Final Fantasy 16: Everything we know about the year’s biggest RPG

Final Fantasy 16 has all the ingredients to make it one of the greatest single-player entries in the series for generations, sporting a supremely talented development staff and a unique vision of a dark, imaginative fantasy world I can’t wait to explore. 

Coming exclusively to PS5, Final Fantasy 16 will have Naoki Yoshida and Hiroshi Takai on hand as key development staff, two individuals who have transformed FF14 into the world’s finest MMORPG in recent years. Fans have been eagerly waiting for Yoshida-san to turn his hand at the main series for some time, and now that opportunity has finally come. Here’s hoping it’s one of the best PS5 games yet. 

Details are light on Final Fantasy 16 right now, but Trusted Reviews has compiled everything you need to know about 2021’s biggest JRPG. Whether it’s the release date, story or gameplay you want to know about – we’ve got you covered. 

What is Final Fantasy 16?

In the works for PS5, Final Fantasy 16 is the next entry in Square Enix’s JRPG franchise, with Naoki Yoshida as producer and Hiroshi Takai as director at the helm. Here’s what the former had to say in the official announcement press release: 

“The exclusive footage, comprising 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,” Yoshida explained.

“In that span, the team’s size has grown from a handful of core members to a fully 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.”

Final Fantasy 16 release date – When is it coming out?

A release date for Final Fantasy 16 remains unclear, but we’ll update this page once we know more. The next drop of information is set to come in 2021, so chances are we’ll be waiting a while until the game finally launches. 

Speaking on a recent podcast, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier said that Final Fantasy 16 could be coming “sooner than people think.”

“I’ve heard from people who know the game, have worked on the game or are familiar with the game’s development, that it’s actually been in development for at least four years in some capacity. So it’s coming sooner than people think.”

He added: “I think Final Fantasy 15 really set a terrible precedent. It was announced as Versus 13 in 2006 and then took 10 years to make, so I think they want to shy away from that. It makes sense. FF15 came out in 2016, so it’s already been four years since the last Final Fantasy game.”

Final Fantasy 16 trailer – How does it look?

Only one Final Fantasy 16 trailer has been shown thus far, but it’s incredibly detailed. Check it out below: 

Final Fantasy 16 story – What do we know so far?

It appears that Final Fantasy 16 will be a traditional fantasy adventure, much like the series’ early entries. It will take place in a world made up of a number of rivalling kingdoms, positively awash with political intrigue and ancient creatures that will rise to the forefront throughout the narrative. 

Final Fantasy 16 takes place in the fantasy world of Valisthea, a realm whose inhabitants can lead peaceful lives thanks to special gems known as Mother Crystals. Unfortunately, this way of life is thrown into disarray as monsters known as Eikons are awakened by powerful humans who declare themselves Dominants. 

Like most games in the series, the fate of this world will soon hang in the balance, and it will be up to our heroes to save the day. Beyond a number of character names and events gleaned from the trailer, the central narrative remains a mystery. Given it’s Final Fantasy, expect ample amounts of silly haircuts and anime melodrama. 

Final Fantasy 16 Kingdoms – What are they?

While their roles in the narrative are only somewhat understood right now, the world of Final Fantasy 16 consists of six distinct factions: 

• Grand Duchy of Rosaria
• Holy Empire of Sanbreque
• Kingdom of Waloed
• Dhalmekian Republic
• Iron Kingdom
• Crystalline Dominion

Final Fantasy 16 characters – Who are they?

Much like the aforementioned details, we only have a sliver of information surrounding the core cast of characters right now. However, below is a list of all the big personalities, alongside a few valuable tidbits of information. 

• Clive Rosfield – Clive is the main protagonist and first-born child of the Archduke of Rosaria. He finds himself embarking on an epic journey following a tragic event involving the dark Eikon Ifrit. As the First Shield of Rosaria, he’s tasked with protecting the kingdom and his younger brother, Joshua, from harm. 
• Joshua Rosfield – Joshua is the younger brother of Clive and the Dominant of Phoenix, meaning he is an Eikon capable of wielding fire. Despite being raised in nobility, Joshua is a warm and gentle soul who cares for all those around him, which could end up being his undoing. 
• Jill Warrick – Jill is the Ward of the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, a role that tasks her with maintaining peace among the Northern Territories. Raised alongside Clive and Joshua, she considers the two boys siblings. Such a bond will likely grow stronger in the full game. 

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