Is Final Fantasy 16 a Success or a Flop? | Asmongold Reacts

[@MoonDasher07734]

Some people haven’t talked about this, but I think it also matters. FFXVI is the FIRST ever mainline FF to be M rated. It does affect sales cuz duh it is hard or not allowed to sell this to children, even if we know how gamers think about M rating in games. Whereas the old mainline ones are Teen rated at the highest

[@therealpoolboy420]

FF16 is the 1st FF in my lifetime that I had no intrest in buying, they modernized it to much in my opinion

[@Scenery..]

What about Type-0?

[@therealpoolboy420]

@@Scenery.. type o was one of the last ff's I played...lololol

[@crimsonking7179]

​@ahiowehfiowjit it's final fantasy it always had a lot of cut scenes.

[@spectorrr]

@@therealpoolboy420 my thoughts exactly.

[@balrogtitan3134]

This is the first final fantasy game in a long time that really brought out the emotions for me. Story is fantastic, music and boss battles are top tier and I completely fell in love with the characters! All in all an awesome experience and I highly recommend it.

[@fluxxkompensator7117]

Can´t agree more

[@Zephhi]

It's the best singleplayer mainline FF since 10. Which is a good thing, I'm glad it finally got a good entry

[@connorcplus]

I literally bought a PS5 to play this game. The combat, boss battles, and everything is great! I’m not done yet, but my god I have been emotional with some of the scenes so far. The voice actors do amazing jobs bringing these characters to life

[@ZetaMoolah]

@@ZephhiIs it better than 12?👀

[@RyanSmith-on1hq]

@@connorcplus Same. I haven't bought a console in years or played FF since 10. I bought a PS5 after seeing the 16 demo. I was considering it before but the demo pushed me over the line. FF7 is one of my favourite games (probably number 1) and I never even bought a PS5 for the 7 remake, I waited for PC.

[@TheEffectOfMass]

It's crazy to me that everyone glosses over the $69.99 price point. That makes a huge difference. Not just as a customer deterrent, but also how much Square/Playstation will earn. They've made roughly 209 million in USD. If it was the older price point it would be around 179 million USD.

[@King-2077]

Dont forget deluxe cost 90 bucks lol and many bought deluxe including me and basically all my friends alwho bought the game. Im betting half of that sales was bought in deluxe edition. And account for all the collector’s edition which technically isnt really a lot but still the price tag for those are bigger than before.

[@audiocattt]

Do you have Any idea how much more time it takes to make a game like FFXVI compared to any $60 title? Imagine requiring 4 times as much time only to increase in price by $10. Imagine how much the developers are making for doubling their work. Deal with the $10. Yeesh.

[@KogaHarine]

I'm fine with the price increase if it means we get better games out of it but the key is that if AAA devs don't put in the time and effort to make games that are worth that 69.99 price point, then they need to be okay with doing a lower price or expect that people may not touch the game until a sale much later on.

[@villaniousmustache4898]

The game was in development for 8 years. It did poorly

[@Jayj0214]

The game did great and the price is justified..it costs a lot to bring that level of cinematics to the game ..game had good story also

[@PlaystationOnline-UrBad]

10/10 Tons of dlc opportunities. Cid , and the fall of the first 3 mother crystals. (Leviathan) Barnabus, arriving to Ash to conquer a kingdom. Joshua, surviving Ifrit, and learning the truth of the crystals. The story of the ones called, the fallen. The eikon war of the twins. (All eikons) Special clip: Ultima and his kin, becoming the crystals of valistea.

[@JSharpie]

I was reading through Japanese Twitter and vast majority like the English voice more. Most of them experienced the English voices through their second playthrough. The term I kept seeing was that the English voice acting either felt more "real" or "more emotion to it" edit: I forgot to also add that I also saw many Twitter posts saying the "English version's writing is more colorful"

[@bravepotatoe7513]

I think it's the same reason a lot prefer sub when watching anime when you don't speak a language you don't notice when something sounds unnatural you can't really hear the nuances.

[@kawaiipotatoes7888]

Because mediaval setting speaking japanese just felt weird.

[@kyawthant7004]

​@@bravepotatoe7513True man. If it is not an anime based game, i just play with Eng dub and sub.

[@philenforce]

@@kawaiipotatoes7888 That... Japanese voices for medieval sets feels weird.... but at the same time I wish I would understand Japanese enough to also understand the Japanese script and the slight little differences.

[@stonks8849]

@@kawaiipotatoes7888 It's more than that. The writing in japanese and every other languages that were translated from japanese, are significantly worse than english version in this game. I've played the game in eng, jp and chinese and can confirm this is true. It's basically a 4kids moment. Many infomations were lost and constantly charater breaking or just being boring.

[@Jaesais]

19:04 can confirm, I would rate the game 9.5 for what it was. I’m harsh because aRPG engages creativity less than team focused games where I can skill up every character, but for an action game, it was still very good

[@REVOLVERE]

It's a W for me. Finished the game last week and loved the majority of the experience despite a few weak points. The story has left a lasting impression on me and honestly, the ending felt quite bittersweet. I just wish there was more to play outside of NG+.

[@raikharanereis9380]

I wish I could find the interview but Yoshi-P was asked about the sales before launch. He said something to the effect that he wouldn't look at or be concerned with week 1 sales and he had an 18 month goal when he pitched everything to the heads of Square Enix. I think the man is incredibly intelligent and knows how to put together a successful business plan (look what he did with 14!) So I hope someone follows up with him in 18 months about how he feels on sales then.

[@Umega101]

18 months = full year run with other platforms. Sounds like a reasonable plan. Also makes me wonder if they have a dlc planned to boost sales within that time period

[@northwestclasspnw7974]

I'd give the game somewhere between 8.7 and 9.2. I personally love the game, and what the game was aiming for it felt like it hit right on the nail. I would've liked exploration to matter more, crafting and builds to be a little more diverse, and of course a party system I could control a little more. That's all nitpicking and I loved my time in Valisthea

[@paladin_butterz]

Been struggling to decide on a definitive personal rating and have been putting off reviewing it anywhere until I'm sure. Half way through the game it was surely a 9.5+ 75% through it kind of lulled and I was more inclined to give it high 80s. 88-89. After experiencing the finale it bumped it back up between 9.1-9.5 About 25-30% of the way through New Game+ FF mode has me leaning more toward the 9.1-9.3 mark. I truly wish I didn't have to play the game an additional time to get a more challenging difficulty and the platinum trophy. Might be more inclined to give it a bit higher if this wasn't the case. Agree with all the other things you point out - exploration, crafting, treasure, builds etc all a bit lacking, but overall it still works well enough for a really enjoyable experience

[@kingofthesun21]

How did you feel about the ending? Spoilers ahead… I kind of have mixed feelings on it since it partly feels like why did we (Clive) go through all of that just to die in the end? Plus there was no closure for Jill’s character which hurt both for me since I became really invested in the story, but also for Clive and Jill. I felt like we were building up to a happy ending for them and then it just didn’t happen… Plus we never really got to see what Cid’s/Clive’s new world looks like For me, it almost felt like the ending was rushed a tiny bit and could have been fleshed out more Overall, I still really enjoyed the game and would give it anywhere between and 8-9 rating, but I was a bit let down by the ending Unless you buy into the theory that the post end credits scene means that it was all made up and never really happened…. Still would have liked a bit more closure though

[@ORDlNANCE]

@@Odinarcade00Not everything benefits from being Open World. Look at FF 15

[@optimize0]

By the way, with the JP sales, the price is huge. In the west, it retails at 70 USD, while in Japan it retails at 9,900 yen. Through currency exchange, it is a bit more. expensive in JP, but there is a perception in the JP market. For JP users (myself I included), we view 9,900 yen as something closer to 100 USD. We also have to consider that the average new game release in Japan is around 7,000 yen. So I think there's something to that

[@OracleGrouse]

Damn, that's about what we pay in Canada too. ~90$

[@MenrvaS]

⁠@@optimize0 The setting is indeed very dark. It is not a fun and happy world to lost yourself in like previous titles. Thank you for the info on JP bros!

[@WESTsChannel]

In Hk , it is around 10000 yen too

[@brynphillips9957]

@@MenrvaS To be fair, many of the FF worlds were pretty dark, even if they were colorful on the surface. FF13's world was downright depressing. Even FF10 was a world where every 10 years a monster would awake and wipe out cities worth of people only to return again in another 10 years. FF7 even was a world rulled by a megacorperation literally sucking the life out of the world for profit and resorting to really horrific human experimentation. The big difference I think this time round is that it was presented in a much dirtier and grittier way. It wasn't as colorful and bright on the surface.

[@MenrvaS]

​@@brynphillips9957 While that is true, it is more of the fact that XVI setting is in a world where slavery, and the cruelty that comes with it is not only common but encouraged. It also does not help with the fact that later in the game, the situation grows even more dire in every place you can visit. In previous games, we have fun side content and silly stuffs to get away from the seriousness of the setting, but the side content in this game is more story, and mostly depressing too. And I think the main difference is the devs. It was their intention to not include those thing for a much more grittier and serious setting.

[@eddaggett56]

It’s really hard to say it’s a flop, even in Japan, because it is the fastest selling PS5 exclusive over there and it’s the same worldwide. 3 million on launch for an exclusive title is not even close to a flop, especially at a higher price tag than previous entries. Who knows what it’s lifetime sales will be but it will have quite a few more sold by the end of the year and a lot more sold for the PC release whenever that comes. People are being weirdly too fixated on Japanese sales even though those sales still aren’t bad

[@TheEffectOfMass]

I also believe this is a console seller. I've seen many youtubers say that this is their GOTY. Good word of mouth will spread, and I think it is. People are turning their heads to PS5's because exclusives have pretty much been non-existent.

[@mikeshanahan7264]

Yea Japan is a relatively small country and hardly a make-or-break market.

[@gggamer3851]

​@@TheEffectOfMassnot really a console seller. The whole sony suing xbox over exclusives kinda makes people not wanna buy their new console because of their exclusive.

[@kyzersoze8408]

​@@gggamer3851sony hasn't made any attempt at suing microsft wtf are you smoking lmfao

[@gggamer3851]

@@kyzersoze8408 the whole FTC issue was getting pushed by Sony, have you been under a rock.

[@nogitsune4452]

FF15 was excessively hyped and promoted as well. Heck they had a whole movie and short anime stories about the characters to promote the darn thing. By comparison, I heard very little about FF16 except that it was being produced by Yoshida. That's, about it. That's my experience at least.

[@SonicMegaKing]

They learned their lesson, because they invested too damn much into that marketing fiasco for such a completely disorganized, poorly directed PoS.

[@ProdigalBeard]

Legitimately the first FF in over 20 years that's resonated so strongly with me. I had a lot in common with tidus as a character so I instantly fell in love with the world and story of X. But I feel like anyone in their 30's (which I believe is the target audience since all old ff fans are grown up now) can relate to something Clive goes through and his development and acceptance of these things. Not ashamed to say the end made me ugly cry I was so invested

[@farhanpwns]

Agreed with everything you said, I was the same with 10, and now this game had me weeping.

[@johntravers2321]

I’m sorry that out of all the FF characters, Tidus was the one you see yourself as the most.

[@albondigas9764]

His development? What was his development? He was a tortured soul for 15 years because he killed his brother? Oh wait he didn’t. Literally Clive has fake shoved in character development where he has to accept that he’s the monster who didn’t kill his brother. He has absolutely no chemistry with Jill at all. That naked beach scene was completely out of nowhere in comparison to a couple like Tidus and Yuna. The plot points of the game are go to a new area, do random quests that don’t develop the villains or main characters, then randomly fight the leader of a country and rinse repeat. Ultima is an empty shallow villain that the second he pops up, you already know the ending is going to be “oh no you are too strong to be my vessel”. It is just a completely empty shallow shell of a game.

[@farhanpwns]

@@albondigas9764 man you woke up and drank the haterade lol

[@Dracobyte]

I hope more people play FF5, FF 9, FF 12, Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics because several of those titles inspired FF 16 directors.

[@xenotypos]

8:22 Thank you, I think this principle is very underestimated. For example, FF8 is the most sold FF in Japan ever, despite being criticized A LOT, but he came just after FF7 that blew everyone's mind. I think FF8 sales benefited from FF7's success. As opposed to that, FF8 impacted negatively the sales of FF9: FF9 is almost universally loved, but sold considerably less than FF7 or FF8. That's my theory at least. Regarding the recent ones, it's not just FFXV, FFXIII was also criticized a lot, and to a least extent FFXII was too. In short, the last FF that really impacted people positively was FFX (FFXI and FFXIV are not being considered because MMOs). It shows in the Japan sales once again: FFX sold 2.4 million copies, FFXII had the same number. Then FFXIII was impacted by the average reception of of FFXII as it sold only 1.4 million, and then in turn FFXV was impacted by the average reception of FFXIII and FFXV afaik didn't eve reach one million. Once again, it's just Japan's physical number, FFXV sold a lot in the west.

[@MoonDasher07734]

This is true, numbered FF games have not sold well since FFX, and this could just be a vibe over the statistics. Before XVI, globally, the hype for numbered ff games was not massive compared to the VII-X era

[@Jay-mx5ky]

But the inverse can also be said about FFXIV too. A lot of the game's hype was surrounded by the fact that Yoshi P's name and face were plastered all over the marketing, and as a result, you see a ton of the FFXIV community who've played and streamed FFXVI to completion. So FFXIV definitely did affect sales, perhaps to offset the single player only fanbase who aren't familiar with XIV. It was probably a much easier transition as well, because FFXIV has a much more action oriented combat system than the final fantasy games before it.

[@xenotypos]

@TP-pq9xx I disliked that game, and I'm not alone. And I'm a big FF7 fan. You probably didn't saw the effect FF had on people during the golden age of square to say that FF7R blew everyone's mind. And in Japan for the record, FF7R sold less than a million, during the ps1 era it was generally more than 3 millions. FF was something else.

[@MoonDasher07734]

@TP-pq9xx I should have worded it more specifically, but FF 7 remake, yes it's numbered ff and is successful, is however still a remake. Not a new numbered game. Even if it kinda is due to the current plot.

[@trollogic1505]

True, after 13 and 15 I DID NOT preorder 16. Played the demo and still waited until release day. If 13 and 15 had been incredible games for me I would have preordered

[@louistim10689]

Platinum ff15 in 2017 and ff16 few days ago. To me ff16 is a massive all round upgrade compairing with ff15. Story is very organized, gameplay was an upgrade from ff15. I also didn't encounter a single bug in 100 playtime hours. The game overall is very polished and completed product compairing with ff15. Overall, I would like to give ff16 a score of 8.5 and ff15 a score of 7.5.

[@immatoll4375]

Tbh: It's not that hard to be an upgrade to FF15. This was a pretty horrible game at least on release. If the whole story was at least in the game instead of dlcs, movies, animes, managas etc. It could have been great. The Kingsglaive movie was awesome in my opinion. FF16 is a mile ahead to FF15 although FF15 had become better but still hard to enjoy in my opinion with all the stuff missing. Things like being "polished" should be normal (but is not in 2023 anymore compared to other games) so it does not deserve any points for it. FF16 is greatly entertaining, but still a bare minimum of complex either in combat, chracter progression/customization, crafting or any kind of "decision making". The game would have been S tier if it had some more complexity to these systems like a real gearing progression instead of just some plain numbers (and getting epic materials for weapons in the story line anyways).

[@louistim10689]

​@@immatoll4375 I watched that movie too. That was a god tier movie. I was so happy when I got the movie protagonist's (can't remember his name) weapon in the game.

[@louistim10689]

@@PulseOfMe 8 is very fair to me.

[@TheOneGreat]

FFXV was like the lowest entry by every conceivable metric. But not developing a game you already surpass it..

[@Jamgcy]

@@immatoll4375 The missing complexity is actually not missing at all, its the way Square Enix has been developing Final Fantasy for the pass 14 years since XIII. The classic series is long gone, I don't think they will develop anything like those anymore. This is the way they are taking for the series. Catering for larger audience. The difference this time is that the game has good sales and made a strong statement about what the future Final Fantasy will become.

[@mrlion8834]

The fact that such a diverse group of youtubers are talking about the game and debating it already shows what a success this game is.

[@alexclaton]

@@mister-hajime lol

[@sassnshop5405]

Lol nope

[@billsmafia2473]

Or it’s NOT??? Lmfao

[@shxrkzz1859]

Yes Redfall was a huge success truly one of the games

[@mangolover723]

By that logic, Forspoken was a successful game too

[@PVentura]

My GOTY, I literally stop playing if a big moment in the game is coming up and I'm feeling tired....I'm that invested in the story to care that much

[@janembo96]

I think a lot of people that are gonna buy FF16 is waiting for its PC version, a lot of older FF fans probably no longer buyes or uses consoles and only do PC gaming and are waiting for it to arrive there to buy & play the game. I think the sales Square Enix expect will be meet once it is also on PC.

[@infernodtw2423]

I’m waiting for this exact thing. My next game station will be a steam deck or something like that. I’m done buying consoles since my computer can play the games just fine

[@lukashouston]

I mean let’s look at the facts FF16 is the bestselling PS5 exclusive so far. FF7 remake was released a cross-gen game and was released during Covid when most regular people had nothing else to do but play video games including me lmao. The sales can’t really be compared because of the reason that also the amount of PS4 consoles sold is nearly tripled PS5 console sales. But holy shit FF16 is my favorite FF game and FF7 remake is such a close 2nd for me both are masterpieces 10/10 personally it’s my game of the year but idk it will win GOTY due to the lineup this year but either way one of the best games ever made hands down.

[@necroguy11]

I don’t get the big deal people are making out of early sales, the devs are on record saying SE has like an 18-month sales plan for it. They know exclusivity and the tonal shift (along with brand issues from XIII and XV) are gonna take time to build up and don’t want it to turn into 7R which sold a lot early then crashed

[@FuyuYuki92]

What the review didn't account for is the fact that Nintendo sales are much better in Japan. I think they might prefer the handheld consoles more because of space issues in their apartments.

[@ltlsWhatltIs]

Nintendo is a family friendly console. Its gonna beat everything no matter what. Imagine all of the kids crying "mommy!!! i want one!!".

[@archicases3352]

FF16 is worthy of GOTY, an overall amazing package. Most of the critics are nitpicking the game/story passing and RPG systems. It’s baffling worse games have more critical acclaim although they are objectively an inferior overall product. For example: Tears of the Kingdom.

[@Chambers_90]

Isn't a loss leader a product that you sell at a loss to bring people into the brand / into your business? Unless I'm misunderstanding the context in which Asmon uses it, it seems that FF is the franchise that supports their losses elsewhere?

[@giovannitigalo7011]

Yeah, FF is definitely not a loss leader. This isn’t McDonald’s lol

[@danissary]

Yes he misused the term. What he meant to say is that FF is their cash cow. The FF14 free trial is a loss leader for example.

[@wpelfeta]

It's a loss leader in the sense that they use FF to prop up their corporate image. Then SE can use that goodwill and make actual money selling gacha phone games.

[@giovannitigalo7011]

@@wpelfeta Ok, but that’s not what “loss leader” means.

[@mikeshanahan7264]

I'm glad the writing is good as far as the story goes in FF16. If they're worried about it not selling well enough then they shouldn't make it an exclusive. I have both a ps5 and a series X and I think it's absolutely ridiculous that console exclusive games exist. The console war stuff is way more about the companies who make them than it is about the fans. Exclusives are a weird flex.

[@TheFudily]

Chatter: "FF15 combat was dogshit" Ahh, so you never actually played FFXV and are just saying words because you want to feel included.

[@platnumbreaker]

Most people who say XV gameplay was shit genuinely Haven't played it lmao. The gameplay definitely isn't great but it's serviceable. The combos being based on directional inputs is always a terrible idea and certain aspects are sluggish with the heavy sword. But strictly Noctis gameplay is good when you learn the mechanics. Then add in the Royal party change then FFXIV gameplay is amazing.

[@roxiane]

Preach 😫　also isn’t this video by 16? Why do ppl keep harping on 15 then

[@gabrielcunha2260]

The combat of FF15 was a dogshit, I tried to play that game 3 or 4 times! And I was dropped!

[@1ch1r1n]

The 40 Million PS5 units is wrong because it doesn't take into account scalpers that bought 10 or 20+ units. Should be looking at PS5 account signins. They shout the 40 mill to make themselves look good, and while a sale is a sale, we can't use it to measure if 3 million FF16 sales was "too small".

[@marknc5522]

yeah this whole "flop" thing was pushed by those weird game urnalists who got butthurt about the game not having any forced inclusion if the game sold 3 million on ps5 only can't wait to see the numbers they pull on Steam, gonna be crazy stuff

[@shodancat1000]

cringe comment

[@samuelduenas1591]

it wasnt even that it was mostly the butt hurt people claiming it wasnt a Final Fantasy game and didint feel enought like an RPG

[@oneofthekindscarf8612]

@samuelduenas1591 I find that "Its not Final Fantasy" take crazy since FF has always been changing and trying new stuff for decades lol

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

​​​@@oneofthekindscarf8612I find you saying it is final fantasy a joke. Since final fantasy was a turn based jrpg for over 2/3 of its entries

[@imo098765]

FF16 released 32 months after PS5 launch FF15 released 36months after PS4 launch and the PS5 has sold MORE UNITS than the PS4 29months after release and its only increased sales Thats the scary part FF15 sold 4mil units on PS4 Day 1 vs 3mil FF16 units in a week on what is similar hardware unit sales

[@shaifs5072]

Can’t take anyone serious if they even question if FF16 is a success or not.

[@Rebuild_07]

The most braindead room temperature iq takes on FF16 This shit was a colossal commercial and critical success

[@shaifs5072]

@@Rebuild_07 that is entirely my point

[@step2058]

@@shaifs5072Ive played every side quest and unlocked every weapon and I have some critical issues with the pacing and some of the design issues that made me feel like quitting multiple times. Story was great though.

[@shaifs5072]

@@step2058 did I call it flawless? I didn't even praise it. I'm not a huge FFXVI fanboy, I wouldn't even say I loved it. But it's success is without question. Questioning it's success is pure clown world.

[@step2058]

@@shaifs5072 That’s a great point. It’s for sure a success.

[@CrazyGuy218]

Definitely not a flop. But could have been better if it was on all consoles.

[@lordcommissar7813]

Yah it needed to be on all consoles as me and my friends won't buy it till it's on pc

[@brynphillips9957]

Blame Microsoft and Sony. Both might like to blame the other but both are actively escilating the problem and I suspect it will only get worse, particularly now that Microsoft has secured ABK. Sony will almost certainly be looking to secure more exclusives and Microsoft has outright stated they intend to purchase more studios in the future.

[@shinkai9kami162]

Ikr

[@JosephHandibode]

no ff7 sold well just playstation. stop w fake news. final fantasy was always exclusive either to nintendo or sony prior ff13.

[@crimsonking7179]

​@@JosephHandibodeno it wasn't

[@sidg868]

I don't fucking care if it's a success or a flop. I like the game. That's all I need to enjoy it. If you don't like the game, then don't play it and let the people who like it enjoy it.

[@MrRenoo94]

FF16 was really good. It has some shortcomings but Great game nonetheless Great graphics and landscapes Instant loading Great combat A well written story and history Well written Characters Awesome Music Some disadvantages: Normal difficulty was too easy (aside from hunts which were kinda challenging) Some side quests were okayish while some were really good at world building abd deepening Characters Other than that, a fun 65 hours.

[@mr30belowAK]

The normal difficulty was alright. But Final Fantasy Mode is so good. That and the Arete Stone Ultimaniac modes are where the challenge is at. Both offer a much more impressive challenge

[@MenrvaS]

@@mr30belowAKOn average, normal difficulty is a bit on the easy side imo. There are a number of streamers and players struggling with the normal mode though.

[@mr30belowAK]

@@MenrvaS I mean that is pretty much what I said. It’s alright. The game really picks up with NG+ and those handlebars are removed

[@duckey499]

So a game being easy or hard is a problem when it's a single player mode? I knw ppl want a challenge but damn I definitely do not want to rage while trying to enjoy gaming.. I have died a few times but shit if I have 4 gods with in me I should be overpowered to anyone..

[@MenrvaS]

@@mr30belowAK Agreed, NG+ also makes the customization system shines through too. Eikonic Challenges on NG+ are also pretty hard but a lot of fun.

[@gtfffv]

As a single player story game it's a 9/10. But as an rpg it's a 3/10.

[@tw4898]

I live in Japan and as insane as it sounds PS5s still aren't that readily available. They still hold lotteries for consoles at the local gamestop equivalent and while you can now go to a store and purchase one, they always have signs up saying that stocks are limited. (lying about that isn't a common sales tactic in Japan either) I myself still haven't gotten my hands on a PS5, but this will be the first game I buy when I do. But I can sense that it doesn't have as much overall popularity when compared to FFXV or FFVIIR because, in simple terms, it's less anime. I do think that the shift to a more Western-style, adult fantasy has affected sales in Japan, but what SE has lost in sales in Japan, I feel that they are making up for in international sales and increasing their player base overall. FFXVI is a strong contender for GoTY 2023, and that holds a lot more weight and prestige each year. I think SE does care about the global reception of their games and this is a step in the right direction after the missteps of FFXV and Forspoken.

[@id1550]

I disagree on the anime part, it may be true, but I believe there are many factors to take into consideration for why it’s underperforming. The availability of ps5’s, the reputation of the series since 13, 14, and 15, especially the latter; pre order culture being pretty much dead, and finally the marketing. The marketing for ff15 was on astronomical levels, and because the game was received poorly, this really brought down the reputation of the franchise.

[@ojohnso81]

FF16 is a success when you realize it's almost $70 per game, has a Mature rating (kids can't buy it) and is only on one Platform (PS5), so 3 million copies sold is alot. I've been a FF fan since FFX and this is one of the games I can relate to that's not too kiddy. My only gripe with the game was the mundane side quests, outside of that the game's main story and graphics were great.

[@LolItsADaniel]

There are moments in FF16 that hit a 9.5, but the lows of 16 really drag the game down. Hours and hours of what is essentially filler and doesn't progress any of the main cast, really stretches the playtime. It often feels like it's trying to meet a word count goal in an essay. The combat isn't as good as DMC 5, the story only has a few good moments and themes, the cast could have been fleshed out so much better, but that is sacrificed for Clive's development, and the main villain is just another god with an ego problem. The visuals in the game and the scope of what we see on screen is mostly unmatched by any other franchise, but visuals alone can't carry a game for me. Because under those visuals, there's just no depth. I never felt compelled to care about my gear or my skill build, which is seriously limited. Idk, it's def not a 9.5/10 and certainly not GOTY.

[@Navi_xoo]

Yeah i agree. My entire opinion is that it COULD have been incredible but ended up landing at around an 8/10 for me. The main baddy is just boring compared to almost any other FF game. Most of the deaths felt needless, even though they were gruesome. It isn't like GoT where the deaths have huge weight and change the world drastically. The romance fell flat for me, just meh. No difficulty mode is silly for an action game, it just becomes button mashing besides maybe one or two hunts and one or two bosses.

[@LouisAuguste]

Sales were disappointing and not what they were hoping for (even SE admitted it) I really hope Square Enix will learn from FF16 Flop and LISTEN to the community to improve their saga

[@RunicGG]

One thing i think people misunderstand is RPG (Role playing game) does not mean you get to make your character from scratch like Elden Ring. Its a Role Playing game, you're playing the role the character of Clive in FF16. RPG does not equal D&D Character self insert type game play.

[@TheEffectOfMass]

Also, what ever happened to calling them "JRPGs" we used to say that because they were different than your typical RPG.

[@moomanchu608]

@@TheEffectOfMassbecause it was used as a negative term towards the Japanese industry in the 90s and early 2000s

[@TheEffectOfMass]

@@moomanchu608 I had no idea. i've been calling it that since the 90's.

[@moomanchu608]

@@TheEffectOfMass its not really offensive these days, but the developers used to feel bad when hearing it

[@adipyramidadmal]

Asking about if 15 did damage to the brand it wasn't just 15 it was 13, 14 (launch) and 15. Revisiting these they are much better than initially released it doesn't have the same name value anymore. 16 is great though.

[@robez457]

Final fantasy 15 also had some issues on pc. I played it on pc and I had a gtx 1080. I couldn’t keep 60 fps on any setting. It would mostly hover around 45 and dip to 28 pretty often. There was nothing wrong with the pc either. When I upgraded. I gave it to my neice and she can still play most new games on high settings at 60fps

[@maxwell4322]

This game was an utter flop. The customization on the game is non existent. This is a sad case where the Demo was way better than the actual game. Idc that the game has changed. This is the first FF game that didnt exceed my expectations, in Fact it didnt even meet the minimum expectations. At least with the demo we could dream of its potential. The game just doesnt utilize its potential.

[@THExJMC]

Some things to consider. Lots of people switched to PC gaming over the past few years. PS5 availability has also been shakey until recently. FFXV was announced in 2006 as FF Versus XIII and had over 10 years of hype. They also marketed it way more with a full anime series and a CGI movie. Honestly I think I saw the reveal trailer and that's about it for FFXVI. I did not know much about it or that I was going to get it until the demo released. Another thing to consider.. PS4 came with abysmal storage space and buying games digitally just wasn't that popular back then. Stats I'm seeing say that digital sales amounted to less than 30% of total game sales in 2016. For current times I'm seeing 70-80% of sales being digital. The stat with the biggest discrepancy in the video was physical copies sold in Japan. So I don't see how that number is important when all the digital sales are missing from the figure. FFXVI has much better reception and will continue to sell better. I also bet the PC release will be pretty good if they can get it out next year.

[@FoxBatinaHat]

The first FF, that is: (Rated M for mature). That is very true. I was actually quite surprised at how Mature it is. And I am nowconsidering that. From the 80s to now, many games could not have ANY adult content and had to be careful about various terms. (Ex. FF7 Avalanche were Freedom Fighters, rather than Terror-ists). FF, as a franchise had to work with mature storytelling, while adhering to alot of censorship to be abke to sell on various markets.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

I love how 16 portrayed relationships. While the story is flawed, it handles family, friendship, camaraderie and romantic relationships so well imo.

[@ulybiggs464]

The M rating definitely had an effect. The exclusivity and smaller install base also had an effect. FF7R released to a larger install base and wasn't M-rated. If FF16 was cross gen it would've sold more.

[@KrogTharr]

Oh man, I really loved a more Mature FF! I hope they don’t hold back because of that.. after all kids nowadays barely play videogames, they are mostly mobile players now with their tables and phones…

[@punishedbung4902]

The only way this game could be considered a flop is if we judge it by the ludicrous, impossibly high, unachievable expectations Squenix sets for itself, that being sales surpassing 18 gazillion units. SF6 had an ingame notice letting the player base know the game sold over 2 million copies, which is incredible for a fighting game. Crazy thing is, when this game goes multi platform, it will probably exceed 5 million sales.

[@Phyrrax]

SE really is notorious for their astronomical high sales expectations. I dont see how 3 million sales on one console with a 40+ million install base is considered bad. Could it have been a little higher? Maybe...but FF16 was never going to sell 5 plus million. FF15 was in development for ages and had a huuuge marketing push (it even had its own event), same goes for 7Remake. 7 is also the most popular part in the franchise. Both games were released on a console with almost 3 times the installbase, taking all this into consideration I dont see how you can see this as bad saleswise.

[@captainpep3]

@@PhyrraxFF7 remake was released on PS4 in 2020 and has a MASSIVE install base and made roughly the same amount of units 16 did in its first week, I don’t see how 16 is anything but a success for what it is

[@toxicity791]

I think their problem with setting the bar too high for themselves stems from two main impulses - the precedent set by the original FFVII and the current business attitude of the company executives. Final Fantasy was doing ok for itself but wasn't a smashout success prior to VII releasing. Localization problems and I think general inexperience in international business really held them back from succeeding overseas, while competition with Dragon Quest held them back at home. Thanks to the push they got from Sony and the general fame the original Playstation brought to the market, VII was a smashing success they'd never seen before or prior. It seems to me like ever since then they've been chasing the dragon that was that games sales figures like an addict trying to relive their first high and they just can't do it because so much of the circumstances that brought that about were unique to the time and game. I also feel like the company itself has gone through big shifts in its mindset regarding profit margins since the merger with Enix, but more prominently Yoichi Wada becoming president. He was the one who first pushed the company into creating sequels and spin offs for the mainline FF titles as opposed to only creating a new installment each time because it was far cheaper to reuse existing assets, and they were strapped for cash after the Spirits Within. And that sort of profiteering mindset seems like something that has seeped into the entire executive structure of the company since, as opposed to just passionate devs who want to create fun exciting worlds.

[@imo098765]

@@captainpep3 You mean the year Ghost of Tsushima and Last of Us 2 was the fastest selling PS4 exclusives and in between Animal Crossing, DOOM Eternal While also being an incomplete FF7 re-imagining, remake doesnt really cover the changes to the core of the games narrative

[@captainpep3]

@@imo098765 that doesn’t change the fact that last of us 2 and 7 remake were heavily anticipated by people; regardless of how they felt about the games afterwards (except ghost of Tsushima, people universally really liked that game) and those games came out at a good time, remake and 16 have similar opening weeks so I’d say that pretty good

[@_anlim309]

the problem with exclusive games is that whenever the exclusivity contract runs out and you're ready to release the game on multiple platforms people don't care about it anymore, I would love to play ff xvi but I don't have Ps5 so what I do is I just watch this bald guy on the internet's playthrough of the game and that's it, I am way less likely to buy the game now because I play FF for the stories, yes the combat looks awesome but what's the point when I already know the story from beginning to end.

[@Guzzlerinos]

The reason its selling poorly in japan is not that its action combat, it's that it's skill less hack and slash where its solely about flashy cutscenes and QTE's while theres no rpg mechanics or thought to go into your characters build. its just way too simple.

[@darthalmighty6639]

I don’t understand how this could even be considered a flop. It’s an amazing game and breath of fresh air from the amount of garbage narratives I am so use to seeing.

[@ooooswain]

Because it's barely even a game. Great story and soundtrack, gameplay designed for a five year old. Game is so pathetically easy and nothing about the gameplay requires any thought. The rpg elements are shallow af "craft this item because it more damage".

[@loto7197]

The guy above me has no idea what he is talking about. It can be considered a flop due to how much money is reaped from it's release vs how much capital was invested into the production of the game. Look at the visuals, the writing, the VA etc - this game was in no way cheap to produce, so it really has to be a hit in order to not be considered a flop by SE.

[@Dbeastlygamer95]

Who cares whether it was a success or a flop? That's for Square Enix to care about. Sure argue if it's a great game or not, but I couldn't care less if it's a financial success. If Square Enix says they are happy with the numbers that should trump what anyone else says.

[@tiltedbrim04]

They should have used ff7 remake battle system for 16. Its a good hybrid between action system and rpg system. Also the fact things like status ailments matter etc etc. I think Yes ff16 went to simplified on the rpg elements or should I say the lack of rpg elements. I also think Yes ff 15 severely hurt the franchise. Again the hybrid system of ff7 remake is the best of both worlds as far as the battle system goes

[@DogHairDontCare]

Personally, I am fine with FF7R battle system not being used here considering we have the next episode coming anyway. It'd be too much repetitive play. Though I agree that FF16 could've used more rpg elements... even in the literal sense. Like elemental reactions or weakness/strengths would've made the combat much more interesting. I ain't mad at it though, it still sucked me in.

[@Toramame]

I think something that should be taken into account for is also PS5 sales after 16 release. There's probably a big correlation there to how much Sony paid Sqenix for exclusivity and how much that benefited both companies.

[@JDisclmd]

@@DeadManWalking-ym1oo yep but keep in mind sony also gives technical support on the game with exclusivity and marketing that otherwise square would have to pay for ontop.

[@LusterMoonYT]

I honestly think this is a matter of aesthetic. Many of my young friends 8 years ago loved the bad boy vibe from ff15 and ff7R. Those games appealed to many people who were not final fantasy fans. Ff16 doesn't really have the same feel. I think ff16 really appeals to final fantasy fans, but not to the average gamer. Also, many people are just PC gamers now. Ever since covid, I've seen tons of people buying big PC setups (Graphics card shortage, etc.) Now this could be my own confirmation bias, but I had one too many female friends argue who was the hottest guy in ff15 and I don't get that from ff16. Sidenote: Clive is the first main character with facial hair. Coincidence 🤔

[@benkask96]

Ff16 is a spectacle! The game is awesome. Having a game that is complete and has no microtransactions is really rare these days

[@sahinattila2754]

I share your feelings, but it's not automatically great because it doesn't have microtransactions...it's the bare minimum for a singleplayer game.

[@immatoll4375]

The Game is entertaining for sure. I had fun most of the time. Still I have big issues with the bare minimum of an actual "game". Everything is pretty linear, there is zero depth to the character progression or customization (no real "roleplay") and while the fighting is nice it could be also a auto battler running from cutscene to cutscene. It's has the same issues as "The Order 1886" back then. If you compare this kind of RPG to something like Baldurs Gate 3 or any older FF then you see the difference. FF16 is more comparable to "God of War" then to a real RPG.

[@Teuwufel]

​​​@@PulseOfMecheck the ventilation on your console cause others have the game play smooth as butter. Often times cleaning your choked by dust machine helps

[@Teuwufel]

​​​​​@@immatoll4375if you chose the timely accessories or an easy story mode, then you have no right to complain. It literally have DMC combat bro. Ofcourse it won't be like Baldur's Gate, it's an action rpg. Different twist on a genre doesn't mean it's a less of a game. Just as God of War is also considered a game. They put their soul into making it work.

[@narkona1084]

​ @TheImmilky When did he say he picked easy mode? The combat is only visually like DMC and nowhere near as engaging.

[@mythoceanas8874]

One thing to account for is that in 2016 was when FFxv was released and Sony was moving to the US. So, so over the past 7 years Sony as a US company has made some unpopular moves in Japan. That would definitely affect a few points on the JP market.

[@leegunring]

Changing the button configuration worries me, and if even the 25-year-old button configuration can be changed overnight, I'm not sure what will happen in the 7-year or so console tenure. They even brazenly used Genshin to promote the PS5, but it was a gacha game, and once the Asian player's button habits clashed with the PS5, they might accidentally pull it again, and $ony would definitely accept the transaction proceeds and refuse to be responsible.

[@krazykuma384]

To me, I think it’s a success. To sell 3 million copies in the first week on just one platform is no easy feat. Then again, if you want to compare it to Zelda that sold 10 mil in 3 days of launch then yeah maybe it’s not too successful. But I still think it is.

[@gggamer3851]

10 mill was achievable though if they launched it on Ps4. Granted I don't like the devil may cry series. So i prolly won't like FF 16. It's not the RPG or open world style I typically play. It's not RTS or TBS either which I also play. I also played Fire emblem and new Zelda. I also quit new Zelda because I hate sandbox games. I hated FF online as well because I hate MMO games.

[@shikinogami7048]

​@@gggamer3851PS4 wouldnt be able to handle FF XVI

[@evanhoward9164]

FF16 is far from a flop. It's obvious that the game is a success. It's only been what, a couple weeks since it released? It's going to sell a lot more in the future. FF16 made me a huge FF fan.

[@SuperRamos619]

Should definitely look into the past games, they all have their own charm.

[@BaalBlade]

For Final Fantasy 87% Range is NOT GOOD, compare to OTHER FINAL FANTASY. It didn't help that the game "Doesn't feel like Final Fantasy game" it feel like Devil May Cry with Dragon Age esthetic.

[@JeelohS]

I do respect both gamers who love and hate this game, but just be mature when you give feedback. From wide/average perspective, it's at least not a fail at all, and Square-Enix will financially be able to develop FF17 for sure.

[@aleksandermortensen5318]

Even if this game has sold 10M it will not say its good… its has boring repetative gameplay - 10h gameplay and 20h cinematics. $70 in the bin. 1 more boss to go, and I dont think Ill ever finish it. Dont think I would have ever gotten that far if it did not have a «skip» button for the cinematics. And when you do the bosses and see the achi numbers dropping - only 28% on the last boss I did - there is alot of people dropping out. If only there was a refund button on the PS store :-(

[@jasonsoh79]

I did not buy ff16 as well despite being a long time fan of the series. My reason is the gameplay is too similar to other hack and slash games released in recent years and i preferred the old atb combat like ff10 and before. Don't think i am the majority, but quite sure there are others who are just not impressed with the game's combat system.

[@OilFreeFeathers]

FFX was over 20 years ago.

[@jasonsoh79]

Yeah, i am older gamer and didn't really like the new FFs, but i bought the remasters and the ff7 remake.

[@captainpep3]

I have been playing the original games (the pixel remasters 1-6 and have beaten 7, 9, and 10) and have really loved them. I also really liked 7 remakes gameplay, and the gameplay for 16 I’d say is extremely solid even if base game is a bit easy at times. The gameplay never really get boring to me so if you’re afraid that it is mindless I’d personally say not really, and the story is great

[@donnyyasu2764]

This game is going to have legs. FFs usually do, and all the great word of mouth to story/music/characters will get it sold. It's far from a flop.

[@MrGeorge102]

He needs to continue playing those series noww!

[@conleybaker3864]

I think it should be re evaluated after its first holiday exposure. To deem it a success or flop after just weeks of it’s initial launch is disingenuous. This may come as a surprise but there are still people who budget and consider games and systems as a luxury, not a hobby or form of income (streamers). Also I wonder if Japans sales numbers boost once PlayStation releases their mobile platform for PS5, everyone can attest that Japan has steadily moved towards spending on gaming on the go.

[@id1550]

And Yoshida himself said that he has an 18 month plan to boost the sales figures of the game, and even acknowledges some of the things that can negatively effect it like it being exclusive to ps5.

[@HHNorlando]

Game is FANTASTIC!

[@GheistXin]

How is nobody talking about inflation and buying power? For me personally it's a huge problem. Back when FF15 released I was able to buy 2 to 3 new full priced titles in a month, nowadays, without changing my income much, I'm happy if I can afford one game. Cost of living has shot up so much since the start of COVID and the Russo-Ukrainian disaster that you simply have to prioritize what you spend your money on if you still want to eat well.

[@Yvanne]

From purely a financial standpoint it's undeniably a success. Roughly 3mil copies were sold just within the first few days and now that its been weeks from release this figure is definitely bigger. That means that roughly 13% of PS5 owners have bought FF16. That figure is probably closer to 20% now that is been a few weeks. This is also a massive W for SE bc of how 'in bed' they are with Sony and the exclusivity of their premiere titles such as FF7R.

[@majinbobbyhill828]

The exclusivity bs kills it for me. Extremely frustrating

[@UltimaGravitas]

Not quite a financial success compared to something like Diablo 4 or Zelda: TOTK. FF XVI was probably more expensive to make than either of those said games.

[@Yvanne]

You're right, however Square would've gotten a fat stack of money from Sony to make 16 a PS5 exclusive

[@oneofthekindscarf8612]

@UltimaGravitas Ff16 sold only 1m less than d4 despite d4 being in every platform that exists (except switch because lol). Also Square definitely not only got a deal for making it ps exclusive, it also made the game a lot easier to make since they can optimize it to only 1 console

[@charlesdickens1803]

I wouldn't call it a flop but it's certainly not an "undeniable success". FF15 sold 5 million copies day 1. FF16 sold "only" 3 million copies in a week. That's a big drop. Even if we consider that FF15 also released on Xbox, because the vast majority of copies sold was on PS4. To be precise, we know that in the UK 80% of FF15 sales was on PS4 and only 20% on Xbox. The US will likely have the same split, but the rest of world will have a split that's way more in PS4's favour. But the most important thing is that the main goal of FF16 was to appeal to a "broader audience" than previous Final Fantasy games. That's why they went full in on the action combat and reduce RPG mechanics. From the sales data we've got we can see that they didn't succeed in that goal. On the contrary; the audience has shrinked instead of broadened.

[@MrGaleanon]

If we do this calculation as physical and digital copies purchased per PS5 console purchased, I think they're doing better than ever.

[@drizztsensei]

FF16 is an amazing game and I have loved every moment of it. That Bahamut fight alone makes it game of the year for me.

[@freeweights101]

Boss fights on ng+ hard mode makes it even better

[@itsyaboijordan415]

FF16 has some the best boss fights in all of gaming period. The fights are beyond anything god of war shows us and rivals Asura's Wrath if not better then.

[@wst34]

@@freeweights101 The S rank hunts are insanely fun too. Especially Svarog

[@malcovich_games]

Banjo-Kazooie vs Ridley

[@drizztsensei]

@PulseOfMe I agree. The sense of scale is completely missing in the new God of Wars and they are utterly boring. The older God of Wars were far better. The scale that FF16 shows has only really been seen in Asuea's Wrath and the old God of Wars from what I have played to date.

[@sercanguzel2961]

They turned FF into an exact copy of Playstation exclusives so it could have an excuse as an exclusive.

[@gtafan110010]

It's just good. And so are the sales

[@TheNightofWalpurgis666]

They manage to break even so it's not a flop. But FF is a huge IP and it's not surprising SE why wanted more of it.

[@joshuahenderson7816]

15 was in production forever and had a lot of hype behind it. Honestly i never expected 16 to sell more then 15. Espicially not in initial sales. Maybe 3 years from now it will end up close to it tho when more people get ps5s

[@elasmojones]

I got FF15 when I was sick and bed-ridden in the winter...being with mah bros on the beach was heaven sent. I never beat much of the story, but I really wanna revisit it on a handheld one of these days.

[@KNIGHTSFALLN]

If SE are the ones worried that makes me wonder how much it cost to make the game in the first place… They should be pushing Sony to extend exclusives to PC since it’s a technical on non-comp market as PC only people aren’t going to buy a console to play one or two games. Because they already spent a fortune on their PCs

[@Baishe_]

I’ve put in 100 hours already and nearing the Platinum Trophy 10/10 my Game Of The Year and I’m just speaking from personal enjoyment of the compelling storyline, amazing cinematic combat with the eikons not to mention the graphics I mean the scenery is just beautiful on 4K. it is truly one of a kind

[@eshaybah5581]

I love ff16 i dont really care if others dont, its subjective after all.

[@jadeapiata6545]

Iv just started it and realised I can only use 6 icon moves in total and that sucks balls, how does high end combat feel knowing you have so many abilities completely left off the table?? That cant feel good, doesnt 6 moves get incredibly repetitive and boring??

[@louistim10689]

@@jadeapiata6545 Because you would actually have to think what skills are good to use or not. If you get to use all skills at the same time, wouldn't it be even more repetitive and boring because you can just keep spamming buttons??? The game even let you reset skills freely so you can always try different skills.

[@louistim10689]

@@PulseOfMe It's seems like it's a no end argrument so I recommend you go search for ff16 combo videos. There are many good players really mastered the combos and make themselves op. Not only the six skill, you need to also utilize eikon skill like odin's blade.

[@jadeapiata6545]

@louislam1249 from what iv seen the moves are not made equal and there is a teir list meaning theres the same group of moves that are the best and you would always use a combination of those..? Having more options would allow for more combos for different situations, you should be able to cycle through every ikon you have unlocked and choose when and how to use their abilities, not be given the tiny choice of 6 and thats your little combo set for this fight.. seems very dull

[@Pika-ck7ww]

honestly, ps5 exclusive really hurt their sales. I would have bought it if it was ALSO on PC, but nope.

[@tash8697]

You gotta remember with the physical sales too, that the PS5 has a version WITH and WITHOUT a physical DVD reader, so it’s hard to really get a grasp on sales trends based on that

[@MikeRavia-xp5ig]

I'm still playing TOTK but I've played up to the point in ff16 where I have 3 powers and so far I'm loving it. I'd say love 16 for what it is and wait for ff7 remake part 2 for that old school FF feel.

[@mmhmmm2]

We just recently got the pixel remaster bundle of the first six and they announced more pixel remasters are being planned. Classic will always have a place. I think they should also consider demasters. I would love to see pixel releases of VII - IX.

[@padnomnidprenon9672]

​@@mmhmmm2clearly. The pixel/2D styles are to me intemporal. It's the perfection of some art style

[@thejustinjustin1233]

Great to hear this news. I’ve put over 50 hours in and absolutely adore this game. The epic boss fights combined with the music and graphics are mind blowing. It has a strong chance for goty.

[@TheOneGreat]

I find it telling that you only mention the great aspects while everything else is really, really bland. And the story was kinda paint by numbers, honestly.

[@balrogtitan3134]

Agreed! Absolutely loved the story, boss, boss battles, music and world! One of my favorite final fantasy games of all time.

[@larissagladfelter9570]

Bot account

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

@@Derek147900 shouldn't go to 4/10 linear button mashers

[@digitaljosh_]

​@@makasete30Totk just feels like a botw dlc, theres not even one more village

[@lutherdrache399]

Squeenix killed the Final Fantasy franchise. The only good left from it is the MMO. FYI, Squeenix's real flagship is Dragon Quest, don't forget it.

[@VampireNoblesse]

ff16 needed more "waifu" Material to sell well in Japan..

[@manikatti5546]

Here's a perspective. XVI sold over 3 million in a week on a console that sold 38 million units. The long awaited remake of THE Final Fantasy 7 sold 3.5 million in 3 days back in 2020 on a console that easily outnumbered the PS5 twice. Whether it is a success or not ultimately depends on Square's expectations at the end of the day.

[@naywils]

A lot of places around the world are stuggling right now with the cost of living so its expected to be lower overall with a price of $70 for a standard edition.

[@klicktrick]

I feel like comparing a new game like ffxvi, to a game with an already established fanbase like 7, regardless when the game was released in during the ps5 era is kinda harsh. Then again i have no complains to any ff games including 13 and 15. They're both ff games that imma collect, play, and finish so just keep on making them.

[@tonberrygaming3267]

ffxvi was the #2 most downloaded game in us/eu for 2023 after diablo iv and june's game of the month. according to famitsu there was not much reservation for the game, but after the demo the game exploded and physical copies are being shipped out immediately as its being made.

[@MoreLimitless_]

16 is for sure my favorite out of 7 remake and 15 it may not have sold more than them in the first week but it sure is a better game to me ngl.

[@xtr.7662]

​@jeffsroyalbodyguard76427R is made for the fans if you didnt play the original you wont fully apreciate it

[@daddyo5973]

A phenomenal success in my eyes

[@AlienoidGamer]

guaranteed success, sales will skyrocket black friday, and again christmas

[@BigDog22inu]

20 fps. No interesting loot. Baby rpg.

[@algorithman2129]

FF16 was targeting the low end, like YoshiP always does... Sales figures etc ok, but is the game really good? The world itself is very empty outside of the settlements. And I mean empty. There is just nothing out there but a few mobs and maybe a hunt. Exploring this is just lost time. The RPG 'features' are barebones at best, 30 year old games had more RPG stuff than this. Pandering to the lower end of the spectrum in terms of playerbase for sure. Especially with the quests... There are no *secrets* in this game. The most secretive thing i found in this game was a box around the corner. There are no *puzzles/riddles* in the game. You don't really have to use your brain. It's all hand-eye-coordination, but no higher brain functions involved. Weapons etc are just handed to you, you don't really have to work for it (money, materials are no problem to have if you just play the story, as well as 'xp') All in all, I didn't enjoy this game. It was all cutscenes (was it over 20hrs?), breaking up gameplay over and over. Even in fights I had the urge to put down the controller... Oh i had to press R1. Story is subjectiv, but I didn't enjoy that either. I have no horse in the race for GoT stuff. Next FF release wont be bought at release for sure. I'll wait until someone has a full gameplay out and I'll check in about 75% mark to see what the game really has to offer. Because FF was always slow to start but it added more and more as the game was going on. Not FF16 though. My score is a 3/10, the combat was good, but the rest just sucked. Felt to me like a incomplete game with a bad story setting.

[@robertbeste]

Answering the question of how FF16 catered to westered audiences. This is absolutely true. SE has noticed they are now selling significantly more in international markets than in Japan. They want to capitalize on these bigger markets and FF16 is a direct attempt to do so. So they KNOW they are taking a hit in Japan. The hope is that it will still balance out to higher profits. They are catering to western audiences by: 1. The combat system is MUCH more action based. This one is talked about the most and it is absolutely true. JRPGs are traditionally much slower and more strategy based. 2. The story. The writers of FF16 watched Game of Thrones completely to "understand what story elements appeal to western audiences". You can see GOT influences throughout FF16. Clive is a John Snow rip off if there ever was one. Clive's mother, Anabelle, is a CLEAR Cersei archetype. They included nudity, incest, political intrigue, etc. all to feel more like GOT. Other elements were drawn directly from Avengers Infinity War. Gathering Eikon powers are very close to the Infinity stones. And the main villain is also the baby of Thanos and the Night King. This isn't even subtle. 3. Voice acting and the script. English was the "prime" or default script for the first time as was voice acting. They felt English has the most nuance and should be considered first. Plus more of their player base now speaks English - even if not a first language.

[@XxkrazymagexX]

I really can't comprehend attaching the word flop and ff16 in the same sentence it's literally criminal . This game gave me a better experience than any other game has in many many years . I loved every second of it like it was a 5 star dish I knew I wouldn't taste again . The soundtracks Interactive cutscenes World building Voice actors The grit Exciting combo busting combat Dodges/parries Ability combinations Graphics Flowing story Interesting side quests Extremely fun hunts The proper romance The endless amounts of lore and character link details from multiple sources (I mean what game have you seen a info broker like Vivian) The theatrical boss fights Betrayals/gore/heartbreaks/reunions New game plus changing the enemies/bosses/attack patterns/adding new items/level cap raise /Ultima weapon There is no other game that I have in memory that checked that many boxes and not just checked them but smashed 90% of them out of the park . My only complaint was the motion blur and they addressed that in a patch . My only gripe is that I can't go back and experience for the first time again . The quality and quantity of what this game does right is unparalleled in my opinion .

[@Piecesoftheshadow]

I agree with all this but I would say Ghost of Tsushima is definitely in that category as well in my opinion.

[@XxkrazymagexX]

@@Piecesoftheshadow I agree it is a fantastic game as well .

[@Oakeybloke]

The older final fantasy games had a European fantasy setting, with a story that went beyond it, like FF16. That's not the issue. Lack of elements and statuses wasn't great, weapon progression lacked as well. I still enjoyed the game overall. The story, characters, soundtrack, etc. were all FF-esque, gameplay less so. As fun as it was. Great soundtrack 🙂

[@ssgcheddar5785]

I HATED FF15 😢 Ive played every FF game and my Favorite is FF3/6!

[@platnumbreaker]

Too each their own. I genuinely want to get around to 6

[@michaelkruszyna7385]

I'm old and grew up with FF1 and played every single one since but I agree with you. FF3/6 for the SNES has been my favorite one so far. Way ahead of its time when it came out. SNES was golden age for RPGS. Loved Chrono Trigger too.

[@AleXannon92]

It's a success. it's just ff7 fanboys are mad simple as really.

[@eugenioasanchezperez1406]

Great game, great everything, the game totally ashamed other gaming companies, the only bad thing i noticed as a addictive Final fantasy fan that the last boss Ultima didnt had a personality and felt empty in so many ways to other aspect of the story. I dont know, didnt even felt like a final boss. But yeah Final Fantasy 10 and 12 are probably the best games in history with no competition.

[@Alchemist1995]

I definitely would've bought FF16 if I had a PS5. Unfortunately I couldn't get one due to the shortage when I had the money and now that it's more available, I no longer have the money to buy one...

[@fredy2041]

The japanese comunity are overwhelmingly asking for a FFXVI DLC

[@Eversoul12]

it needs a DLC to feel finished. 16 is easily the most barebones game in the franchise

[@fredy2041]

@@Eversoul12 Okay lair

[@theovonskeletor3709]

I learned my lesson when i got burned on 15 and they leaned into all my least favorite aspects. Keep DMC out of FF please!

[@blaiseaka7157]

Make it exclusive then complain about sale numbers...

[@deanbuck7985]

Comparing sales number to remake is stupid. It came out in lockdown when people had money and we are now in a terrible economy. I dont think its fair to compare them without taking this into consideration. Also, 15 had a gigantic marketing campaign and 16 really didnt at all.

[@IslesofFuryAuthor]

Well, its the first one I ever bought, even got a ps5 to play it. Personally I love it, great characters and story with a solid combat system that evolves well as the game progresses.

[@nucklehead718]

🍻 welcome to ps family

[@DanielAlmeida-mc4bp]

Me too