Final Fantasy XVI Announced

by Alex Fuller · September 16, 2020

At the start of today’s PlayStation 5 showcase, Square Enix announced the latest mainline Final Fantasy title, Final Fantasy XVI. The game is being developed by Square Enix Business Division 3, with Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy XIV) acting as producer and Hiroshi Takai (Final Fantasy XIV, The Last Remnant) acting as director. Naoki Yoshida will continue to serve as producer and director for Final Fantasy XIV.

Square Enix did not reveal any details for the game’s story other than the hints shown in the game’s trailer, viewable below along with some initial screenshots. The game will be single-player and have an action combat system. The game is currently only announced for PlayStation 5, though the trailer notes the footage was captured on PC, and does not have a release window. More details will be revealed in 2021.

Message from producer Naoki Yoshida

FINAL FANTASY XVI producer (that’s right, just producer) Naoki Yoshida here. How did you enjoy the trailer? The exclusive footage, comprised of both battles and cutscenes running in real-time, represents but a fraction of what our team has accomplished since the start of development on this, an all-new FINAL FANTASY game. In that span, the team’s size has grown from a handful of core members to a full-fledged unit that continues to polish and build upon what they have created so far, all to provide players an experience unmatched in terms of story and gameplay.

Our next big information reveal is scheduled for 2021, so in the meantime, I expect everyone to have fun speculating, as we have a lot in store—not only for FINAL FANTASY XVI, but for FINAL FANTASY XIV, too. Needless to say, I’ll be working hard on both!

Message from director Hiroshi Takai

When FINAL FANTASY I was released, I was just another player─a young student with big dreams. By the time FINAL FANTASY V was in the works, I had earned myself a seat at the developers’ table… albeit at the very end. From there, I moved “online” leaving my mark on both FINAL FANTASY XI and XIV.

And now…XVI.

From the establishment of an all new development environment, to learning the ins-and-outs of the PS5, the team and I have taken on countless challenges during our journey to bring you the sixteenth chapter in the storied FINAL FANTASY franchise. And though we’re pouring our hearts and souls into this project each and every day, it may still be some time before we can get it into your hands. However, I promise it will be worth the wait!