Final Fantasy XVI State of Play Reveals Nearly 25 Minutes of 4K Gameplay Footage, Showcasing Real-Time Combat, Character Interactions, Eikon Battles, and More

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Image: Square Enix

State of Play has debuted nearly 25 minutes of all-new gameplay footage for Final Fantasy XVI ahead of the game’s release for PlayStation 5 consoles this summer. The 4K footage reveals a host of new features and details about the upcoming RPG, which seems largely inspired by Game of Thrones, including frenetic, real-time combat; a hideout where players can craft items and train before going into battle; and, perhaps most excitingly, massive battles with Eikon, powerful and deadly creatures that reside in FFXVI’s main setting of Valisthea. Producer Naoki Yoshida, who hosted the video, mentioned that popular singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu will perform the game’s theme song, “Tsuki Wo Miteita – Moongazing,” and while Square Enix still hasn’t teased a PC release, PS5 owners can begin playing the game on June 22, 2023.

From a Square Enix press release:

Today, SQUARE ENIX unveiled exciting new FINAL FANTASY XVI gameplay for the latest standalone title in the FINAL FANTASY franchise, through a dedicated PlayStation State of Play broadcast, revealing further details on role-playing game (“RPG”) elements and impressive Eikon battles players can look forward to when the game releases exclusively for PlayStation 5 on June 22, 2023. Developed as the first full action RPG in the series, FINAL FANTASY XVI is set in an epic dark fantasy world, where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them, FINAL FANTASY XVI follows the journey of warrior Clive Rosfield, who has been sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix.

The footage reveals a host of details about the upcoming game, including:

  • New Hideaway advisors – The Hideaway, which serves as protagonist Clive’s base, will give players the opportunity to discover more about the world of Valisthea, from past to present, by speaking to historian Harpocrates, as well as view the relationship chart of the characters by speaking to military scholar Vivian.
  • New training function – Players can battle in training mode by accessing the ‘Arete Stone’ in the Hideaway. This feature will be useful when wanting to practice a combination of abilities, particularly after learning a new skill.
  • New hunts – More adventures can be accessed from the Hideaway as players can check the Wanted Posters to discover powerful monsters roaming around the world. Defeating these enemies will yield powerful rewards.
  • New battle footage – View newly released footage showcasing a variety of Clive’s combat actions, Eikon battles and more.

SQUARE ENIX also announced that popular singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, whose fame spans generations, and whose single “Lemon” set a record in Japanese music history, has been confirmed to perform the theme song “Tsuki Wo Miteita – Moongazing.”

Yonezu said, “Words cannot express the impact FINAL FANTASY has had on my life. I never thought or imagined that I would ever receive an opportunity like this. I wrote this song especially for this game. Thank you.”

Naoki Yoshida, Producer of FINAL FANTASY XVI said, “When I found out that we’d be able to work with Mr. Yonezu, I was not only surprised, but overjoyed. I’m a big fan of Yonezu’s work, and I know that he has a passion for creating music that resonates across the generations, so I was sure that he’d be able to capture the world, the story, and the themes of FINAL FANTASY XVI. He’s not only an amazing artist, but also an avid gamer and a FINAL FANTASY fan, so please look forward to hearing his theme song!”

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Tsing Mui
News poster at The FPS Review.

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