Final Fantasy XVI Could Bring Major Changes to The Franchise

Final Fantasy is arguably one of the most successful games franchises and has spawned multiple mainline games and numerous spin-offs, however a major change is coming to the franchise after the release of the latest entry into the series Final Fantasy XVI. The game will be the last numbered Final Fantasy game in the series.

Final Fantasy XVI, is the next installment in the mainline Final Fantasy games and was first shown off back in fall of 2020. The announcement came with an array of action-packed trailers that helped show off and explain the world of Valisthea, a war-torn Medieval world filled with magic and Eidolons, powerful beings who play an integral part in the game's story. We take the role of Clive Rosfield, who seeks revenge on the nobles that betrayed his kingdom.

 

As you can expect the game is highly anticipated and fans will finally be able to try the upcoming demo, which gives players a taste of what's to come when the game eventually releases on 22 June 2023. Final Fantasy XVI, will be bringing many new changes to the franchise, which is one of the most popular RPG franchises in the world, one of these things being the game's story, which will be far darker than previous entries, making Final Fantasy XVI the first mainline game to feature a mature rating.

We will also jump back and forth through various parts of our protagonist's life, this utilizing nonlinear storytelling. Besides its non-linear and darker storytelling, Final Fantasy XVI will also put an end to a long-standing tradition that has been around since the game’s first released in 1987, numbered entry titles. This was confirmed by the game's producer Naoki Yoshida, who in an interview for GQ magazine, stated that he presented the idea of dropping the numbered entries to Square Enix. This is because he felt that the numbered entries may confuse new players, who because of the numbering, feel obligated to play previous entries.

If you are an experienced Final Fantasy player, you would know that each entry into the series is set in its own standalone universe, meaning you don't need to play previous entries if you want to get the full story. There are some expectations, such as with Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, which are both set in their own universe. There are also spinoff games that are set in the same universe as mainline games, such as Final Fantasy: Dirge of Cerberus being set in the same world as Final Fantasy 7. However, if you are a complete newcomer to the series, this may cause plenty of confusion.

Despite Yoshida's suggestion, it is ultimately up to Square Enix to make the final decision. If the Final Fantasy franchise ditches the numbered entries, we may see a rise in new players who will be able to experience the beautiful crafted worlds contained in each game.

Daman Shelley (@UndeadandTired)
Editor, NoobFeed