final Fantasy is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic licenses in the world of video games. After a fifteenth installment that divided fans, Final Fantasy XVI has the heavy task of reconciling some players with the saga. Since its announcement at an event PS5 in September 2020, the next numbered opus is very discreet.
The game director, however, regularly gives news of FF16 and its development, although no new image has been unveiled for a long time. While waiting for it to reappear in the spring of 2022, with a hopefully sensational appearance, here is everything we know about the PS5 exclusive, which should be released later on PC.
The big names of FF14 at the controls
Out Hajime Tabata (Final Fantasy XV), hello Naoki Yoshida. In an attempt to restore the image of the license, Square Enix entrusted the reins of Final Fantasy XVI to the man who had saved FF14 from sinking and who made it one of the most popular MMORPGs. Yoshida, however, is continuing his work as director on the hit online game in parallel, while also handling production on Final Fantasy XVI.
To support him in his task, he can count on the team of Creative Business Unit III, the internal division in charge of the MMORPG, starting with Hiroshi Takai as director. His name is less well known and less publicized, but he is nonetheless a Square Enix pundit and Yoshida's right arm on FF14. With the studio since 1991, Takai cut his teeth on the Romancing SaGA series and the Xbox 360 exclusive The Last Remnant.
Other names have been mentioned, but not made official. Kazutoyo Maehiro, for example, was mentioned as a screenwriter in a since-deleted tweet from a Square Enix developer. The person concerned is best known for having written the main story of A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, two major expansions of Final Fantasy XIV. Masayoshi Soken, who also officiated on the MMORPG, would be approached to compose the soundtrack, but again, nothing has been confirmed.
A more mature story and a darker universe
With such a team, it was obvious that Final Fantasy XVI was going to abandon the modern era to ogle on the side of medieval-fantasy. This atmosphere promises a darker and more mature universe, and it is not trivial if the game is already decked out with a provisional PEGI 18. This is an assumed will of Naoki Yoshida, who wishes to offer an opus which corresponds to the fans who have grown up at the same time as the saga and who are now aware of the harsh reality of the world.
The story therefore takes place in Valisthea, a land composed of Mother Crystals, crystalline formations whose light allows people to use magic thanks to the Ether that flows from them. This powerful resource inevitably arouses covetousness and has divided the kingdom into six warring states, all established around a crystal. Each nation has an "Emissary", mortals who can be the receptacles of the Primordials, formidable invocations like Shiva or Ifrit. These unusual humans are treated differently depending on their nation. Some are nobles, a select military force; others are sometimes rejected by the rest of the inhabitants, or even executed.
Players will follow the adventures of Clive Rosfield, eldest son of the Archduke of Rosalia, named guardian of his nation following a fencing tournament. His role: to protect from external threats his little brother, Joshua, who, against all odds, turns out to be the Emissary of the Phoenix. The only other confirmed character, Jill Warrick is a young girl from the Northern Territories who was entrusted to the Court of Rosalia as a token of peace. She is very close to the two brothers, and the Archduke considers her his own daughter. Their destiny will change when the fragile peace between the nations is threatened by the advance of the mysterious "Black Scourge" and a tragedy will strike the family. Clive, he has sworn to take his revenge on Ifrit, the Primordial at the origin of his misfortunes. Like FF15, players will reunite with the character several years later, hinting at a time jump.
An action-oriented Final Fantasy
Question gameplay, things are more blurred. We know that, like its elder, Final Fantasy XVI will also be very action-oriented. Naoki Yoshida has confirmed this many times. It's no coincidence that the development team recruited Ryota Suzuki as combat director. The latter cut his teeth on Devil May Cry 5 and on the Dragon's Dogma series. It therefore promises dynamic fights which, at first glance, are close to what Final Fantasy VII Remake offers.
Clive is said to be the main character, and he's currently the only one confirmed to be playable. It remains to be seen if other members of the cast will come to join the contests and if they can be controlled or not. We know for the moment that the eldest Rosfield will have a skill tree, probably to improve his powers related to the Blessing of the Phoenix. However, we will have to wait for the next appearance of FF16 to find out more about the gameplay. Yoshi-P has confirmed that the next trailer for the game will focus on the combat system.
As for the structure of the game, the details are non-existent. Will Final Fantasy XVI keep the much criticized open world structure of its predecessor, or will it opt ​​for more open areas? The second option would be approached, enough to at least support the game universe and the lore of each nation, while focusing on the narration, the big black spot of FF15 for many fans.
delayed development
He's been waiting all year. Final Fantasy XVI was supposed to be back by the end of 2021, but the ax has fallen: we will have to wait until spring 2022. Development has been greatly slowed down due to the pandemic and is a year behind schedule. half year. Indeed, the teams had to adapt to working remotely, a new method that leads to communication problems and longer delivery times for certain more important assets. In its early stages, probably around 2015, the development of FF16 had its ups and downs. Headed only by a very small team, the project suffered many inconclusive trials and errors, due to its action-RPG nature.
Since then, construction has progressed. Script writing and character modeling are complete. Last I heard, the developers were working on fine-tuning the side quests, and the English voice recording had come to an end to make way for the Japanese dubs. Until the next trailer, the teams will be busy improving the graphics quality of the game, polishing the cinematics, shaping the duels and optimizing the title as a whole.
