The Final Fantasy series is one of the most widely recognized JRPGs in video gaming today. First released back in the late 80s, the Final Fantasy games have proven to be so popular that even in 2022, they are some gamers' most anticipated titles. Two new Final Fantasy games are expected soon, with Final Fantasy 7's remake getting its second part and a whole new journey coming to fans in the form of Final Fantasy 16. However, it seems that even with the hype around these upcoming titles, the game director for Final Fantasy 16 isn't so confident about the series.Recently speaking with Inverse, Naoki Yoshida, who served as game director for both Final Fantasy 14 and Final 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 on Final Fantasy games 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." It 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 that Final Fantasy 16 will not include that those games do. For example, it was recently revealed that Final Fantasy 16 won't be open world and 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's party system will 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 the Final Fantasy franchise, and could be one of the ways Final Fantasy 16 is 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 on Final Fantasy 16 before making a decision on the feature.
To some, it may seem strange that Final Fantasy is 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 to Square 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 in Final Fantasy 7.
Final Fantasy 16 releases in summer 2023 for PS5.
Source: Inverse