Final Fantasy 16: Everything We Know

Six years have handed for the reason that final mainline installment within the decidedly not-so-final Last Fantasy collection, making this one of many largest gaps between video games within the collection’ 35 years of history–though all that ready appears to be for good cause. We solely have one trailer for Last Fantasy 16, however what we have seen makes the sport appear to be a high-fantasy epic combining the grandeur of older titles with the cutting-edge know-how of newer video games, making us hopeful that this subsequent entry will probably be well-worth the wait.

Nevertheless, with Summer Game Fest Live and loads of Not-E3 showcases simply across the nook, it appears probably our wait is nearly over. Within the subsequent few weeks, we count on to listen to a bit extra in regards to the highly-anticipated RPG–and perhaps even get a launch date. Till then, this is every thing we find out about Last Fantasy 16 up to now.

Launch date

Last Fantasy 16 won’t have an official launch date, however a recent interview with the sport’s producer, Naoki Yoshida, makes it sound like the sport is coming before later. On Might 5, Yoshida advised UNIQLO journal the sport is close to the tip of its improvement, earlier than sharing a bit extra about what followers can count on.

“Now we’re on the finale of the brand new sport FF16’s improvement,” Yoshida advised UNIQLO. “Not like a web based sport that depicts a number of gamers concurrently, FF16 focuses on a person so the state of immersion into the story will probably be totally different. I really feel just like the story will probably be very deep.”

All that stated, it appears attainable FF16 might come out later this yr. In any case, it has been in improvement for several years now. What’s extra, final summer season, Yoshida confirmed the event group had already completed the principle story situation for Final Fantasy 16, in addition to the English voiceovers.

Platforms

Very like Last Fantasy 7 Remake, Last Fantasy 16 will probably be a limited-time PlayStation unique. Not like FF7 Remake, nevertheless, it will not be cross-generation, that means PS4 house owners should make the transfer to PS5 as a way to play it.

Sq. Enix shared this information in the course of the sport’s reveal trailer, noting, “The next content material is captured on PC emulating the PS5 expertise,” earlier than including the most recent entry within the Last Fantasy saga will, “not [be] obtainable on different platforms for a restricted time after launch on PS5.”

Is Last Fantasy 16 coming to PC or Xbox?

Rejoice, PC avid gamers! The trailer additionally said the sport is coming to PC following its exclusivity window, although as of proper now there is no phrase on how lengthy that may final. If it follows the identical development as FF7 Remake, it is probably FF16 will make its means over to PC a couple of yr and a half after its preliminary console launch. It additionally would not be too a lot of a shock if FF16 involves Xbox sooner or later, given {that a} handful of Last Fantasy titles already dwell on Xbox platforms.

Trailers

The primary trailer for FF16 is titled “Awakening,” and provides 4 minutes of story, cutscenes, and gameplay. It additionally contains a highly effective orchestrated theme with a number of Last Fantasy touches, like the enduring Crystal Prelude. If we needed to take a wild guess, it sounds a bit like composer Masayoshi Soken’s work on FFXIV: Heavensward.

Behind the scenes

Along with the detailed reveal trailer, Sq. Enix additionally launched an official website with in-depth appears to be like at FF16’s new world and characters to get you began on understanding the backstory. What’s notable about this entry, specifically, is that it is being developed by Artistic Enterprise Unit III–which is the not-so-flashy title for the division behind the unbelievable MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. It is promising on condition that Naoki Yoshida is main manufacturing on FF16–he led the group behind the rebirth of FFXIV and continues to direct the MMO, which retains getting higher and is thought to be top-tier in online game storytelling. FF16 itself is being directed by Hiroshi Takai, who has a prolonged historical past with Last Fantasy and Sq. Enix, and was even a part of creating FFXIV’s reboot.

The story up to now

From what we are able to inform from the trailer and official website, there’s battle between realms (mainly nations) within the world of Valisthea and a bunch of political drama, but in addition a give attention to Dominants. Domnants are the few particular individuals who can wield the facility of Eikons, that are what summons are known as in FF16’s world (and in FFXIV).

It appears to be like such as you’ll undergo two separate time frames in FF16’s story, which you’ll see from most important character Clive Rosfield’s evolution from a spiffy younger man with a elaborate haircut to a grizzled veteran with a scruffy beard and a mark tattooed on his face later in life. He is the son of his realm’s archduke, and wields Eikon-related powers in fight however is not essentially a Dominant himself. He is sworn to guard his brother Joshua, the younger boy within the trailer who was fated as a Dominant as a substitute. Nevertheless, as proven within the trailer, Joshua could not management his Eikon–he summons Phoenix after watching somebody presumably essential get killed proper earlier than his eyes. These occasions are capped by a battle between Phoenix and Ifrit, which may be the tragedy (said within the official character profiles) that drives Clive in FF16.

One other character seen within the trailer is Jill Warrick. She’s the younger lady with grayish hair who accompanies Joshua. She’s stated to have a sophisticated life and comes from one other realm. She was primarily adopted by the Rosfields, and acts as a mediary between warring nations. She’s stated to be a trusted confidant to each Clive and Joshua.

All through the trailer, you see different characters in battle and in conversations in regards to the political turmoil that appears to be fueling the struggle in Valisthea. You see different iconic Eikons like Shiva and Titan getting used on the battlefield. It appears to be like like Eikons, and Dominants by extension, are akin to highly effective weapons of struggle that shift the stability of energy between realms in Valisthea. There’s additionally a combat towards an armor-clad lance-wielding Dragoon, stated to be an Imperial Viper, which has the characters shook–another collection staple.

FF16’s world additionally revolves round Mothercrystals, that are stated to bless the land with aether (mainly magic). However a damaging drive known as The Blight can be washing over the world. It is value holding in thoughts that FF16’s tagline is, “The legacy of the crystals has formed our historical past for lengthy sufficient.” We’re unsure what it means, but it surely’s provocative and will must do with what’s been taking place to Valisthea.

What the brand can inform us

We will all the time depend on artist Yoshitaka Amano to create a brand new brand for every Last Fantasy that tells us one thing in regards to the sport’s story. Within the case of FF16’s brand, it options Ifrit and Phoenix face-to-face in a combat, which is a battle that concludes the trailer. With Ifrit as a key opposing drive and Phoenix being the Eikon that the Rosfields wield, this appears to be a central battle that drives the sport. It additionally seems that Eikons are pivotal to how FF16’s world operates, extra so than earlier Last Fantasy video games.

Gameplay

From the snippets of gameplay within the trailer, FF16 takes on an action-RPG fashion of fight system and appears prefer it shares similarities to FF15 and FF7 Remake. Clive can solid fireballs, interact at melee vary together with his sword and warp-like talents, and use a number of powers that appear to be they’re tied to Eikons (indicated by the stone fist summoned within the combat towards a Dragoon).

No UI or HUD parts had been proven, so it is laborious to inform if or the way it incorporate elements of the collection’ iconic ATB (energetic time battle) system, how spellcasting may work, and even how fight encounters move. We have additionally solely seen Clive in motion, so we’re uncertain if there is a get together system or how it could work (if it exists).

Ryota Suzuki, who was a fight designer for Satan Might Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma, is the battle director for FF16, which might lead to one thing fairly thrilling. And regardless of this renewed give attention to motion, producer Naoki Yoshida famous that this new method will not come at the expense of the game’s story.

The way to preorder

Sorry, people. You may have to attend a bit longer for preorders to go dwell, however relaxation assured we’ll let you understand after they do.