Final Fantasy 16is garnering the excitement that’s natural as the next mainline entry in one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. Fans have not had a lot of information to chew on since the game was originally announced, though. It isn’t unusual forFinal Fantasygames to have long and quiet and development times, but fans are getting anxious about just how long they’ll have to wait before getting to playFinal Fantasy 16. With only one trailer released and no signs that the game will make an appearance soon, it’s starting to look less and less likely that the game is coming this year.
Delays are something the industry and its fans have come to grips with after the year that was 2020. Covid-19 guidelines created industry-wide delays as developers adjusted to remote work. More than halfway through 2021, the delays on major games likeDiablo 4andFinal Fantasy 16are starting to feel dragged out for many fans.Final Fantasy 16was obviously no exception, butFinal Fantasy 16’sprogress has been stated to be sloweven this year. The game missed Square Enix’s E3 showcase other than being part of a sizzle reel, which felt somewhat strange considering the announcement ofStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.
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Final Fantasy 16 Likely Won’t Release in 2021
It isn’t necessarily a bad thing thatFinal Fantasy 16won’t release this year. Many eager fans are still having a hard time getting their hands on PlayStation 5 consoles, for whichFF16is an exclusive. Square Enix has a lot ofFinal Fantasyirons in the fire right now as well. The aforementionedStranger of Paradisespin-off, thePixel Remasters, and thenext chapter ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, are all in development alongsideFinal Fantasy 16.While different teams are working on each game, Square Enix is likely focused on ensuring the highest possible quality for each, and resources are probably being shared across the various titles.
Some fans worry that theslow progress onFinal Fantasy 16is a bad omen, after all, the last mainline game was technically in development for more than a decade.Final Fantasy 15garnered mixed reactions, while overall positive ones, after the incredibly long wait from its initial announcement asFinal Fantasy Versus 13. It’s more likely that Square Enix has taken the lessons learned fromFinal Fantasy 15to heart, and are working to ensure the highest quality possible for the next game.
Final Fantasy 16is in a position much similar to thefan-favoriteFinal Fantasy 9. Bringing the series back to its fantasy roots after a slew of more sci-fi oriented games, and coming in at a point where love for the franchise is peaking again, putsFF16at a critical juncture that Square Enix has likely considered. But while the excitement about the game is justifiably high, fans should keep expectations in check. Wanting the best possible version of the nextFinal Fantasygame should trump wanting it as soon as possible. Hopefully the time being put intoFinal Fantasy 16means that fans will receive the former when it eventually releases.
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