Final Fantasy 16is easily one of the most anticipated games that’s on the horizon for the PlayStation 5. The franchise has always drawn a lot of excitement from fans, but the next mainline entry is in a unique position.Final Fantasy 16is following the success ofFF7 Remake,which helped put a well-executed modern spin on a classic formula, and it’s going to be the first next-gen mainline game on top of that. Square Enix has been very quiet about details regarding the new game, though, which has the potential to help or hinder the title’s success.
Fans have not received much information aboutFinal Fantasy 16, as twoyears after the original announcement trailer, almost no new details have been released. The game’s official website was updated with some important information aboutFinal Fantasy 16’sworld, but beyond that, no new footage has been revealed. The game is embracing a much darker atmosphere and an emphasis on action that looks to be building onFF15, but fans haven’t been able to actually see any more of how these changes are shaping up so far. While staying quiet about its development has some positives, some of the negatives could end up outshining them.
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Final Fantasyat large has a massive and dedicated fanbase. Games likeFinal Fantasy 14, the MMO offering, have only grown in popularity. Further,FF7 Remakewas one of the biggest releases of 2020. That being said, there are a lot of games in the action-RPG landscape that are already available, and even even more are on the way. While veteran fans that may have been with the franchise since the beginning are unlikely to lose sight of it, there’s a chance that the game gets lost in the wave of similar titles for casual fans. It’s unlikely thatFinal Fantasy 16will release in 2021, so it will be stacked against some heavy competition by the time that it does make its debut.
Even with its exclusivity on PS5, which deserves a pros/cons discussion of its own,FF16is going to be arriving in a marketplace packed with similar offerings. Embracing the darker tones and emphasis on combat has shown to be something that resonates well among many fans. FromSoftware games likeDark SoulsandBloodbornehave drawn massive success and opened the floodgates for action RPGs that feature brutal combat and morose atmospheres. Square Enix seems to also have taken this to heart withgames likeStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, andFF16seems to draw an amount of inspiration from this movement as well.
That’s ultimately the biggest possible hurdle forFF16to cross. Being so sparse with updates about the game means a higher chance of it getting lost, or simply being outpriced for more frugal fans. It seems likely thatFF16will miss Tokyo Game Show, and this could be another missed opportunity to generate excitement from potential buyers that might not be keeping a focused eye on the game. While the hardcore fans ofFinal Fantasyare sure to not forget about the next major release, the more casual fan or potential new ones that are just fans of the genre stand a solid chance of forgetting about the game if there aren’t more major reveals. This isn’t to say that staying guarded about the game is all bad, though. In the modern era of near-constant leaks and rumors,Final Fantasy 16keeping tight-lipped could work to its benefit.
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The Upside of Final Fantasy 16 Staying Quiet
It’s becoming more and more rare for a game to not have major plot or gameplay elements revealed ahead of the publisher’s plans. Leaks and rumors about new games run rampant and can often negatively impact the expectations that fans have ahead of a release. False information that sounds appealing about new titles can lead for fans to be disappointed about a new title, even if the game itself is solid. Despite thenegatives ofFinal Fantasy 16being sparse on reveals, less could prove to be more if fans don’t have as many preconceived notions.
Much like movie trailers, it’s easy to give away too much about a game ahead of its release. So much of the draw of aFinal Fantasygame is the new world and plot elements that come with each new mainline game.Final Fantasy 16seems to have an interesting new takeon the typical stories told in the franchise. As such, giving away too much of that ahead of time could spoil a lot of the sense of discovery that comes with a newFinal Fantasygame. When the game does eventually release, the lack of expectations and revealed story elements could help create a sense of freshness that can be rare.
The other glaring positive about the slow and quiet development means that fans will likely receive a polished product at launch. Many fans have experienced the disappointment of a AAA title that they preordered, watched every new trailer for, and devoured every new rumor for, only to see it release full of bugs or bereft of fleshed-out content.FF16may have only given out minor details so far, but it has been enough to get fans excited about the possibilities without it seeming like Square Enix is rushing the game. There’s certainly a line between the decade-long wait forFF15and rushing the game to completion, though.
Final Fantasy 16’s quiet cycle has been rough for some fans. Diehard players have been looking forward to the game since it’s announcement, with many likely braving the current hardware climate to secure a PS5. Ultimately, this approach is both good and bad. Only releasingsmall details aboutFinal Fantasy 16can both captivate and aggravate. It allows for fun speculation about where the game can take the franchise, but could also bite Square Enix with potential purchasers. While there is a dedicated fanbase that won’t need to see more onFinal Fantasy 16anytime soon, Square Enix should consider the plethora of other offerings and the often-short attention span of the internet. Either way, only time will tell if this approach pays off for Square Enix whenFinal Fantasy 16eventually releases.
