240°

Final Fantasy 16 Designers Discuss Why The Series Hasn’t Been Turn-Based For A While

They don't rule out a return to turn-based combat one day, though.

Read Full Story >>
gameinformer.com
BandarHub812d ago (Edited 812d ago )

It needs to go back to turned base
Square always makes the mistake of thinking they know the market well when they are clueless.
Making the game a hack-and-slash or more action-oriented does not make it more appealing to the west.
If the game costs $100 Million, does mean you have to capture an audience that is not yours, try to introduce a combat system that changes the direction of the series.
Take From software, they know exactly what gamers expect from their games and they deliver exactly that.
Other examples include Atlus and Game freak...they do not stray from the established formulae, and they cultivate a loyal audience.
Square needs to dial it back with their main Final Fantasy and return back to turn-based combat, Devlier a great story akin to PS1-era FF and gives us a decent presentation. There is no reason why FF has to push boundaries and give us top of the line graphics. Apart from FF7, FF was known to be on point with their artstyle rather than top of the line graphics.

CrimsonWing69812d ago

I don’t get why they don’t do FF7 Remakes hybrid battle system. It’s the best middle ground, but I have to say there’s no denying how good the battle system looks in this. Trust me, I’m a turn-based enthusiast and even I’m excited to try this out.

BandarHub812d ago

FF7R was a nice compromise between turn base and action, I really liked it.
But it seems that Square Enix want to appeal to an audience that does not exist. They expect their next Final Fantasy to be the Juggernaut that was FF7...
It's not that I'm not impressed by the game, it most likely will play well but I long yearn for the things that were working well in the past. The ragtag group of misfit characters that would join you in your fight....now its all characters that look rather generic.

LordoftheCritics812d ago

So glad they went real time action.

I don't have the patience for a turn based God of War.

The clear immersive advantages of real time is very very attractive to a storyteller.
Turn based is just about ok for the hardcore role-player but the moment to moment positioning of a story beat or a peak moment is lost.

Games nowadays are pursuing that visceral feeling which only real time can provide.

jznrpg812d ago

They should do both really . I would buy both . I enjoy action RPGs just as much as turn based just do each of them well.

shinoff2183812d ago

Id love to see them give an option. was it pathfinder that gives an option of how you want combat

neutralgamer1992812d ago

BandarHub

Needs to go back is a strong statement. Sales price otherwise and main line FF games will never go back. Those want TBC JPRG's have plenty of options

Fact of the matter is real time combat sells while TBC appeals to a niche market

Hofstaderman812d ago

I agree with you with the sales part, just look at FF15 sales, that convinced Square they on the correct path. On the other hand, DQ 11 sold very well too…

shinoff2183812d ago

Theres really not alot of turned based rpgs these days compared to the past. Far as sales its hard to debate that one cause back in what alot of us call the golden era of jrpgs between the snes and ps1. Ill add snes, ps1, saturn. About 160 million consoles sold. So you were limited to those consoles sold. These days theres atleast 100 million more gamers then there was back in the day(just a guess, but still my point). Way more gamers today. FF sold great back in the day just like today.

lucian229812d ago

As a big fan of turn based games back in the day... They were pretty stale after a while with a few exceptions.... Those exceptions being xenogears, valkyrie profile and legend of legaia.

Pyrofire95812d ago

To reply to your reply to that other guys reply. SE doesn't want FF16 to be FF7, that's your own expectations being put on them. They expect it to be the next Final Fantasy game and they expect it to be successful. There will never be another FF7 but there will be another FF and they games will continue to change and if you only like the old style than those games exist but they wont be a main numbered FF title for the foreseeable future. Turn-based has become a niche and AAA can't be funded by a niche.

shinoff2183812d ago

No one has really tried though, dragon quest sold very well. Also like I pointed out above theres way more gamers these days to.

ChasterMies812d ago

Except a more action focused hack and slash is more appealing to the west. It’s why Microsoft wanted Bethesda. It’s why western gamers use the term “JRPG” as an insult.

LordoftheCritics812d ago

Even asian devs consider JRPG as an insult.

shinoff2183812d ago (Edited 812d ago )

Not all of us , especially the older ones . When I say jrpg im meaning it in a good way im putting that j on that cause im happy and excited for those type of games. Ive seen advertising from some of those asian devs putting jrpg on it themselves so its probably a select few. The guy at square doesnt represent the whole industry. Maybe some do maybe most do but you cant use one guys feelings as a fact for the whole

shinoff2183812d ago (Edited 812d ago )

Started in ff12 I wasnt drawn to any of the characters. I also miss the days of the turn based jrpgs we hardly get them these days. Imo even if this ff16 came out turn based itd probably still sell 15 million plus more once it hits other gaming sytems(whether pc xbox, probably not switch though). Im warming up to it a little bit but its a crawl as im not feeling the combat at all. I dont even like devil may cry so that does nothing for me aside from turn me off. Even ff7r I really enjoyed it loved most of it even the story and what they are doing. My only complaint with that is still the combat.

I know it might not be a popular opinion these days with the younger crowd and needing to see the constant action and movement to keep their attention but im personally not a fan. I think dragon quest 11 is squares best game since ff9

BandarHub812d ago

Yeah, I think that it will turn out pretty good if it was turned-based.
This will rally a lot of the fans back onto Final Fantasy.
Square focuses too much on focus groups' opinions and what the current gaming market currently likes.
They have been bad at acknowledging what players wants. Look at FF the first soldier, Stranger of the paradise, Forspoken...what the hell were they thinking making those games.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 812d ago
-Foxtrot812d ago

“ that we want to get this game in the hands of as many people as possible”

And there it is

It’s about potentially loosing sales despite the fact it’s FF and it would sell regardless

Yakuza Like a Dragon was turn based, so was Persona 5 and they did fantastic

So there’s no excuse really

NostaglicFantasy812d ago

Because they are chasing 10 million+ sales, with the amount of money they spend making the game, they pretty much have to. FF15 sold 10 million eventually, even if that was one of the worst games in the franchise.

Yet it still outsold the combined sales of Persona 5, P5R and Persona Strikers. It was arguably the best jrpg of the last generation, yet it couldn't outsell FF15. I understand their reasoning, but I still feel like they could split the series and do both turn-based and action easily enough and satisfy everyone.

343_Guilty_Spark812d ago (Edited 812d ago )

If they wanted 10 million plus they’d launch on multiple platforms

andy85812d ago

It outsold Persona because it's Final Fantasy. It's a much bigger name. If it was turn based it would have still sold as many. DQ 11 is a much smaller name worldwide than FF and that sold over 7 million and it's turn based. FF would have smashed it

shinoff2183812d ago

Persona is still known as a niche game though even though 5 brought it to the spotlight more it still has a bit to go

goldwyncq812d ago

And those two games are nowhere near as big as Final Fantasy so they can afford to take the risk. Let's not forget that many Yakuza fans got mad when the gameplay changed from action to turn-based.

-Foxtrot812d ago

Course they can

FF13 and FF15 were huge letdowns to many fans and still did well financially so if people are going to buy those then I'm pretty god damn sure they'd buy the next one turn based or not.

porkChop812d ago

Like a Dragon was small, selling 2.5 to 3 million units, though it quickly became the best selling game in the franchise. Persona 5 sold more units than FF7R. 8+ million vs 5 million. Aside from the original FF7 (13 million), FF usually tops out around 10 million. I'd say Persona and FF are on pretty even terms these days. Even SE's own DQXI, a turn-based RPG, isn't far off. It was over 6 million before the definitive edition launched.

SE keeps going further and further into realtime action to increase sales but it hasn't worked at all. FF13 sold around 7 million, and 15 took 5 years to finally hit their goal of 10 million. Maybe returning to turn-based is what the series actually needs.

shinoff2183812d ago (Edited 812d ago )

Was it really many, ive been into yakuza since the first and I was cool with it.

Also thanks porkchop

neutralgamer1992812d ago

Fox

Fact of the matter is FF15 & FF7 remake combined sold better than like a dragon and past 5+ persona main and side entries. End of the day publishers are supposed to do what's best for business along with gamers and real time combat appeals to more gamers

I love the fact they went real time combat and for those want TBC they still have persona, dragon quest, like a dragon and many more

shinoff2183812d ago

Of course it sold better, persona and yakuza arent nearly as big as ff. It would have been the case if ff was still turn based or not, combat had nothing to do with it outselling those other to.

Pyrofire95812d ago

Yakua games are 10x cheaper to make and take less time to make. They are not the same. A FF game takes 6+ years to make now, Yakuza releases bi-yearly sometime yearly. (including things like Judgement and Ishin which are technically spin offs in name only, they retain similar budgets and scope so I'd count them too.)

neutralgamer1992812d ago

Yakuza games are definitely on budget. As a huge Yakuza fan since original it was disappoint that they made the series TBC when the whole series was known as a beat em up

But og fans like me are constantly reminded we have judgement now but then in the same those who liked TBC in FF can enjoy other games. We can't praise the developer when it comes to like a dragon and hate on another gor wanting to try different things

CrimsonWing69812d ago

I thought he already made it clear the decision for real-time action was for the younger crowd who apparently can’t handle turn-based and chess-like strategy for fights.

I mean sh*t, we might as well make all chess games real-time action, too.

phoenixwing812d ago

Those were actually the same reasons they gave in this article with one extra detail. They compared it to gta. That's their goal, they want to literally be as high selling as gta. Making it action f ocused will sell more but se is insane to think they can reach gta levels of sales with the ff ip. My opinion is that they should make a gta clone if they want gta sales but that's just me.

shinoff2183812d ago

I remember square head coming out and saying that Japanese developers should try to mimic the west, then square tries to mimic the west with turning their main game action.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 812d ago
Tzuno812d ago

There is no excuse, they wanted to try something new, well... kind of a hit and miss really
Bring back turn based

812d ago
goldwyncq812d ago

Going full action is something new. FF hasn't been turn-based for over twenty years now and it's never coming back for a mainline FF game. People need to accept that.

W34KN35S812d ago

In a perfect world it would have both options and players could switch on the fly. I don't and never have played a Final Fantasy but I did try out and play Kingdom Hearts 1-2 and those are some of my most beloved game experiences and I can certainly say that I wouldn't have played it if it was turn based.

However , Final Fantasy is already established so they should keep things how the fans want and not risk losing their fan base when trying to potentially draw in a new crowd. Every game isn't for everyone.

Pyrofire95812d ago

Final Fantasy also established that they change it up with every number. Some of the older ones are even turned based just menu based like FF7, they maintained real-time-ish (RTB) combat while remaining menu based.

Soulsborne812d ago

Imagine this game, this setting, with turn based. Fingers crossed for FF9 remake to have turn based.

Show all comments (54)
380°

“We Apologise And Would Like To Correct This”, Says Analyst Who Claimed FF 16 Only Sold 3.5M Copies

Final Fantasy 16 has likely sold more than 3.5 million copies.

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
GamerRN65d ago

The time happens! Never them is right when report.

VenomUK65d ago

The analyst is called Hideki Yasuda. In 2021 he claimed the 'Fall of PlayStation in Japan is “Definitive”'
https://nichegamer.com/rese...

In 2024 he Hideki Yasuda said The Sony Group may see PS5 as a failure and the envisioned goals are unattainable.
https://www.resetera.com/th...

Knushwood Butt64d ago

Curious as to what this means:

'The Japanese branch of GamesIndustry.biz (Translation: DeepL, adjusted)'.

What is DeepL?

Nerdmaster64d ago

@Knushwood Butt
It looks like you also don't know that Google is.

Pro-tip: enter google.com, type "What is DeepL?" and press enter.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 64d ago
oldenjon65d ago (Edited 65d ago )

FF16 sales the time, and tbh game the time

S2Killinit65d ago (Edited 65d ago )

What about all the damage he did? People were talking like this game was a flop.

StormSnooper64d ago

I think that is why he is apologizing. He wants to make sure he doesn’t get sued for defamation.

badz14964d ago

SE and Sony definitely should sue him

Babadook765d ago (Edited 65d ago )

This isn’t news. The analyst could be right or wrong. Square Enix hasn’t said anything.

mandf65d ago

He admitted he was wrong didn’t have knowledge of the actual sales

Babadook764d ago (Edited 64d ago )

When there is knowledge of actual sales you wouldn’t need an analyst. He more or less admits his analysis is wrong but that’s bound to happen in that field. They make predictions that they hope will be useful. This wasn’t.

Anyway, it seems people are taking my comment as an attack on this game. I like the game and hope it does well. Hopefully FF gets a resurgence. They pretty much deserve that. I just think this story is of no importance.

65d ago
tiron865d ago (Edited 65d ago )

Obviously a game that stayed on the top ten then regularly returned to the top 10/20 and then released on PC would have sold more than .5m more than the first week sales.

Final Fantasy 16 Sold 3 Million Copies During Launch Week
"Square Enix said the milestone includes both physical and digital sales on PlayStation 5."
https://www.ign.com/article...

65d ago
pwnmaster300065d ago

lol even with facts certain people will still not believe it

The Wood65d ago

@pwnmaster3000

They don't wanna believe....... narratives need to be upheld at all costs

Elantregaless65d ago

Steam user scores and Playstation scores indicate otherwise.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 65d ago
Elantregaless65d ago

Exactly. The analyst does not mean anything.
As far as we know the official sales are still at 3 million.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 64d ago
65d ago
thorstein65d ago

Analyst is wrong again. Shocking.

65d ago
CrashMania65d ago

Always thought it was the case, sold 3 million in the first week and 300k on PC from the last numbers we got, so only 200k extra copies in almost 2 years on PS5 and since the PC release?

Make it make sense lol

pwnmaster300065d ago

Doesn’t matter. People will still believe the mistake. How are you an analyst and get it wrong?

jznrpg65d ago

Analysts have agendas so you can not trust what they say in articles.

64d ago
JEECE65d ago

Yep. You better believe in two years when people are making an argument about big AAA games not selling enough, or PS5 exclusives not selling, or Japanese games not selling, or whatever the dumb argument happens to be, this "number" will get cited as evidence. The retraction never has the same reach as the false story.

mandf65d ago

That’s why propaganda works

64d ago
Show all comments (55)
250°

Final Fantasy XVI Sales Reach 3.5 Million, Lagging Behind Final Fantasy XV’s Launch Numbers

Lifetime sales of Square Enix's action role-playing game, Final Fantasy XVI, have reached 3.5 million copies.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
Cacabunga74d ago

A terrible game, but good it sold well then they keep the franchise alive. I hope they do better next time with an RPG and not a dmc clone..

CrimsonWing6974d ago (Edited 74d ago )

I think they’re saying it underperformed and isn’t selling well. It was 3 mill near launch, it only did 500k more and that’s even after a PC launch.

jukins74d ago

This article is a lie. They announced 3m in a week on ps5. It finished top 20 for the year it release and continued top 20 throughout 2024. By this logic it sold over 3m on launch week and then never sold another copy until pc release.

S2Killinit74d ago

Also, They are not considering that this was exclusive to PlayStation. Am I correct in this?

If so, its clickbait.

CrimsonWing6974d ago

@S2Killinit

They mention the PC version… like 3 mill was the announcement, like a month after release. Now, after the PC release there’s 3.5 mill units sold.

Square has already come out saying this and Rebirth underperformed. Considering how much they spent on development and marketing and the way sales aren’t moving to recoup cost, it’s a little concerning to me, especially as a mega-fan of this franchise.

I didn’t think 16 was the worst game I played, but outside of some epic boss battles and the Benedikta arc… I found it rather boring. The DLC have the best boss fights in a game I’ve played in a while though.

RaiderNation74d ago

Lol no, it's not a terrible game. Far from it actually. It's just not a FF game.

CosmicTurtle74d ago (Edited 74d ago )

The problem for me is that the combat was not varied or customisable enough to last the game’s play time.

Otherwise, I agree with RaiderNation it is the reason I held out from buying it until it initially, is it was not the genre I wanted. I am happy for a series to change and grow but I want an RPG to some extent. It’s a shame because it handled narrative and dialogue pretty well.

Nooderus74d ago

I really didn't enjoy it. Combat was trash, main character trash imo.

Cacabunga74d ago

You buy a game called FF to realize it’s something else is utter lie. I would never have bought it if it was called something else. The game is so boring and poorly exexuted. Beginning and ending are the good sides of it. Rest is trash

RaiderNation74d ago

@Cacabunga

What did you do? Walk into Gamestop and completely blind buy it without reading any of the reviews/previews or watching any of the YouTube reviews? Hell the game had a demo you could try out before deciding to buy! Don't give me the whole "wow I was completely blindsided by this and had no idea" excuse. That's on you. If you didn't like it, fine. Opinions vary. But don't act like you were a victim to some bait and switch attempt because that's just not reality.

Cacabunga73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

I am an old time FF fan so i never want to spoil any episode. I didnt even want to finish the demo. I liked the feel of it but i didnt expect it would turn into a pure action game.

No i dont watch reviews because they are subjective.

Its ok i didnt like the game things like this happen. Game was just ridiculous, side quests are absolute trash. I have platinum trophy I know what i am talking about.

I supported it as a FF fan, i hope they do better next time.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 73d ago
Nooderus74d ago

Agreed, worse than ff13 by far

MeteorPanda74d ago

if you played ff 14 this really did feel like an improved mmo...that is 10 years old.

first ff entry l barely finished and traded in. Bloody horrible storytelling. The story was okay, the execution was cringe af.

Amazingly however the first part was the best part, the demo being the highlight.

FernDiggidy74d ago

Terrible is fucking insane. Keep swallowing crayons

AnotherGamer73d ago

You really can't be serious lol

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 73d ago
Npugz774d ago

Are you serious? This was not a terrible game at all it was very good!

FernDiggidy74d ago

Good game for sure, certainly not terrible. Very good is debatable.

ravens5274d ago

Great game. Doesn't seem like PC helped at all of these numbers are correct.

JEECE74d ago

Yeah, these numbers are a little hard to believe. If it sold 3 million in the first week and had even a semi-decent launch on PC, for these numbers to be right you'd have to assume it sold basically zero copies on PS5 after its launch week. Given it was in the NPD Top Ten in its second month, and the top twenty its third month, that's hard to believe, even if I'm sure they anticipated it charting higher for longer. That's to say nothing of sales boosts it probably got from PSN sales.

nommers74d ago

The link that the article is mentioning doesn’t give much context. It likely needs good translation as well.

raWfodog74d ago

I hope this helps the 'complete' edition go on sale for a huge discount. It went on sale a while ago for only about 25% off but I'm waiting for that 50% off (or higher) sweet spot.

GhostScholar74d ago

It underperformed because it was on less platforms I get no one wants to admit
That

Elda74d ago

It wouldn't have sold that much that better had it also released on XB, people on XB would have only played FFXVI if it was on Gamepass.

DivineHand12574d ago (Edited 74d ago )

If it has the opportunity to launch on all platforms at launch then yes the sales would have been better but it is difficult to say by how much. It would have benefited from the excitement and marketing in that window.

One thing to bear in mind is that it would be a struggle to get the game running on the Xbox because of the series S. The game does not hit a stable 60 on either the base PS5 or PS5 Pro. Based on Digital foundry, it only hits 60 FPS during fight sequences on base PS5. The game is also set to have dynamic resolution so instead of prioritizing frame rate in non battle sequences, the game prioritizes resolution making it difficult for the PS5 Pro to maintain 60 FPS as the game tries to reach 4k native instead of using PSSR. Square really should have updated the game.

I am not saying all this to be unfair to the Xbox because I believe I am one of the most fair users towards that platform on this site. I am just giving you my honest opinion based on my experience with the game.

Show all comments (48)
60°

Just Let Me Be the Big Monster: A Final Fantasy 16 Rant

Players just want to smash wild Chocobos into oblivion.

Read Full Story >>
loprototypetech.com
DivineHand12575d ago (Edited 75d ago )

Final Fantasy 16 was a great game. It had one of the best combat systems out of many JRPGs. It does have some elements of it that could be better, like what the author of this article said. It would have been nice to be able to use fully transformed Eikons at will like in the previous games. I believe the FF13 and FF7 remakes were the last to allow players to do this. Let us hope FF17 will allow players to use summons at will.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: There are some other elements story-wise that could have been better. I would have preferred if Clive was more militant, and he rebelled against the non-Bearers much like Spartacus. That would have had me more invested in the story than him not wanting to change the status quo despite the harsh treatment Bearers across the kingdom faced from their slavers. I also think the FF games in general need to start distancing themselves from these bittersweet endings and give us a happier ending. Yes, you defeated the bad guy, but what is the point if the main characters can't enjoy the victory?