Original Plans for Final Fantasy XVI Included a PlayStation 4 Release
Despite its initial plans, Final Fantasy XVI's release on PlayStation 4 was scrapped due to the game's ambitious design, forcing the development team to focus exclusively on harnessing the power of next-generation hardware
Naoki Yoshida, the producer of Final Fantasy XVI, recently disclosed that the game was initially planned for release on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. In an interview with PlayStation's Shuhei Yoshida on The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook YouTube channel, Yoshida explained that the assets of the game were pushing the PlayStation 4 to its limits, causing a shift towards a PlayStation 5 release.
He continued, "But in the end, the Final Fantasy series has a certain level of graphical fidelity expected of it, and when we tried to eliminate basically all loading on the PS4 version, there were certain parts where we were having to reduce the quality to a point lower than [Final Fantasy] XV."
The development team was determined to create the best story experience possible, so eliminating loading times was a top priority. Yoshida proposed dropping the PS4 version, which was approved by Square Enix. He also mentioned that without the hardware capabilities of the PS5, the development team would still be struggling to figure out how to finish the game.
Final Fantasy XVI is currently only available on PlayStation 5, but a PC version is being worked on. The first DLC, Echoes of the Fallen, was released recently, with the second DLC, The Rising Tide, set to launch later this year.
In our review on Our Website, we described FFXVI as a bold departure in gameplay and storytelling, while still capturing the beloved Final Fantasy essence in a breathtaking way. It has earned its place among the amazing entries in the franchise.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan of the Final Fantasy series, I was initially disappointed to learn that Final Fantasy XVI would not be released on PlayStation 4. I had been eagerly anticipating the game for years and was excited to experience it on my current console. However, after reading about the development team's decision, I understand why they made the choice to focus exclusively on the PlayStation 5.
The PlayStation 4 is a powerful console, but it is starting to show its age. The Final Fantasy series is known for its cutting-edge graphics and immersive gameplay, and it is clear that the development team wanted to create a game that would push the boundaries of what is possible on consoles. By focusing on the PlayStation 5, they were able to create a game that is truly next-generation, with stunning visuals, fast loading times, and immersive gameplay.
