Final Fantasy XVI: 5 Things We Know So Far

Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time before Square Enix rolled out the sixteenth instalment to the acclaimed Final Fantasy franchise. After all, being one of the gaming giant's biggest cash cows of the last fifty years,  it was only natural for the team to follow up with something bigger, bolder, and far more ambitious than ever before. And the best part is — it's coming sooner than we originally thought. Or, so it seems.

With a rough 2022 release date looming around the corner and a boatload of hungry fans ready to devour every shred of the upcoming role-playing game, Square will have to work pretty hard to maintain that position of power. But what do we know about the game so far? Well, let's break it down into a few chunks. Here are five things we know about Final Fantasy XVI.

5. Well, it's single-player for starters

It might not be the biggest shocker in the world to know that Final Fantasy XVI is due to feature a single-player story, though with Final Fantasy XIV being an MMORPG with a heavy focus on PvP, it does seem like a relevant thing to bring up. So, the take from that is, well — you won't need to have a super speedy broadband connection in order to enjoy Square's upcoming instalment. Tidy.

Unfortunately, Square kept their cards incredibly close to their chest after announcing the game during the 2020 PlayStation 5 showcase. But, with a rather generous four minutes of material to let slip, fans were quick to get enough of a sneak preview before the devs took a few lunges south of the stage. You can catch the original reveal trailer above.

4. What's the story here?

Final Fantasy XVI will feature a brand new world called Valisthea, a place where colossal mountains known as Mothercrystals provide a material called aether, which allows its users to conjure magicks. However, when a great blight reaps the lands and divides the numerous factions that populate the region into shattered pieces, war teeters closer and closer to becoming a harsh reality.

After being cheated out of the title of Dominant of the Eikon Phoenix by his younger brother Joshua, Clive (yes, Clive) is handed the consolation rank of First Shield of Rosaria, a rank in which he must use to protect his flesh and blood. However, when worlds collide and relationships across the land turn on their axis, the two brothers are put together on a quest of self-discovery and, apparently, vengeance.

3. Has there been a confirmed release date?

Unfortunately, Square Enix has refused to let slip an official release date for Final Fantasy XVI. What we do know, however, is that development was roughly half a year behind schedule, and is therefore expected to launch on the back end of 2022.

With that being said, embedded within an ad that rolled out during the PlayStation showcase event, a cryptic message led fans to believe that the release date was more or less pinned on June 16, 2022. And if you're wondering where on earth such a thing came from, then perhaps you should take a look at the ad above. Recognise anything on the subway boards? Valisthea ring any bells? Who knows, it could be nothing. But then, it could also point to the next big reveal. E3 2022, anyone?

2. How is development going?

According to Square, the game is “near to completion”, meaning we should be getting a new update real soon. As for the release date, nothing has budged since the PlayStation showcase reveal. But with the game closing in on its final phases, it's incredibly likely that we'll be getting some concrete data soon enough. As mentioned above, E3 2022 could be the setting for such an announcement.

Of course, it is worth taking into account that the game's producer Naoki Yoshida did announce the six-month delay due to Covid restrictions a little while back. Originally, PS5 footage was set to be revealed near the end of 2021, along with some new details regarding its gameplay and narrative. This, of course, fell flat at the last hurdle. As for what's next, well, only time will tell.

1. What platforms will Final Fantasy XVI release on?

One of the earliest details Square Enix let slip was the platforms that the game would officially launch on. Lo and behold, it turned out to be PlayStation 5. Shocker. However, that doesn't technically mean other console users should start to lose hope of it ever coming their way in the distant future.

In a discovery a little ways back, Sony Australia stated that the game was “not available on other consoles for a limited time”, meaning its days as a PS5-exclusive were numbered from the get-go. And if that turns out to be true, sort of how Final Fantasy 15 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake eventually rolled out to PC, then we can rest assured that there's still hope. But we'll have to hang fire and wait for Square to patch us in on that. Either way, PC users should be able to sleep at night knowing that Square still has a soft spot for them.

Are you excited to get your hands on Final Fantasy XVI? Are you still mopping up quests from the fifteenth chapter? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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