Why Final Fantasy 16 Is A PlayStation 5 Exclusive
Final Fantasy XVI was surprise revealed in 2020 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, and Square Enix and PlayStation have remained closely aligned throughout its showings since then. Be it State of Plays, PlayStation Showcases, or even PlayStation Blogs, it’s clear Final Fantasy XVI is a big release for Sony.
During my cover story trip to Square Enix’s Tokyo, Japan, offices, I asked producer Naoki Yoshida how developer Creative Business Unit III feels about the game’s PS5 exclusivity and what that does for the studio in terms of development. He says it’s important to distinguish that CBUIII doesn’t go into game development thinking it wants to limit a game to just one platform or company. When the team started development on FFXVI, the studio “looked at all options,” Yoshida says.
Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida
Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida
“Final Fantasy, being one of Square Enix’s very important franchises up there with Dragon Quest and the Kingdom Hearts series – when we do begin development, we do approach multiple platforms, multiple companies, about releasing the game. And when you approach them, they’re going to come back to us with their offers.”
The team and Square Enix then consider all those offers and decide what will be best for the project. In this case, Square Enix liked PlayStation’s offer best; it doesn’t hurt that PlayStation and Square Enix have a decades-long relationship resulting in various Square Enix exclusives on PlayStation consoles.
From a development perspective, Yoshida says CBUIII wants as many people worldwide to play the game as possible.
“That said, from a developer and programmer perspective, limiting development to one system makes it not only easier on us but allows us the ability to optimize it,” he continues. “And that allows us the ability to maximize performance for that one system because we’re only concentrating on that one system.”
On top of that, Yoshida says the team gets a lot of help from the first party – PlayStation in this instance – and its developers and programmers who help CBUIII maximize a game’s performance.
“It allows us to create the game that we want to create [and] it makes it easier for us to do that.”
For more, be sure to check out Game Informer’s exclusive FFXVI coverage hub by clicking the banner below.
The latest installment of the beloved Final Fantasy franchise is the upcoming 16th title, and its exclusive partnership with the PlayStation 5 console has been met with a mix of excitement and disappointment from the passionate fanbase.
Final Fantasy 16 is a single-player action role-playing game set in the fantastical world of Valisthea. Players will take on the role of protagonist Galahad as they traverse an immersive world packed with thrilling encounters, characters and story arcs.
Many fans have had to come to terms with the fact that Final Fantasy 16 is a PlayStation 5 exclusive title, with no current plans for a PC or Xbox version to be released. While that may come as a disappointment to a portion of the fanbase, the silver lining is that PlayStation 5 owners are going to get the full and complete experience that the developers had always intended.
One of the main reasons for the exclusivity of Final Fantasy 16 to the PlayStation 5 is its cutting-edge graphical capabilities. The PS 5 is equipped with a powerful 8K resolution and 120 frames per second. This allows for the game’s incredibly detailed and beautiful vistas to be fully realized, which is simply not achievable on previous or current generations of consoles. This is just one of a few technical advantages that have attracted Final Fantasy developers to the PlayStation 5.
Beyond the technical aspects, the PlayStation 5 platform presents a host of opportunities for the Final Fantasy franchise. PS 5 players will get the chance to enjoy exclusive content such as in-game rewards, early access to DLC and updates, and exclusive promotions and deals. This will be the perfect way for long-time fans as well as newcomers to experience the next chapter of the Final Fantasy saga.
Ultimately, Final Fantasy 16 is the perfect fit for the PlayStation 5. Its exclusive partnership with the console allows the developers to push the boundaries of the game design, drawing in new features while staying true to the most beloved aspects of the series. It also gives PS 5 gamers a chance to experience this unique and captivating adventure, and it goes without saying that Final Fantasy fans will not be disappointed.
