Phenom II X6 with a NVIDIA 4GB GTX 1050 TI graphics card.  16 GB RAM (1080p & 4K)