Final Fantasy is one of the longest-running franchise in the game industry and the last entry came out in 2016. It’s been over a year since the PC version of Final Fantasy XV launched and the development team has moved on to a new project presumably Final Fantasy 16.
Here I will be listing down features that we can expect from the game and also the features that we want to see in the Final Fantasy 16.
Release Date and Platforms
Square Enix hasn’t really talked about the game and given that the studio has just moved on to its next project, it likely that we won’t be hearing about Final Fantasy XVI for next 2-3 years.
As for which platforms the game will launch for, well considering PS5 and Xbox Scarlett will probably launch next year the game will likely launch for next-gen console and possibly for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.
What To Expect
While Final Fantasy 16 might be in early development but Square Enix has already revealed some bits and pieces about the next Final Fantasy title to set our expectations.
Focus on Fantasy
While Final Fantasy XV did feature fantasy elements but some raised concerns that the game featured mecha and armed soldiers more prominently. However, that might change as Square Enix has hinted that Final Fantasy 16 won’t have mecha at all.
According to FFXIV director Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy games should only focus on fantasy elements. This indicates that Square Enix intends to focus on fantasy for the next installment instead of machinery.
Huh? Hmm, you guys are asking some tough questions [laughs]. That’s funny, I thought FanFests were supposed to be fun, but here we are with this super hard question [laughs]. First, if you’re asking whether the Final Fantasy series will get another MMO soon, I think the chances are unlikely so long as Final Fantasy XIV is doing well. On that note, personally speaking, I’d like to see a Final Fantasy that is straightforward fantasy, one that doesn’t have much machinery, and with no mecha in it. After all, we’re having trouble with the Garlean Empire being too powerful. Ah, okay, that was a bad joke [laughs].
Won’t Be A MMO
Square Enix already has a successful Final Fantasy MMO in the form of Final Fantasy XIV despite its rocky launch. Given how well the game is performing and keeps it that way, Square Enix doesn’t need a new Final Fantasy MMO. Meaning, Final Fantasy XVI will be a single-player title.
Wihlist
Final Fantasy franchise spans decades and still continues to wow us. Over the years, the Final Fantasy fans base has grown significantly and with that many fans have noted features or gameplay mechanics they want to see in Final Fantasy titles. The following are features and mechanics we want to see in Final Fantasy 16.
Combat
Final Fantasy franchise started out with a turn-based combat system and Square Enix kept it that way until Final Fantasy XII which featured a real-time combat system.
With Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix has seemed to embrace the real-time combat system over turn-based since real-time appeals to a bigger crowd. However, there are pros and cons to both combat and systems which I will delve into.
Personally, I prefer real-time combat system and if Square Enix is going to feature real-time combat in Final Fantasy 16 then I would like it to be as fast and fluid as Nier Automata’s combat system. This means the combat has to be a bit faster and the combos have to be incredible.
However, real-time combat takes away the tactical element from the game’s combat system. Hardcore Final Fantasy fans still want Square Enix to implement turn-based combat in the upcoming title.
One can’t deny the incredible feeling of planning your moves and executing them perfectly to maximum effect. But, that doesn’t mean turn-based combat doesn’t have issues of its own.
One of which is the sort of break in the overall experience. Many players like their combat experience to be seamless but in the case of turn-based combat, players are wandering around and when they face an enemy, even a low-level one, suddenly they are engaged with that particular enemy and can’t move on until you have defeated it.
There are ways turn-based combat can be implemented seamlessly and developers have already done it. But, I would prefer that Square Enix keeps the real-time combat and spice it up a bit with a touch of Neir Automata like combat.
A Diverse Open World
With Final Fantasy 15, Square Enix truly embraced the open-world setting and Fans also loved the game’s world. However, the game only had glimpses of diverse environments.
While bigger doesn’t always mean that its better but Final Fantasy 16 could really benefit from a bigger open world with a diverse environment full of meaningful content and incredible vistas.
That is everything we know about the upcoming Final Fantasy title along with our wishlist of things we want to see in the Final Fantasy 16.
