Final Fantasy 16 Renames Chocobos as Horses in Japanese Version

Chocobos, the iconic birds from the Final Fantasy series, have been given a rather unusual name in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy 16 - they are referred to as "horses." The game's developers have shed some light on this naming choice, following the latest wave of Final Fantasy 16 previews.

Created by Koichi Ishii, the mastermind behind the Mana series, Chocobos have been a beloved part of the Final Fantasy franchise since its early days. The original Final Fantasy game from 1987 featured a room with Chocobo-like statues, and they made their first proper appearance in Final Fantasy 2 the following year. Since then, Chocobos have made an appearance in every subsequent installment of the franchise, including the 2021 remake of the original game as part of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection.

The reason why the Japanese version of the upcoming title refers to the iconic creatures as horses, or "uma," was disclosed by Final Fantasy 16 Creative Director Kazutoyo Maehiro in an interview with IGN. According to Maehiro, the decision to label the Chocobos as horses was made in an attempt to anchor their lore in reality, despite the inherent fantastical nature of giant domesticated birds. The game's heavy inspiration from medieval Europe, coupled with the fact that Chocobos serve as the functional equivalent of horses, necessitated the literal naming convention. With the exception of one special summon, actual horses will not be featured in the upcoming game, although they may exist elsewhere in its world. The English version of the game will retain the Chocobo name, with only the Japanese audience likely to take note of the minor change. Maehiro explained that the Japanese already follow a similar line of thinking in real life, colloquially referring to cars as "legs."

In Final Fantasy 16, Chocobos are undergoing a major transformation in terms of their appearance. The game's protagonist, Clive Rosfield, will have the opportunity to ride Chocobos that come in a variety of colors, which may be influenced by the country they come from in the Final Fantasy 16 universe. Square Enix's promotional materials for the game have already showcased Chocobos in white, cream, and classic light yellow. Get ready to experience this exciting new feature when Final Fantasy 16 launches on June 22 for PS5.

Source: IGN