During the Final Fantasy XVI Pre-Launch Celebrations held in Los Angeles, Square Enix unveiled and launched a free consumer demo for the game. This announcement was complemented by an assortment of activities, trailer premieres, announcements and panel discussions which attendees got to enjoy. The 16th flagship instalment in Square Enix’s long-running RPG franchise, Final Fantasy XVI is set to release on 22 June 2023 as a timed PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Naoki “YoshiP” Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy XVI (and also known as the producer who saved Final Fantasy XVI), announced during the event that the consumer demo would offer fans early access to the opening prologue of the game. He also mentioned that progress made in the demo would be carried over to the full game post-release. The demo places players in control of the protagonist, Clive Rosfield, as they explore the outset of his saga. In the demo, players learn about Clive’s ambitions and objectives, and witness him experience a catastrophic event that sets him on a perilous journey of vengeance.
Upon completion of the prologue, players can engage in a special battle demo which has numerous abilities unlocked, thereby allowing them to partake in a sample of more later-game battles and experiment with a variety of powerful attacks and combos.
In addition to the demo, Square Enix showcased a new trailer titled “ASCENSION”. This trailer furnished fans with an additional sneak peek into the fast-paced action and role-playing elements that players should expect from Final Fantasy XVI:
Furthermore, Square Enix, in collaboration with creative agency Anomaly, premiered a short film titled “Requiem” at the event. Directed by Diego Contreras, this 3-minute and 30-second film features live actors and is accompanied with a score composed by Masayoshi Soken, the game’s composer. The film is designed to provide an additional dimension to the game’s narrative:
Final Fantasy XVI leads players through an original tale within the FINAL FANTASY universe. Set in the realm of Valisthea, a land graced by the light of the Mothercrystals, the game seeks to deliver a much darker narrative while also embracing key staples of the Final Fantasy franchise.
The peace in Valisthea is threatened as a plague known as the Blight endangers their territories. The destiny of the land is determined by the Eikons, formidable summoned creatures, and their Dominants, individuals bestowed with the gift to summon and control them.
The story follows Clive Rosfield, a warrior who is honored with the designation “First Shield of Rosaria” and entrusted to safeguard his younger brother Joshua, who is the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Clive’s life takes a dramatic turn when he is entangled in a colossal tragedy and vows revenge on the Dark Eikon called Ifrit, a mysterious being that sows destruction in its path.
