Final Fantasy 16is a Square Enix title that’s been eagerly anticipated by fans of the franchise, and come next month, they might finally have more answers than questions. Helmed by producer Naoki Yoshida, whose creative visionsavedFinal Fantasy 14, there is a lot to be excited about for the next single-playerFinal Fantasygame.
Earlier this year, Square Enix released a stunning trailer that showcased bits ofFinal Fantasy 16’sstory and setting, interspersed with gameplay systems and flashy combat animations. Unlike pastFinal Fantasytitles, but certainly in line with the franchise’s modern trends,Final Fantasy 16will be leaning fully into a more action-oriented style of combat.
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Producer Naoki Yoshida expects that players will be able to preview exactly what this means next month – whenFinal Fantasy 16presumably unveils a new trailer. Furthermore, Yoshida implied that the game’s release date would also be dropped in the coming months. It makes sense that Square Enix would want to dedicate next month to showcase its upcoming flagship title afterFinal Fantasy 16’sabsence at the Tokyo Game Show 2022, which focused more onFinal Fantasy 7 ReunionandFinal Fantasy 14.
One of the leading philosophies when it came to developingFinal Fantasy 16was to appeal to a newer generation of video game enthusiasts. As a franchise,Final Fantasyhas remained loyal to its turn-based roots – sticking with its iconic JRPG combat system for most of its multi-decade history. Despite a significant part of the fan base hoping for a newFinal Fantasygame that would return to its classical turn-based combat, Naoki Yoshida hasn’t been shy in stating that the future ofFinal Fantasywas in real-time action.
The franchise is defined by more than its turn-based combat, butFinal Fantasy 16seeks to reinvent those aspects too, as it will offer its own unique take onFinal Fantasy 16’sparty system. In the new setting, players will follow the journey of Clive Rosfield, the eldest son of the Archduke of Rosaria. With an apparent doom befalling their nation, Clive will need to establish connections with other travelers, vagabonds, and all sorts of unlikely allies as he roams the lands of Valisthea, but unlike its predecessors, the focus will remain solely on Clive, as his companions will not be the tight-knit group thatFinal Fantasy 15was famous for.
Final Fantasy 16is determined to take the franchise in a new direction with confidence and boldness. If Naoki Yoshida’s projections hold true, players will be able to see it in full detail this October.
Final Fantasy 16is set to release in summer of 2023 for PS5.
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