News Articles
Friday2nd Jun 2023
Random Final Fantasy 16's PS5 Performance Mode Made Moogles Look Like Hedgehogs
Kupo!
As Final Fantasy fans well know, Moogles are a mainstay of the series (introduced in Final Fantasy III), and are as iconic as they are capricious. The little blighters made life difficult during the development of the imminent Final Fantasy XVI, too, according to some amusing anecdotes from the game's developers. In a new interview, XVI...
Thursday1st Jun 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Demo Spotted on PS Store
It's almost time
The long-promised playable demo for Final Fantasy XVI will obviously have to release in the near future, since the full game is out on the 22nd June. And as spotted by users on Reddit, the demo now shows up on the PS Store, specifically if you're browsing via mobile. We weren't able to replicate this ourselves, but it's possible...
Tuesday30th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Devs Considered Hybrid Combat System, But Craved Something 'Complete'
All-in action
Final Fantasy XVI developer Creative Business Unit III — an internal studio at Square Enix — set out to try something new with the series' latest instalment. The team's goal was to create a Final Fantasy title that could attract a "new generation" of players, and the main thrust of its plans manifested as an all-action combat...
Monday29th May 2023
Praise Bahamut
A PS4 version of the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI was in development at some stage, although getting it up to snuff would have added years of dev time, producer Naoki Yoshida has revealed. In an interview with Final Fantasy Union, Yoshida said on the matter: "What I can say is that while developing, we originally had a plan to release...
Friday26th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16's Harder New Game + Difficulty Will Keep Players Busy for a Long, Long Time
Final Fantasy Mode
Once you beat Final Fantasy XVI, you'll be able to play through it again with all of your abilities and equipment intact, thanks to a dedicated New Game + mode. But if you really want to dig deeper into the game's combat system, then you might want to try Final Fantasy Mode — an exclusive difficulty option that's available on a...
Wednesday24th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Gets Another Really Good Trailer, But No PS5 Demo Yet
Not long now
It was one of the most popular pre-PlayStation Showcase predictions: the anticipated demo for Final Fantasy XVI would drop just after the Sony's event. Sadly, it hasn't happened, so you'll just have to make do with yet another trailer for the upcoming action RPG (which is now just under a month away from release, it should be noted)...
Tuesday23rd May 2023
News No Final Fantasy 16 DLC Planned, Said to Be a 'One-Off Game'
Unless PS5 players want it
Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida has revealed there's currently no post-launch DLC in the works for the Square Enix RPG. In a new interview with Game Informer, he calls it a "one-off game" containing an experience to match the full price cost. Yoshida wishes to give fans "satisfaction equal to what they paid or...
News Final Fantasy 16 Is So Polished, It Doesn't Need a Day One Patch
That's what we like to hear
In contrast to the majority of games that release these days, Final Fantasy XVI probably won't have a day one patch. In other words, the development team thinks the game is complete and polished, and that it doesn't need any post-ship adjustments. Director Hiroshi Takai told Game Informer that there are currently no...
Monday22nd May 2023
News Final Fantasy Could Ditch Numbers for Future Instalments
But how would that make you feel?
One of the things we’ve observed during recent preview events is just how eager Square Enix is to underline that Final Fantasy 16 is a standalone game. While enthusiasts will already know that each mainline Final Fantasy includes its own cast of characters and storyline, it’s easy to imagine how more casual...
News Final Fantasy 16 Will Get a PS5 Demo Which Lasts a Couple of Hours Prior to Launch
Focuses on Clive during his youth
Final Fantasy 16 is very close and seriously impressive, but you’ll be playing it even sooner than you think. Square Enix has confirmed that it’s plotting a full-length demo prior to release, which will last a couple of hours and focus on Clive in his youth. It’s the same segment of the game we played during a...
Friday19th May 2023
News Clive's Voice Actor in Final Fantasy 16 Thought He Was Going to Get Fired
"I was so scared"
Bristol-born actor Ben Starr is behind the voice of Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI, and the latest promotional video for the upcoming RPG is all about the main character. Producer Naoki Yoshida and localisation director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox sit down with Starr to discuss the game's protagonist, while also giving us...
Tuesday16th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Gets an Absolutely Gorgeous Game Informer Cover
Hot stuff
Game Informer has snagged some really good looking covers over the years, but its freshly announced Final Fantasy XVI cover is an absolute beauty. The long-running magazine's next issue — number 356 — will feature a "deep dive into FFXVI’s world of Valisthea, its lore, its characters, and of course, its Eikons". Again though, that...
News Final Fantasy 16's Dog Companion May Be PS5's Best Good Boy Yet
Angelo, eat your heart out
Square Enix, it seems, intends to make Final Fantasy XVI as irresistible as possible to as many people as possible. Enter Torgal, the lovable canine gunning for the enviable position of "goodest good boy" on PS5. He's certainly a contender within the realm of Final Fantasy alone, where the nearest competition is VIII's...
Thursday11th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Really Wants You to Know Its Action Combat Can Be Made Easy
Take it easy
The ongoing marketing campaign for Final Fantasy XVI has tried to make one particular point very clear: you don't have to be good at action games to enjoy the upcoming release. Despite going all-in on skill-based action combat, Square Enix is seemingly terrified of alienating potential players who may not like the idea of mastering...
Friday5th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Refused Classification in Saudia Arabia
Square Enix "unwilling" to make necessary changes
Final Fantasy XVI will not be released in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, with the nation's official rating board (the General Commission for Audiovisual Media) refusing the eagerly-anticipated title classification. Apparently, this was due to publisher Square Enix's refusal to modify content for the...
Thursday4th May 2023
News Final Fantasy 16's PS5 Console Bundle Can Be Pre-Ordered Now
Costs £539/$559
If you're in the market for a PS5 and are looking to pick Final Fantasy XVI up next month, you may want to combine the two purchases for the special console bundle releasing alongside the Square Enix RPG. Available for pre-order now is the previously announced Final Fantasy XVI PS5 console bundle, which packs in a PS5 download code...
Thursday27th Apr 2023
News Japan Is Keeping Final Fantasy 16 PS5 Controller, Console Covers for Itself
Releasing "only in Japan", says PS Blog
Sony is releasing an official Final Fantasy XVI themed PS5 DualSense controller and set of PS5 console covers, but you won't be able to buy either of them. That is unless you're willing to import them from Japan. A post on the Japanese PS Blog has revealed the two accessories — alongside the worldwide reveal...
News Official Final Fantasy 16 PS5 Console Bundle Revealed
No fancy artwork, though
Sony has announced it'll have an official PS5 console bundle to go alongside the release of Final Fantasy XVI on 22nd June 2023. A standard disc-based PS5 system will include a download code for the Square Enix RPG, but the console won't sport any special decals or artwork. This is simply a normal PS5 boxed up with a PS...
Thursday20th Apr 2023
Pushing the stunningly-detailed envelope
Longtime Final Fantasy fans, and gamers in general, know that the series brings the heat when it comes to cutting-edge visual fidelity, especially on new hardware. We all marvelled at the PS1 FMVs in Final Fantasy VII, and gaped open-mouthed at that metal AF opening cutscene in Final Fantasy X on PS2...
Wednesday19th Apr 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Pre-Launch Livestream Announced
Demo drop?
Square Enix will be hosting a special Final Fantasy XVI event just ahead of its release date. This 'pre-launch celebration' will take place in Los Angeles on the 11th June, and it'll be livestreamed. Outside of this basic information, we don't really know what the event will offer. The publisher says there are "more details to come". Stay...
Sunday16th Apr 2023
News Final Fantasy 16's PS5 State of Play Was a Huge Hit for Square Enix
State of Play video racks up the views
The irony of the State of Play format is that generally it’s been better suited to single game showcases. Obviously, we know there have been some pretty good multigame broadcasts, but when Sony has used the structure to show off individual games like Horizon Forbidden West or Gran Turismo 7, the reception has...
News Final Fantasy 16's PS5 Collector's Edition Is Being Scalped to High Heaven
Price more than doubled by resellers
Final Fantasy 16’s Collector’s Edition is pretty cool – it’s also completely sold out. Including a statue of the giant titan-like Eikons Ifrit and Phoenix, as well as a set of pins, a steelbook case, and a cloth map, the entire bundle retails for £329.99/$349.99. While you can join a waiting list on...
Friday14th Apr 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Is Flying Up Sales Charts After Stellar State of Play Show
And that's just pre-orders
Despite being over two months away from launch, Final Fantasy XVI has started to rocket up the best sellers charts on Amazon — and this is the case in both the US and Europe. These charts are based on sales of already released games as well as pre-orders, but generally speaking, you don't see pre-orders rise all that...
News Final Fantasy 16's Theme Song, Performed by Kenshi Yonezu, Is Kind of a Banger
Moongazing
Final Fantasy fans were spoiled today, getting a meaty State of Play Showcase in which 25 minutes of ridiculously awesome-looking Final Fantasy XVI gameplay footage dropped, with the promise of more to come.
Thursday13th Apr 2023
News Watch 25 Minutes of Final Fantasy 16 PS5 Gameplay in Glorious 4K
Final fantastic
At the time of writing this article, many of you will have only just finished watching the Final Fantasy XVI State of Play broadcast live — but for those who haven't, and for those who simply want to watch it all again, PlayStation has uploaded the full video in glorious 4K resolution. The action RPG already looked ridiculous on...
News Even More Final Fantasy 16 Info on 'Battle, Side, and Endgame Content' Coming Soon
Square Enix going all-in
We're just over two months away from the launch of Final Fantasy XVI, and Square Enix seems hellbent on drowning us in information. At the end of tonight's State of Play broadcast, producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed that the 25-minute presentation was far from the last you'll see of the action RPG before its June release...
Tuesday11th Apr 2023
News State of Play Showcase Set for Thursday, Final Fantasy 16 the Focus
No other games included
Sony has announced it'll be hosting a State of Play livestream this coming Thursday, 13th April 2023. Starting at 10pm BST / 2pm PT / 5pm ET, the show will be all about Final Fantasy XVI. No other PS5 games will feature during the event. The big show will provide a deep dive into the RPG's setting, battle system, and Eikons...
Saturday8th Apr 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 on PS5 Will Have a World Map Like in Final Fantasy 10
Pick your destination
As has been pointed out multiple times – including in our preview – Final Fantasy 16 is not open world. The game instead consists of several large sandbox locations, each of which will be densely populated and can be fully explored. And speaking with Play Magazine, producer Naoki Yoshida has elaborated in a little more...
Thursday6th Apr 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Would Still Be in Development Without the PS5
More praise for Sony's system
Maybe it goes without saying, seeing as Sony itself has played an active part in developing Final Fantasy XVI, but the upcoming RPG would still be in the works if it wasn't for the PS5. As we all know, the game's a PS5 exclusive, and according to director Hiroshi Takai, the action-based adventures of Clive Rosfield...
Friday31st Mar 2023
News Final Fantasy 16 Goes Gold Well Ahead of June Release Date
Dev team continues to impress
Ladies and gentlemen, we now live in a world where mainline Final Fantasy games are ready to be shipped months ahead of their release date. How times have changed! Indeed, Final Fantasy XVI has gone gold, meaning that development is complete, and it's basically ready for public consumption. As alluded, this...
