‘Final Fantasy XVI’ almost had its name changed; understand why

The “Final Fantasy” franchise is one of the most classic and beloved by gamers. There are already 15 games in the main series alone, and the sixteenth game is on the way. In its more than 30 years of history, the game has established a tradition in its titles that has never been broken before.

“Final Fantasy XVI” intends to continue the legacy of adding a number to its name left by its predecessors. However, history was almost different. This is because the producers seriously discussed the possibility of removing the number from its title.

A plausible reason

According to Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida in an interview with the website GQremoving the number from the name was an option that crossed the minds of the team involved in the project. The reason would be that new players might give up playing when they see the number, believing that the previous players would have to play as well.

This issue with the game’s title makes it difficult to marketing of the series. However, it is worth remembering that although the counting is sequential, the games do not tell a continuous story. In other words, you do not need to have played “Final Fantasy 15” to play 16.

New game

The new title in the series arrives on June 22, 2023 for PlayStation 5. Due to a contract exclusivity provisional with Sony, the game will not arrive on other platforms for at least six months.

The main new feature of the game is the change in gameplay. The series, traditionally known for being a turn-based RPG, will now focus on an action RPG, that is, a type of RPG with more frenetic, real-time action.

This change could be an interesting shift in the direction of the game series, as action RPGs are very popular among gamers of the genre. Some famous games in this genre include “The Elder Scrolls”, “The Witcher” and “Dark Souls” franchises, among others.