Fans ofFinal Fantasyhave eagerly been awaiting the next mainline title,Final Fantasy 16, since its trailer reveal in 2020. With the game’s release window gradually beginning its approach, many were likely expecting to see something new about the title in the near future at a major gaming show, likeTGS.
Unfortunately, it’s now been revealed thatFinal Fantasy 16will not be a focus at the Tokyo Game Show. Square Enix will have a presence there, but it’s focusing on other upcoming titles instead.
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Square Enix released a list of the games it will be featuring at its booth during TGS, and fans were surprised to see thatFinal Fantasy 16was missing from the list. That’s not to say that the series is completely forgotten, however. Square Enix will still be showcasingCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion,Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, andFinal Fantasy 14, its ongoing MMORPG. A number of other titles, like multipleDragon Questentries, will also be making an appearance.
It’s not entirely clear whyFinal Fantasy 16is missing TGS. The game is currently slated to release sometime in mid-2023, which would likely mean launching before next year’s TGS. GivenSquare Enix’s legendary statusas a developer of JRPGs, some are concerned that the absence may mean that the game is being delayed out of its original release window. However, there are more gaming conferences and shows slated for this year, like The Game Awards, which do have a large international audience watching, so further information about the game may still arrive this year.
Unless Square Enix offers an official bit of reasoning for the missing game, fans will have to wait and see what happens. Times have changed in gaming announcements sinceFinal Fantasy 15’s release, however. Digital reveals held by companies like Sony and Nintendo have become much more normalized, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult or impossible to hold in-person events. With the JRPG series having a huge fanbase all over the world, perhaps Square Enix is holding onto any new reveals forFinal Fantasy 16for an independent digital stream, instead.
So far,Final Fantasy 16’s development cyclehasn’t been anywhere near as rough asFinal Fantasy 15, which saw myriads of delays spanning a decade and even rebranding before its official launch. Even so,Final Fantasyfans may be experiencing a dose of deja vu, with potential concerns that major delays could strike the series again. WhileFinal Fantasy 16hopefuls will have to wait and see, the series as a whole will likely have a fair amount to show at TGS, based on the number ofFinal Fantasy 7spin-offs andFinal Fantasy 14being present.
Final Fantasy 16is set to release in summer of 2023 for PS5.
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