After almost three years since the official announcement at the PlayStation 5 Showcase in September 2020, Final Fantasy XVI is about to arrive on Sony’s most recent console. The next main entry in the Square Enix series will have a darker and more serious tone than the most recent games of the franchise and will deal with complex themes such as revenge, power struggles, and tragedies.
The fragile peace between the nations of Valisthea is endangered by several nefarious events, and it further escalates after a terrible Blight hits the land. Clive Rosfield, Final Fantasy XVI’s main protagonist, will embark on an epic yet dark-toned journey across the two continents of this world. This highly-anticipated action RPG will hit the shelves on June 22nd and will be a PS5 timed exclusive. While we wait for these few weeks to pass, here’s everything you need to know about Final Fantasy XVI.
Release Date, Platforms, Editions
Final Fantasy XVI will arrive on June 22nd and will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive for six months after its release. A PC port is also planned, but no official release date has been disclosed so far. Naoki Yoshida, FFXVI’s producer, has confirmed that the game won’t be out on PC as soon as the PS5 exclusivity period ends. The development team spent much time on the PS5 version, and optimizing the title for PC in just half a year would be impossible. The game, however, will never come to Xbox, as revealed by Microsoft itself in its response to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.
Final Fantasy XVI will be the first game in the main series to receive an M Rating from ESRB. As the ESRB official website highlights, the upcoming title features blood splatter effects, torture, and sexual elements like partial nudity, brothels, and more.
The standard physical edition of the title features the full game, including reversible cover art. The standard digital edition, instead, only offers the full game. They both cost $69.99.
The deluxe physical edition adds a Special Steelbook Case with artwork of Clive Rosfield, the game’s protagonist, and a Cloth Map of Valisthea. The deluxe digital edition, instead, has a digital mini art book and a digital mini soundtrack included, in addition to the full game. They are both priced at $99.99.
There is also a Collector’s Edition with some great goodies. In addition to the full game, you also get a metallic-sheen collector’s box, a premium statue depicting a battle between two Eikons, Phoenix and Ifrit, a Metal Eikon Pin Collection, the Special Clive Rosfield Steelbook Case, a Cloth Map of Valisthea, the in-game weapon “Blood Sword,” a digital mini art book and a digital mini soundtrack. The Final Fantasy XVI Collector’s Edition costs $349.99.
Moreover, you will get additional bonuses if you preorder the game. They include the weapon “Braveheart,” the accessories “Cait Sith Charm,” and the “Scholar’s Spectacles,” which are, however, not included with the physical Standard or Deluxe editions.
Final Fantasy XVI Setting, Genre, Mechanics
Final Fantasy XVI is an action RPG set in Valisthea, a land divided into six realms: the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, the Kingdom of Waloed, the Dhalmekian Republic, the Iron Kingdom, and the Crystalline Dominion. Each reigns thanks to the Mothercrystals, as they power each land.
Also very important in the political structure of Valisthea are the Dominants, humans who host the Eikons, powerful and deadly creatures, and can summon them. In some nations, they are treated with respect and play significant roles in the kingdom's set-up, while in others, they are used as weapons in war. In either case, they cannot escape their fate.
In Final Fantasy XVI, a feeble peace exists between the six kingdoms of Valisthea. However, it is suddenly jeopardized after an unexpected Blight hits the land. The game’s main protagonist is Clive Rosfield, the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria. After some tragic events, he will pursue a dangerous road of revenge.
Unlike Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy XVI won’t be an open-world game, as confirmed by Naoki Yoshida. A single open-world space, in fact, would have limited the development team, so they have chosen to focus on an independent area-based game design to give players an extensive perception of a truly “global” scale. Unlike other installments in the series, the game will also feature full action-based combat. If you are not a fan of action titles, you can equip items to ease your journey, allowing you to unleash combos by pressing only a single button or auto-evading attacks.
Several party members will travel along with Clive Rosfield in the game and participate in battles, but it won’t be possible to command them directly. They will be AI-driven, so the player will only focus on controlling the main protagonist. However, Clive will be able to give orders to his loyal wolf companion, Torgal, resulting in interesting combat options.
Speaking of battles, and specifically Eikon battles, these will play a vital role within the game. Each fight will be unique, so mechanics will vary a lot from one to the other. For example, one might be reminiscent of a 3D shooter, while another might resemble a wrestling match. As Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida said in a recent interview, these have been inspired by the original God of War games.
Trailers And Gameplay Showcases
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