June is going to be a packed month for game releases.Street Fighter 6is leading the pack, withDiablo 4not far behind.Crash Team Rumbleshould hit in the month’s second half, andFinal Fantasy 16will follow a couple of days later. With an unknown number of June releases potentially joining them, it seems that the first half of 2023 is ending with a bang. As it currently lands at the month’s tail end,Final Fantasy 16will need to distinguish itself, especially since it’s also following other massive titles likeResident Evil 4 RemakeandThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Fortunately, it’s already made a strong effort. The recentFinal Fantasy 16State of Play came hot on the heels of months of interviews, trailers, and even previews. Despite going quiet for a while after an early announcement,Final Fantasy 16has not left fans wanting for details. As stated by its producer Naoki Yoshida,FF16aims torestore mainstream faith in theFinal Fantasyfranchise, and it is prepared to do so. To clinch its efforts, Square Enix should use another successfulFinal Fantasytitle to support16’s launch.
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Final Fantasy 14 and 16 Are Cut From The Same Cloth
InvestedFinal Fantasyfans are likely aware thatFinal Fantasy 14andFinal Fantasy 16are strongly connected. While they do not share the same setting, many Square Enix developers have worked on both projects. Much of the key staff behindFinal Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn’s first expansionHeavenswardhad similar roles forFinal Fantasy 16, such as producer and director Naoki Yoshida returning as16’s producer, main scenario writer Kazutoyo Maehiro becoming the creative director and writer, and Masayoshi Soken remaining the music composer. Plenty of other individuals contributed toFF16’s creation, but the new title can be seen as an extension ofFinal Fantasy 14’s success.
Such a claim does no disservice to either game, as their links go more than skin deep. Both share many thematic and visual elements, such as a focus onFinal Fantasy’s core cast of summons, political drama between warring nations, andrecallingFinal Fantasy’s early days.FF16is closer to medieval fantasy than the high science-fantasy setting ofFF14, but both will likely share pockets of technology with their pixelated ancestors. Even the night sky ofFinal Fantasy 16’s Valisthea references Eorzea’s red second moon Dalamud, preparing the way for the two to cross over even further.
Final Fantasy 14 Can Easily Advertise FF16
By analyzing the shared elements ofFinal Fantasy 14and16, it becomes apparent thatFF16is meant to fold newer fans ofFF14back into the wider franchise. From the way the characters look to its side quest format and even its battle UI,Final Fantsay 16could be an action game adaptationof anFF14side story. How fitting, then, it would be for that scenario to occur in-game. Around the launch ofFinal Fantasy 16, a crossover event withFinal Fantasy 14should be organized in the latter. This could be similar to those that past entries have received where a protagonist and antagonist appear from portals, but could also be much more involved.
BecauseFinal Fantasy 14and16share so many elements, it wouldn’t be hard to make a commentary onFF16from the Warrior of Light’s perspective. Clive and his fellow Dominants use powers akin to thePrimals fromFF14’s world, right down to sharing the name “Eikons,” and fighting another version of an iconicFFsummon will be an old hat for14’s players. At any rate, these two titles seem made to support one another, and Square Enix shouldn’t squander the opportunity to let them truly do so.
Final Fantasy 16will be released on June 22 for PS5.
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