One to Play: Final Fantasy XVI

PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX
DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX
PLATFORMS PS5
RELEASE DATE 06.22.2023

“Final Fantasy XVI is set in a Game of Thrones–like realm called Valisthea, 1,500 years after the downfall of The Fallen, a civilization that discovered the secret of channeling naturally occurring aether into magic, and [then] used that power to usher in an age of unparalleled advancement. Nowadays, however, nations struggle for control of dwindling resources. For the gameplay, we took two of the key elements that define this series as our starting point: a compelling storyline and awe-inspiring beasts, known as Eikons. We also built a new, fully fledged action battle system, one that was inspired by Final Fantasy V and God of War. I know a lot of players love the classic, turn-based system, but we felt switching over to a highly interactive and responsive action system was the best choice. This is especially true for the epic Eikon battles, where the player gets to experience what it’s like to control their very own Eikon.”

— HIROSHI TAKAI, MAIN DIRECTOR, SQUARE ENIX