Square Enix has announced that FINAL FANASY XVI is now available to play exclusively on PlayStation 5 consoles with a starting price of $69.99. There’s still no word yet on when the new RPG from Square Enix’s Creative Business Unit III team might be headed to Windows PCs, but those who own a PS5 and simply want to get a small slice now can check out the FFXVI demo, which hit the PlayStation Store last week onJune 12, offering some combat with protagonist Clive Rosfield, a whole lot of cutscenes, Eikon (summons) battles, and much more. The demo seems to suggest that FFXVI suffers from at least one major graphics problem, however—really ugly motion blur, which seemingly can’t be turned off. Some FFXVI players are also complaining about the lack of a party, a staple feature of older Final Fantasy games.
From a Square Enix press release:
FINAL FANTASY XVI is the first true action role-playing game (RPG) in the beloved series, combining a dynamic real-time action combat system and RPG features to provide an expansive and thrilling gameplay experience. Created by an experienced development team led by Naoki Yoshida, their goal was to deliver a FINAL FANTASY title that could be enjoyed by all players, and that pleases series fans and new players alike. Accessibility is also a big focus, with the introduction of Timely Accessories, a feature that allows players to tailor and customize game difficulty via gear to fit their individual play style.
Another innovative feature is the Active Time Lore (ATL) system. Accessible at any time in the game, even during cutscenes, ATL allows players to learn more about the world and characters that are on screen or that they’ve just encountered, with over 2,800 written entries that delve deep into the backstory of Valisthea and its inhabitants.
The FINAL FANTASY XVI Demo is the perfect opportunity for players to jump into the realms of Valisthea to experience the beginnings of protagonist Clive Rosfield’s epic tale. The demo gives players access to the opening prologue, with saved progress carrying over to the full game after its release. In the demo, take control of Clive Rosfield at the start of his epic tale and learn about his ambitions and goals, as he endures a tragic event sending him on a dark and dangerous path of revenge. Completing the prologue allows players to experience a special battle demo which has numerous abilities unlocked, giving them the opportunity to jump into exhilarating battles and test out a wide array of devastating attacks and combos.
FINAL FANTASY XVI introduces players to an all-new story in the FINAL FANTASY universe, an epic dark fantasy that takes place in the realms of Valisthea – a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon known as Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.