Final Fantasy XVI hands-on — Action for everyone
Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.
I’m a big fan of the Final Fantasy series. I’m especially enamored with Final Fantasy XIV. Much of the team behind my beloved MMO is working on the next entry in the RPG series, Final Fantasy XVI, which is due to release for PlayStation 5 on June 22. So, yes, I’m pretty excited.
And now I’ve gotten a chance to go hands-on with Square Enix’s next big release. At a special preview event in New York City earlier in February, I spent a few hours playing Final Fantasy XVI. I also got to ask producer Naoki Yoshida, director Hiroshi Taka, combat director Ryota Suzuki and localization director Michael-Christopher Koji Fox some questions about the project.
This preview is based on a special version of Final Fantasy XVI made for media to experience, and contents may differ from the final version.
I got to play two sections of the game. One was a dungeon featuring several enemy encounters culminating in a boss fight. The other was an Eikon-vs.-Eikon battle. These are special boss fights that have players controlling a giant monster — or, as Final Fantasy players know them, Summon — against another massive opponent.
GamesBeat Summit 2023
Join the GamesBeat community in Los Angeles this May 22-23. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry to share their updates on the latest developments.
I want to emphasize that I was playing an in-development build of the game. Producer Naoki Yoshida noted before I got going that while the team is working on a graphics mode that prioritizes a smooth frame rate, I was playing on a more fidelity-focused mode with a less consistent frame rate.
Still, even at this earlier state,
Read more on venturebeat.com
