TheFinal Fantasyseries is one of the most widely recognized JRPGs in video gaming today. First released back in the late 80s, theFinal Fantasygames have proven to be so popular that even in 2022, they are some gamers' most anticipated titles. Two newFinal Fantasygames are expected soon, withFinal Fantasy 7’sremakegetting its second part and a whole new journey coming to fans in the form ofFinal Fantasy 16. However, it seems that even with the hype around these upcoming titles, the game director forFinal Fantasy 16isn’t so confident about the series.Recently speaking with Inverse, Naoki Yoshida, who served as game director for bothFinal Fantasy 14andFinal Fantasy 16,spoke about whether the franchise is keeping up with current industry trends. “I believe the series is currently struggling,” Yoshida said, further explaining that the team working onFinal Fantasygames are given so many requests for things to put in the latest title that it is “impossible to satisfy all those requests” within one release. Instead, Yoshida believes that all he and his team can do is create multiple games, making “the best that we can at any given time.“RELATED:Final Fantasy 16 Will Feature a Nontraditional Party SystemIt isn’t exactly stated what modern trends Yoshida is referring to, but when considering the direction AAA titles have veered in recent years, one could point out a few features thatFinal Fantasy 16will not include that those games do. For example, it was recently revealed thatFinal Fantasy 16won’t be open worldand that players will instead have several regions to explore, which will give the narrative a greater feeling that the player is traveling across a world, according to the developers.
Also,Final Fantasy 16’sparty systemwill be different from traditional games, focusing on the character of Clive rather than making space for an ensemble of protagonists. This differs from past entries in theFinal Fantasyfranchise, and could be one of the waysFinal Fantasy 16is looking to keep up with current game trends by having a clear protagonist. Giving the spotlight to Clive may be a controversial decision for some fans, but many are waiting until more information drops onFinal Fantasy 16before making a decision on the feature.
To some, it may seem strange thatFinal Fantasyis even attempting to keep up with modern industry trends, as many fans believe that the series has carved out a niche for itself and that those invested in the story aren’t too bothered by a lack of open-world mechanics or live-service features. Some have also pointed toSquare Enix’s recent interest in NFT gaming, voicing concern that this is the trend Yoshida was talking about and that NFTs will be added to the latest title. This may be especially worrying for some, considering the announced plans to feature NFTs inFinal Fantasy 7.
Final Fantasy 16releases in summer 2023 for PS5.
MORE:Final Fantasy 16 Skipping an Open World Means It Can Avoid Many of FF15’s Problems
