Final Fantasy XVI Receives Mid-2023 Release Date, New Trailer

The most significant announcement at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s State of Play livestream event came not from a first party studio, but from Square Enix. The announcement pertained to Final Fantasy XVI, the sixteenth mainline instalment in the long-running RPG franchise, which this time is being helmed by popular Final Fantasy XIV Director/Producer Naoki “YoshiP” Yoshida.

Development for Final Fantasy XIV continues, but they are at a point where they can (at least somewhat) comfortably share a release window for the game. They are aiming for a mid-2023 launch at this moment, specifically a Summer 2023 (Northern Hemisphere) or Winter 2023 (Southern Hemisphere) release window. This announcement coincides with the sharing of a new trailer titled ‘Dominance’ (below), as well as new information on the game, its key development staff members, and screenshots focusing on the environment.

According to Yoshida:

The latest trailer gives players a clearer picture of what actual gameplay will entail. Namely, high-octane battles featuring our protagonist Clive Rosfield wielding a full arsenal of attacks unique to the game’s many Eikons (summons). Not to mention epic clashes between the Eikons themselves that put you right in the action.

Furthermore, Director Hiroshi Takai added the following:

In our latest trailer, we’ve introduced several new Eikons, as well as provided a more detailed peek at our action-packed battle system and the freedom it gives players. As for development progress, I’m happy to announce that the game is fully playable from start to finish; though, from optimization to brush-up, there is still a mountain of challenges to tackle as we head into our final push. Until then, please stay tuned.

Yoshida followed up:

The team, under direction of Hiroshi Takai, has entered the final leg of development and is focusing on polish as they continue their march toward launch. With the power of the PlayStation 5 console behind us, we’re looking to take you on a seamless, story-driven, white-knuckle ride that will rival even the most thrilling roller-coaster. So, buckle up. The wait is almost over.