Why Final Fantasy 16 Should Take a Page from FF15's Playbook

Despite a stunning gameplay reveal and action-packed trailers, Final Fantasy 16's pre-release strategy has left some fans wanting for more. Unlike its predecessor, Final Fantasy 15, which employed a robust multimedia approach to storytelling and pre-release marketing that led to strong sales and high pre-orders, Final Fantasy 16 has failed to accomplish the same. Fans are missing out on a deeper dive into the game's narrative and unique setting that could be achieved through a multimedia strategy. Final Fantasy 16 promises to usher in a darker and more mature era for the series with its protagonist, Clive Rosfield, and his quest to free the world of the influence of the Crystals. The game will shake up many classic elements of the Final Fantasy franchise, including its summons, known as Eikons, hosted by individuals called Dominants. Clive's role as Dominant is unique, as he hosts the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a familiar character to longtime fans. Despite an impending release, little else is known about Final Fantasy 16's narrative.

Final Fantasy 15's Multimedia Immersed Players In Its World Before Release

Developer Square Enix took an unconventional approach to pre-release marketing for Final Fantasy 15, using multiple mediums to tell the game's story. The anime mini-series, Final Fantasy 15: Brotherhood, provided fans with insight into each core party member, with some information becoming essential to the game's narrative. For example, Ignis' episode featured a recipe that is later completed in the game, creating a sense of cohesion between the anime and the game. Additionally, the full-length feature film, Kingsglaive, introduced a new squad of soldiers and the game's female lead, Lunafreya, while also portraying events that occurred concurrently with the game's storyline. This multimedia approach generated excitement among fans, resulting in record pre-orders and widespread anticipation within the industry.

Final Fantasy 16 Has Failed to Replicate 15's Pre-Release Success

Final Fantasy 16's pre-release strategy may be the reason why it is falling short of its pre-order goals, despite receiving positive feedback on its gameplay showcase. The game has kept itself mostly under wraps, revealing only brief glimpses of its story and characters, and has yet to deliver a demo for the title, which was previously rumored to be released. While Square Enix has focused on the game's gameplay, accessibility, and Eikon combat, much of the game's world and narrative still remain a mystery.

With Summer Game Fest 2023 being the last major event before release, Final Fantasy 16 has the opportunity to recover its pre-order numbers by showcasing its narrative and pairing a new trailer with a surprise demo release. Though pre-orders aren't everything, Final Fantasy 16 is still growing in popularity among gamers. While diehard fans have already committed to the game, those who are on the fence would benefit from its appearance at one of the biggest events of the summer.

Final Fantasy 16 is coming to PS5 on June 22.