Final Fantasy 16 release date, trailers and latest news
Final Fantasy 16 arrives later this year, exclusively for PS5. Here’s everything we know about the game so far.
Final Fantasy 16 will launch later this year, and will tell a very different Final Fantasy story to its predecessor. The game’s visuals and themes are based on Medieval Europe, so a lot more swords, banners and shields on show.
Now that the curtain has been pulled back, we know a fair bit about Final Fantasy 16. It appears to offer up a new combat system which blends the fast-paced action of FF15 with some of the systems shown off in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It certainly looks to be a feast for the eyes, with next-gen graphics on PS5, and some great looking art direction.
While we wait for more on Final Fantasy 16, this page has been filled with all of the latest news related to the game. You’ll find an up to date list of all the trailers released so far, a look at the specific release date, as well as a breakdown of the story and setting. Here’s what we know about Final Fantasy 16 so far.
Final Fantasy 16 : cut to the chase
What is it? The next mainline single-player Final Fantasy title
When can I play it? June 22, 2023
Which can I play it on? PS5 (PC could follow)
Final Fantasy 16 release date and platforms
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Final Fantasy 16 will launch June 22, 2023 on PS5. This was confirmed at The Game Awards 2022, alongside a brand new trailer. This puts it among some stiff competition, given that Diablo 4 just revealed a June launch date as well.
Sony has now confirmed that while Final Fantasy 16 is indeed a PS5 exclusive, it’s only as such for 6 months. It will likely be announced for PC platforms shortly afterwards. This information was included in a recent trailer.
Final Fantasy 16 trailers
Latest trailer
During The Game Awards 2022, the latest trailer for Final Fantasy 16 was shown off. It centered around Clive, the game’s main protagonist. It’s mostly cinematic, with a little bit of gameplay spread evenly throughout. You can watch it below:
More trailers
We’ve included some key Final Fantasy 16 trailers throughout this article ut you can find all the FF16 trailers that have been released to date on Square Enix’s official YouTube channel.
Final Fantasy 16 story and setting
We now know that Final Fantasy 16‘s story and adventure will take place in a land called Valisthea.
The world is tied to six different Mothercrystals, which have been around for generations. During this time, six powerful nations have risen up around the Mothercrystals and each place now lives in relative peace. As is always the case with Final Fantasy, the blessings bestowed by the Mothercrystals has allowed these powers to thrive, and their people to live in comfort.
Of course, we also learn that the crystals have been the cause of “countless wars”, which eventually formed the six nations now in the game: 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 place views the world differently and, obviously, this leads to some political disagreements between the nations. However, we know that the emergence of something called a “Blight”, which is spreading across the land, is making these different powers desperate. This is probably where we will begin the game; in the midst of this turbulent time.
In a radio interview (via Kotaku) producer Naoki Yoshida said that while Final Fantasy 16 is going to be “action-oriented” it’s “turning into a Final Fantasy that features both story and action.” According to Yoshida, steps are being taken to accommodate players who prefer story to action, saying, “We strongly want people to enjoy the story, so we’re preparing a mode for those who want to focus on the story”.
It seems that the story might touch on more mature themes, as he added, “I think that when you become an adult, you also understand suffering. And so, people who have grown up on Final Fantasy, also know the real world. But even then, they want to once again enjoy fantasy. They can get something out of it and are able to contemplate things. I’m thinking I’d like to make this a theme [for the game].”
Final Fantasy 16 gameplay
Final Fantasy 16 is an action RPG, meaning you shouldn’t expect the turn-based combat of older entries, it’s more akin to Final Fantasy 15 instead. We’re also aware that Final Fantasy 16 won’t be open world, but Naoki Yoshida confirms it will “find inspiration” from them.
Clive Rosfield is the main protagonist and he’ll be joined by a series of AI-controlled companions in battles. The teaser website explains that he’s the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria and he’s in charge of protecting his younger brother Joshua, who happens to hold the Dominant of the Phoenix.
Thanks to Joshua’s link to the Eikon Phoenix, Clive has been bestowed the Blessing of the Phoenix, giving him the ability to use some of the eikon’s flame and power to make himself stronger. As the story unfolds, we’re told that Clive is “swept up into a great tragedy.”
Finally, Jill Warrick is the young girl we first meet in the initial trailer. She’s friends with Clive and Joshua because, an early age, she was taken from her homeland in the Northern Territories—a nation that swore loyalty to the Grand Duchy of Rosaria—to broker peace between the two powers.
You’ll recognize the term eikon if you’ve played Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, where they’re referred to as Primals. The official website tells us eikons “reside within special beings called Dominants. How Dominants are treated depends on the realm—in some, they are revered as royalty, while in others they are sent to the frontlines as weapons of war.”
Commenting on gameplay in an interview with Japanese site Comic Days (via VGC), back in August 2022, Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida stated his concerns that some fans won’t like the action-based shift. He stated:
“We want the world, especially the younger generation, to play the game. Also, the mainstream games nowadays are intuitive games where you press a button and the character shoots a gun or wields a sword, and the traditional RPG style of turn-based command fighting is no longer familiar to them. It is also a fact that people are becoming less familiar with the old-fashioned style of RPGs, where you fight by selecting turn commands. That’s why the battles in Final Fantasy 16 are very action-based.”
Continuing further, Yoshida admits that the game won’t satisfy everyone’s demands, stating, “Of course, I don’t think we’ll be able to satisfy everyone’s demands, so I’ve told everyone on the team that the first thing we need to do is to make something we think is fun, and make sure it reaches the people who like it.”
Final Fantasy 16 news
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Microsoft states that FF16 will not come to Xbox consoles
While we do know that Final Fantasy 16 has a 6 month exclusivity period on PS5, it was hoped that the game could then head to Xbox. According to comments by Microsoft (via Eurogamer), Sony has “entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the ‘exclusion’ of Xbox.”
The report then goes on to offer examples of what games Microsoft is talking about:
“Some prominent examples of these agreements include Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix), Bloodborne (From Software), the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix) and the recently announced Silent Hill 2 remastered [sic] (Bloober team).”
These comments were made in response to the FTC lawsuit against Xbox. For now, there’s been no confirmation as to whether these ‘exclusion’ agreements are real. It’s worth noting that Final Fantasy 7 Remake still hasn’t come to Xbox platforms, despite having released in April, 2020. Even if Final Fantasy 16 is going to come to Xbox platforms, we may be in for quite a wait.
There’s never been a better time to jump into Final Fantasy 7