Tag: Final Fantasy
News Journalist Apologises for Adding Fuel to the 'Final Fantasy 16 Flopped on PS5' Fire
Square Enix president misquoted
When a game gets the stench of failure, it can be hard to shake. We saw this in the most extreme instance with Concord: a game that, admittedly, had plenty of faults – but just couldn’t shake the bad reputation attached to it. Final Fantasy 16 has never been victim to such extreme treatment, but there has been a...
News Tifa's Eternal Appeal Down to More than Just Appearance, Says Tetsuya Nomura
Lockhart secures Famitsu's "best character" award
We all know that Final Fantasy VII's dependable brawler, Tifa, is the best girl (for Cloud), despite what developer/ publisher Square Enix says, but did you know she was also the best character? By this, we mean Tifa has just been awarded the prestigious "best character" award at the Famitsu Dengeki...
News Final Fantasy Series Surpasses 200 Million Total Sales, Pixel Remasters Reach 5 Million
Expectations met?
Square Enix has announced a duo of milestones for its ever-popular Final Fantasy franchise. The series as a whole has now reached an impressive 200 million sales worldwide. Meanwhile, the pixel remasters — which bring back games 1 to 6 on modern platforms — has now reached 5 million copies sold. The announcement comes via...
News 15 Years Ago, Square Enix Released the Most Divisive Final Fantasy Game
Fal'Cie fallacy; just you wait and l'Cie
On 9th March, 2010, publisher and developer Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIII for Western audiences, and we can still recall the incredible hype behind it. Gorgeous, a stunning showpiece for what the famously difficult to develop for PS3 could achieve, it introduced us to Lightning, perhaps the most...
News Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Crossover Boasts Truly Epic Artwork
Pure magic
While we've never particularly had an interest in competitive card games like Magic: The Gathering, all of that could change in light of its upcoming Final Fantasy crossover. Four full decks, built around and boasting gorgeous artwork from Final Fantasy's VI, VII, X, and XIV, have been revealed, and we covet them almost as desperately as...
News Those Classic Final Fantasy Remakes Are Reputedly Still in Development
Final Fantasy IX, Tactics en route
Cast your minds back to a different, simpler time in 2021, when leading tech firm NVIDIA spectacularly stuffed up by allowing a list of future games to leak via its GeForce Now service. Fast forward four years, and many of the games on the list have since been released, with a few notable expect
News Final Fantasy 13 Fans Feeling Fantastic About This New Lightning Figurine
Reasons to smile
Like most things in life, everything comes full circle. Final Fantasy 13 may have been considered a massive disappointment when it first debuted on the PS3, but the trilogy has since picked up plenty of fans, and is now considered something of a cult classic through modern eyes. The emergence of this Lightning figurine has the...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Enjoying a 'Fantastic' Launch on Steam
Wonder if Square Enix agrees
Anytime a Final Fantasy game is released, seemingly regardless of quality, we can't help but anticipate publisher and developer Square Enix's favourite refrain, that the game in question had "failed to meet expectations." Such was the case with the excellent Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, released exclusively on PS5,...
News Square Enix Backtracks, Suggesting Tifa Isn't Best Girl After All (for Cloud)
Lost in translation
Sorry, Tifa fans. Seemingly in response to articles like this one, Square Enix has resisted the assertion that one or more party members might be "best" for ex-SOLDIER Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. After quotes from an interview he conducted with
News You May Not Need to Upgrade to PS6 for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, Says Producer
Setting expectations
It might seem like conventional wisdom, but sometimes, with series like Square Enix's Final Fantasy, the obvious needs to be said. Beginning as a PS4 exclusive, the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy has been in the works for more than a decade now, and while surprisingly on track, the lengths of time between releases are still...
News Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Story Now Complete, Game Is on Schedule
Nomura finishes his homework
Lead developers at Square Enix have revealed that the story for the third and final part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project is now complete, and production of the game is on schedule. Speaking to Famitsu (via Eurogamer), the director Naoki Hamaguchi said that development is going "very well" and progress is going as...
News Iconic Final Fantasy Baddy Turns Heads at Louis Vuitton Fashion Show
Veni, veni, venias (gloriosa)
Few series feature so many iconic villains as Final Fantasy; fewer still can boast of a villain that has endured for decades, with a fashion sense that continues to turn heads. Surprising in the sense that it took us off guard, IP holder Square Enix has partnered with musician and fashionista Pharrell Williams on the...
News PowerWash Simulator Folds In VR Team, Putting Further Support on Ice
PSVR2 version looking more unlikely than ever
PowerWash Simulator developer FuturLab has announced that it will not continue with plans to support PowerWash Simulator VR. CEO Kirsty Rigden says that the team loves and supports VR, but with some unfilled vacancies on the primary team, job security for the studio must always come first. FuturLab made...
News PS5 Pro Bettered as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Reveals PC Specs, Features
120FPS on offer, double that of PS5 Pro
Anyone who thought they were playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at its absolute technical peak on PS5 Pro might want to look away now, as Square Enix has dropped a new PC-specific trailer that details how the RPG has the capabilities to go above and beyond what's offered on Sony's upgraded console. That...
News Nomura Known as 'Demon King of Retakes' During Final Fantasy 7 Dev
"I stuck my nose into everyone's work there"
Considered one of the best games ever made, 1997's seminal Final Fantasy VII wouldn't be nearly the legendary title it's considered today if not for the exacting standards of director Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura even earned himself the sobriquet "Demon King of retakes" during development, so notorious was he...
But future entries probably won't be exclusives
For some reason, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been painted as a spectacular sales failure by both the media and fans. As far as we can tell, a chunk of this narrative stems from Square Enix’s reluctance to provide sales updates on the title, but we suspect there’s also bitterness from those who feel...
News Final Fantasy 7 Devs Suggest Which Rebirth Girl Is Best (for Cloud)
Perhaps, in another lifetime?
While conventional wisdom and the original Final Fantasy VII might suggest to some that Aerith is the "best" girl for the stoic but surprisingly sweet swordsman, Cloud Strife, the developers in the Remake trilogy (and fate) see things differently. It's no secret that the ongoing story in Rebirth is not a straight...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Pleads for Modder Restraint on PC
Keep Kalm and Carry On
Like asking the ocean nicely if it wouldn't mind holding the tide back, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has appealed to modders and players to show some restraint, just once. Sadly, if our time on the internet has taught us anything, his pleas will almost certainly fall on deaf ears. When the PC version...
Hands On Final Fantasy 16's Clive Is Ridiculously Well Realised in Tekken 8
The only fantasy here is yours
Clive Rosfield, of Final Fantasy 16 fame, is the first guest character in Tekken 8 — and the final part of the game's first season pass. Armed with his trusty blade and a slew of Eikon-based superpowers, Clive would feel far more at home in SoulCalibur than Tekken. But much like Noctis in Tekken 7 — also a DLC...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Casts Arise, Arrives on PC in January 2025
Sweet Ramuh, the mods
Square Enix's excellent continuation of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Rebirth, is officially coming to PC just under a year after its initial release on PS5. If you want to appreciate every last follicle and fibre, ensure you properly update those drivers on 25th January 2025. Cloud and companies' ongoing adventure on...
News Final Fantasy 7 Was Made for PlayStation Thanks to Sony Music and Booze
Whiskey business
PlayStation is an enormous brand and one of the biggest names in gaming nowadays, but back when it was just getting started, it was of course a different story. In a recent interview, Sony alumnus Shawn Layden reveals how the team secured Final Fantasy VII for PS1. He recalls his early days when PlayStation was in its infancy, and...
"In future I will not be making Platinum Trophies that difficult"
The as-yet-unnamed successor, the final chapter in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, won't suck the lifestream out of players to unlock its Platinum Trophy. That's according to director Naoki Yamaguchi, anyway, who apologised for the pain he put persistent Trophy Hunters through...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is Not Getting DLC, Part 3 the Full Focus
Trying to get the third game out ASAP
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has shared that the second part of Square Enix's big remake project will not be treated to any DLC so the studio can fully focus on getting the third and final game made. Talking to the Daily Star, he said that while the company hears the "desire" from fans for...
News Final Fantasy 6 Remake Mentioned Again, A Dream Project for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Producer
Return of the Returners
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Final Fantasy games, talk of a Final Fantasy 6 remake has been floating around for years. In particular, the epic RPG is an obvious candidate for Square Enix's trademark 'HD-2D' overhaul, given its 16-bit origins. And guess what? Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake producer Masaaki Hayasaka...
News Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Third Entry 'Won't Cheat' with the Airship
"We will take on the challenge"
While Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – the second entry in Square Enix’s remake trilogy – offered a vast open world, fans of the original PS1 title will know the Highwind airship forms a crucial part of traversal in the closing act of the game. Speaking at G-Star 2024 in Busan this week, director Naoki Hamaguchi...
News Square Enix's New AAA Games Are Being Trounced by Final Fantasy 14
Profitable MMO segment still winning
The venerable MMO Final Fantasy XIV, once considered an abject failure, is now pointed to as an example of a video game redemption arc. Over the years, Square Enix has come to rely on the regular, predictable profits it draws from the title's vast player base, and the massively multiplayer game has become one of...
Hands On Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 16, and Metaphor: ReFantazio All Get a Boost on PS5 Pro
Frame raters
We've spent the last couple of days putting games like Dragon's Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth through their paces on PS5 Pro. Those titles have been handed dedicated updates so that they can take advantage of Sony's supercharged system — but what about popular PS5 games that haven't been Pro-patched? In theory, unpatched titles...
Hands On Serious Pop-In the Only Problem with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Massive PS5 Pro Boost
Cloud nine
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was plagued by an astoundingly blurry performance mode when it first released on PS5 in February of this year. Obvious graphical limitations were put in place so that the RPG could run at 60 frames-per-second; it played just fine, but it could look rough outside of cutscenes. With the PS5 Pro, Rebirth has gained...
News PS5 Pro Makes Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Look Like a Whole New Game
Footage of new PS5 Pro Versatility Mode found
An unlisted YouTube video from the Japanese Square Enix channel has been discovered that shares a short glimpse of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth running in its new PS5 Pro-exclusive Versatility Mode. Delivering "optimized gameplay" that is "tailored" for PS5 Pro, the Versatility Mode is aiming to deliver a...
News Get Back to JRPG Basics with Physical Final Fantasy 1-6 Collection Anniversary Edition on PS4
Finally together
Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition, which bundles together all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters in one convenient, physical location, is now available. You can pick it up from participating retailers in Europe and North America, or get your JRPG fix directly from Square Enix. <products id="28324"> For the...
News Final Fantasy 16 Receives Permanent Price Cut on PS5 as Complete Edition Launches
Eikonic
This sort of flew under the radar over the weekend, but one of 2023's biggest PS5 titles has now been permanently lowered in price. Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 16, the latest entry in the long-running series, has had its PS Store price tag cut. It's gone from $69.99/£69.99 to $49.99/£49.99. This news comes alongside the...
News Final Fantasy 16's Outstanding Soundtrack Finally Available on Music Streaming Services
Fire
Following on from the game's recent PC release, Square Enix has unleashed the Final Fantasy 16 soundtrack on music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The score's arrival has been a long time coming, with the action RPG having first launched for PS5 in June of last year. In our Final Fantasy 16 PS5 review, we...
Guide Final Fantasy 16: All Notorious Mark Hunts
All hunt locations, rewards, and combat tips
Looking for all Notorious Mark Hunts in Final Fantasy 16? These optional but always entertaining side activities see Clive track down and battles against some of the game's most dangerous warriors and creatures. In this Final Fantasy 16 guide, we'll be listing all Notorious Mark Hunts, complete with...
Guide Final Fantasy 16 Combat Tips: 13 Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing
Advice for beginners and advanced players
Looking for Final Fantasy 16 combat tips? In this Final Fantasy 16 guide, we're going to detail 13 tips that should help everyone get better at the game, regardless of whether you're a total beginner or someone who's looking to explore more advanced techniques. Without further ado, here are our Final...
Guide Final Fantasy 16 Difficulty: Difficulty Settings and How to Change Them
Timely accessories and hard mode explained
Looking for info on difficulty settings and how to change them in Final Fantasy 16? In this hopefully helpful Final Fantasy 16 guide, we'll explain how difficulty works, and how it can be altered to suit your needs. Final Fantasy 16 Difficulty: Difficulty Settings and How to Change Them: Final Fantasy...
Guide Final Fantasy 16: Best Equipment and How to Get It
Best sword, armor, and accessories
What's the best equipment in Final Fantasy 16? By the end of the game, there are specific pieces of equipment that are simply better than everything else. This applies to Clive's sword, belt, and vambraces. Accessories are a little more subjective, but we've still got some key recommendations as to which...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Huge PS5 Pro Enhancements Are a 'Vast Improvement'
A meaningful upgrade at 60fps
Here come the early tech evaluations, then: according to the experts at Digital Foundry, based on several minutes of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth footage running on the PS5 Pro, the upgrade is a “night and day” difference. We’ve already heard murmurs about the improvements to this game in particular, which will run at...
News PS5 Exclusives Final Fantasy 16, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Failed to Meet Expectations
Expect future entries to be multiformat
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be competing for the top accolades when it comes to Game of the Year this Christmas, but Square Enix isn’t happy with how it’s performed. In fact, the Japanese publisher’s two big PS5 exclusives, also including Final Fantasy 16, have failed to “meet expectations”...
News Final Fantasy 16 Is F**cked and PS5's New Firmware Is to Blame
Square Enix investigating
Final Fantasy 16 has been suffering from some unexpected bugs on the PS5 this past week, and it’s beginning to look like the system’s recent firmware update is to blame. Players have reported everything from graphical glitches to crashes in the console exclusive – none of which occurred prior to last week’s system...
News Yoshi-P Pleads for Modder Restraint Ahead of Final Fantasy 16 PC Launch
"Please don't make or install anything like that"
With its lengthy period of PS5 exclusivity now at a close, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida is concerned about the inevitable debauchery that will follow once the PC modding community gets its grasping paws on the game (available today, 17th September). Yoshida doesn't want to see...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth 'Hugely Improved' on PS5 Pro, a 'Night and Day' Difference
Superior to fidelity mode at 60fps
We’ve already heard from CNET about how much better Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks on the PS5 Pro, but don’t just take their word for it: Digital Foundry’s John Linneman has chipped in on X (or
News 25 Years Ago, Square Released the Best Final Fantasy Game
Revisionist history
A quarter of a century ago today, in 1999, Final Fantasy VIII was released in North America on PS1, and millions of players were introduced to the trials and tribulations of Squall, his mercenary comrades, and various sorceresses for the first time. Contrary to popular opinion and later revisionist history, it was warmly received...
News Final Fantasy 16 Was Temporarily Free on PS Plus Extra, Premium
Reports of downloads from PS Plus members
Update (30th August, 9am): The glitch in question has now been fixed overnight, returning a price point to Final Fantasy XVI on Sony’s digital marketplace. Original article: PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium subscribers have in the pa
News Coveted, One-of-a-Kind Final Fantasy 7 LEGO Set Sold for a Ridiculous Sum
Heist time
In January, Square Enix asked fans to vote on a scene from the legendary Final Fantasy VII to be transformed into LEGO form, and the iconic Sector 5 Slums Church, where Cloud fatefully encounters Aerith for the first time, won in a landslide. As far as we are aware, only two sets have ever been made: One is kept in a sealed vault inside...
News Expect New, Stronger Tifa in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Sequel, Says Director
Improving on perfection
Almost universally acknowledged as the best party member, it seems Final Fantasy VII's actual star, Tifa Lockhart, will get even more of the spotlight in the as-yet-unnamed sequel to Rebirth and the conclusion of the Remake trilogy (we still tear our hair thinking about how Square Enix squandered the opportunity to call it...
News Square Enix Has Got Fans Talking About a Final Fantasy 13 Remake, Not a Remaster
Lightning strikes
Whether you're a lover or a hater of the incredibly divisive Final Fantasy 13 trilogy, you've got to wonder why Square Enix has never remastered the whole thing and bundled the games together for modern consoles. Fans have been asking after a trilogy collection for years, but the three titles remain trapped on the PS3 to this day...
News Final Fantasy Pixel Collection Getting Physical Anniversary Reprint on PS4
Save it for a rainy day
There is something undeniably comforting about Square Enix's Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection, which preserves the first six entries in the legendary series on PS4. You can take further comfort in the upcoming physical Anniversary Edition; tangible copies were quite limited initially and are getting a reprint, ensuring...
News Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PS5 Sales Still a Secret as Square Enix Reports Year-on-Year Decline
Final Fantasy 14 is still a monster, though
Square Enix has released its latest earnings report, and unfortunately, those still wating on official sales numbers for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be left disappointed. The sequel's commercial success remains shrouded in mystery while the publisher reveals a year-on-year decline for game sales over the...
News Queen's Blood Confirmed for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Sequel, CCG to Be Expanded
Draw
The fiendishly addictive collectable card game Queen's Blood, largely responsible for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's incredible runtime (probably), will return in expanded form in the as-yet-unnamed sequel and conclusion to the Remake trilogy. That confirmation comes from the producer, Naoki Hamaguchi, who revealed the happy news at Otakon 2024,...
News Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail Puts Up Biggest Player Numbers Since A Realm Reborn
An MMO Rennaissance
The future seems incredibly bright for Final Fantasy XIV. Dawntrail hype caused a record number of players to swarm back to the game, with Square Enix boasting its most significant player count since its 2013 relaunch, A Realm Reborn. Spotted by IGN, director Naoki Yoshida thanked players for their continued support in a
