Final Fantasy XVI Potential Release on Xbox Series S/X
In an exciting development for Xbox fans, Square Enix is considering bringing its highly acclaimed action-RPG, Final Fantasy XVI, to the Xbox Series S/X platform. While the game initially launched exclusively on the PS5 in 2023 and later made its way to PC, there have been no confirmed plans for an Xbox release as of yet.
Producer Naoki Yoshida’s Insights
Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P in the industry, expressed Square Enix’s intentions to release Final Fantasy XVI on Xbox. In a recent interview with Video Games magazine, Yoshida mentioned, “Of course, we did announce the PC version of the game, so looking towards the Xbox version, we do want to release it on Xbox.”
However, despite the desire to bring the game to the Xbox platform, no specific timeline has been confirmed. Yoshida emphasized, “When it comes to the specifics such as when the game would be available and such, we are not in a position to be able to share anything at this time.”
Keeping Hope Alive
Yoshida reassured Xbox players not to lose hope. He stated, “It’s not as if there’s zero hope, and we very much do want to achieve that. So players should not give up on their hopes of experiencing Final Fantasy XVI on Xbox.”
Despite these positive intentions, neither Square Enix nor Microsoft have officially confirmed an Xbox port for Final Fantasy XVI at this point in time.
Previous Releases and Sales Strategy
Final Fantasy XVI initially launched on the PS5 on June 22, 2023, followed by its recent release on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store in September. Moreover, a Complete Edition that includes the Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide expansions alongside the main game was recently introduced on the PS5 platform.
While Square Enix has traditionally favored exclusive releases on the PS5, this strategy has reportedly impacted sales adversely. In a recent earnings report, Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu acknowledged that sales of major PlayStation exclusives like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Final Fantasy XVI, and Foamstars fell short of revenue and profit expectations.
Consequently, Square Enix has undergone significant restructuring and is shifting away from its previous practice of prioritizing PlayStation for major title launches. Kiryu affirmed that moving forward, big releases will adopt a multi-platform approach, catering to PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC platforms.
With this strategic shift, Square Enix aims to reach a broader audience and maximize the potential of its highly anticipated titles.