Final Fantasy faces no “existential risk” despite lower-than-hoped PS5 sales, says FF16 director

Please secure your Chocobos in attack position and prepare your Phoenix Downs to stun: Square Enix has unveiled new details about the PC port of Final Fantasy 16. They have also shed some light on why it has taken so long for the PC version to be released – the action-RPG initially launched on PS5 over a year ago, when I was still a console-playing freelancer.

Director Hiroshi Takai mentioned that it was “impossible” to develop the PC and PS5 versions simultaneously, even without the constraints of a timed exclusivity agreement. Despite lower-than-expected returns from both Final Fantasy 16 and the more recent PS5-exclusive Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, Takai believes that the Final Fantasy series is not facing any “existential risk” at the moment.

Final Fantasy titles have a history of arriving late on PC – it took over a year for Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, the first of the FF7 reboots, to land on the Epic Games Store after its PS4 debut. For Final Fantasy 16, Square Enix had to navigate a six-month exclusivity deal with Sony and PS5 following the initial release in June 2023. Producer Naoki Yoshida even jokingly denied that the game was ever announced for PC at one point, leading to some confusion among journalists.

“The reasons vary for each title, but for FFXVI, it primarily comes down to the game being optimized for the PS5 in various ways, making it impossible to work on the PC version simultaneously,” Takai explained in an email response. He couldn’t provide specific details about the PC version’s development, except that it is being handled by the same team that created the original PS5 version.

So, what can PC gamers expect for their patience? The port will include a Complete Edition with two DLC packs, Echoes Of The Fallen and The Rising Tide. These DLCs offer additional content such as a new final dungeon and a new region, along with new abilities for the protagonist Clive Rosefield. Additionally, Square Enix has introduced new graphics and performance settings to enhance the gaming experience.

Square Enix has emphasized expanding beyond consoles recently, with a focus on attracting PC users. When asked about the differences in the audience for Final Fantasy games between console and PC, Takai mentioned that there isn’t much distinction nowadays, but having the game on PC will make it accessible to a broader audience.

While the sales figures for Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth have not been shared yet, Square Enix has reported a decline in overall game sales year-on-year. Despite this, Takai remains optimistic about the future of the Final Fantasy series, stating that continuous innovation and creating enjoyable experiences for players are key to its longevity.