At today's Voices of Valisthea panel at PAX West, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida announced that a free DLC package will be coming tonight at 8:00pm Pacific Time. The free DLC includes the ability to change Clive's weapon to match the image of another while retaining its parameters, and also a second set out outfits for Clive, Jill, Joshua, Torgal, and Ambrosia. Update: This story previously stated additional controller layouts were added, but there appear not to be. Details regarding balances adjustments to Arcade Mode, issue fixes, and adjustments to system menu functions can be found below. Furthermore, Yoshida announced that the team will be releasing two paid DLC installments, citing feedback that players "want to spend more time in Valisthea and with its inhabitants." Version 1.10 includes the following: Finally, Yoshida formally announced that a PC version is in development, and that an update on it and the upcoming DLC will be shared by the end of the year. The team shared a look at the free update in the video showcase below as well as detailed patch notes: Version 1.10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONOGNX51EU Free Update Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ivdiYRu7A Appearance Function Adds an 'Appearance' feature has been added to the Arete Stone in the hideaway. This allows you to change the costumes of several

On June 11, 2023, hundreds of Final Fantasy fans from around the world gathered on a small studio sound stage in Los Angeles to commemorate the coming release of Final Fantasy XVI on PlayStation 5. The event was filled with fun events including photo opportunities with a giant Ifrit sculpture, demo stations to try out the Eikonic Challenge, autograph sessions with the voice cast and developers, and live panels highlighting the music, story, and combat of the game.  In between all of the fun opportunities during the event, we were lucky enough to get the chance to interview Ben Starr and Ralph Ineson, the voices of Clive Rosfield and Cidolfus Telamon, and learn more about their experience while working on Final Fantasy XVI. When I asked Ben and Ralph what their inspirations were when they were performing their roles as Clive and Cid respectively, Ralph said it was the script and the character backgrounds that allowed him to find the voice for Cid. “The fact that Cid’s been a soldier all his life, he’s kind of a toughened man–that informs his humor.”  For Ben, he drew on the more personal tragedies that Clive experiences throughout the story of Final Fantasy XVI to breathe

One of the first news stories I ever covered as a gaming journalist was Square Enix’s September 2020 announcement of Final Fantasy XVI. I still remember typing so quickly that I had to go back and edit every other sentence. This was it - Final Fantasy XVI. It was the first mainline single-player entry not tied to E3 2006’s Fabula Nova Crystallis unveiling since PS2 swansong FFXII. Naoki Yoshida was producing, alongside a talented team at Creative Business Unit III, the same studio who had brought FFXIV to life, and kept making it better by the year. Pinch me, you know? I must be dreaming. With each passing trailer, the dream continued. It wasn’t until the press previews began to roll in early this year that the world of Valisthea began to feel real to me. A flurry of late-stage marketing, including a fantastic demo, solidified that realness. I was ready to play this landmark entry in what is far and away my favorite franchise. Almost from the start, it was obvious to me how much effort has been poured into this game. The creators had a vision for Final Fantasy XVI, and they stuck to it. They wanted the story front-and-center.

An update for Final Fantasy XVI has been dispatched today, and includes some additional features in the game's settings menu. First and foremost, a new option to adjust the strength of motion blur has been added when the character or camera is in motion. By default, this setting is adjusted to '5', but it can be lowered to 0 which will turn motion blur off completely. You can also toggle whether the camera will position itself behind Clive while moving and attacking — by default this is turned 'on'. The maximum setting for the camera's sensitivity along the horizontal and vertical axes has been increased to 20, up from 10, and is set to '4' at its default setting. Additionally, three new controller layouts: 'D', 'E', and 'F' have been added for different button configurations than the three previous templates. Finally, corrections have been made to address issues with the stability of some menus and some text issues — though no specifics were stated. Also, media posted to Twitter or YouTube will also now include the #FF16 hashtag (though this can be manually removed prior to posting if so desired.) Final Fantasy XVI is available now on PlayStation 5.

Final Fantasy XVI has shifted over three million units in shipments and digital sales, Square Enix announced today. This news comes just days after its launch on June 22, putting it on a similar path of 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake despite that game having released onto a much larger install base on PS4. If you've not yet played XVI, Square Enix is here to remind you that there is a perfectly good demo to try out. The demo gives players access to the opening prologue, with saved progress carrying over to the full game after its release. In the demo, you'll take control of Clive Rosfield and learn about his ambitions and goals at the outset of his story. Completing the prologue allows players to experience a special battle demo which has numerous abilities unlocked, giving them the opportunity to jump into fast-paced battles and test out a wide array of devastating attacks and combos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3EDeN1diQ Final Fantasy XVI is now available for PlayStation 5.

Speaking with IGN, Final Fantasy XVI's main director Hiroshi Takai and battle director Ryota Suzuki shared what to expect upon completing the game. After you return to the main menu, you will have a new option for 'New Game +' that can be selected. All of your possessions, abilities, and level progression will carry over from the previous playthrough. Next, you'll have three options: Story Focused and Action Focused mode that are available the first time around, but a new option for 'Final Fantasy Mode' will be available. In Final Fantasy Mode, the level cap will raise to 100 but enemies will be "far more powerful." You'll also be able to forge the Ultima Weapon for Clive, and after you start this mode you will be unable to switch to Story or Action Focused modes. In addition to higher level enemies, new formations will be found in the game that you didn't previously encounter. In the Greatwood, a Wyvern mid-boss will battle you in the first playthrough, but in Final Fantasy Mode a Chimera will appear instead. In another area, an axe-wielding soldier is replaced with an iron giant enemy. You'll also have full access to all of the Eikons you've acquired

In a livestream geared for Japanese audiences, the Final Fantasy XVI team shared that there will in fact be a day one patch for the game despite earlier plans to not release one. As director Hiroshi Takai told Game Infomer: "CBUIII is testing the game daily and searching for bugs, and things could change as a result, but right now, like in the days of old Final Fantasy, this entry should work entirely as expected out of the box." Well, it appears that important bugs were indeed found: specifically a control flag issue which can make progress through the game impossible under very specific circumstances. Progression bugs will at the very least require a player to restart their game, but at their worst could stop you from advancing until you start a new file. There was also an issue where the game could close unexpected under very specific circumstances, and so the team thought it important to fix in an update over the internet. Some areas have also been optimized and a few minor text errors have been fixed. The team stated that "we didn't want to do any pre-release or release day updates... and we're sorry!" The update itself will be distributed

For those anticipating the release of Final Fantasy XVI next week and wanting to avoid spoilers, it may be time to consider your presence on social media and online channels. This after it appears that physical copies of the game appear to have been leaked, released, or otherwise obtained. Today, Square Enix issued a statement sharing that they are have begin a "thorough investigation into illegitimate acquisitions and are acting to limit this ahead of the official launch". In spite of their efforts, it's likely that spoilers in myriad forms will appear online, prompting community members to advise using the tools available on social media to mute or block key words in the attempt to avoid spoilers getting through. It's not the first time a high profile title, including one from Square Enix, has leaked early — Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts III, and Final Fantasy VII Remake were also obtained ahead of the street date before spoilers proliferated online. For those seeking to avoid unwanted details about the story-heavy title, it might be best to duck and cover until launch day. Final Fantasy XVI is set to release on June 22, 2023 for PlayStation 5. Official Statement: We're aware that a small number of physical

Fans will be able to get their hands on the promised Final Fantasy XVI demo, Square Enix announced during the game's pre-launch celebration festivities. Starting at 4AM EST/1AM PST, a prologue version of the game will be available on PlayStation Network worldwide. The demo, which will feature protagonist Clive as a young man, will contain two hours of the prologue and saved data can be carried over to the full retail version. This prologue is a bit cutscene heavy but you'll learn a lot about the world and what drives Clive. Upon completion, a second portion of the demo will become unlocked focused on battles where Clive will have his Eikonic abilities. You'll be able to try this over and over, and the timely accessories which automate some parts of the combat system will be available as well. Furthermore, it's to be noted that the battle demo takes place in a dimly lit, but don't think the whole game is that dark. To facilitate the launch of the FFXVI demo, Square Enix has laid out the regional timing worldwide in a handy chart: And finally, a new trailer titled "Ascension" was released. Final Fantasy XVI will be available for PlayStation 5 on June

Square Enix highlighted a new trailer during Sony's PlayStation Showcase this afternoon, previewing nearly three minutes of footage ahead of Final Fantasy XVI's launch next month. The trailer, titled "Salvation", is fully keyed in on the game's story as well as its characters, locations and the large focus on Eikons and their role in the action battle system. It's a meaty look, and while it does have a few things we've seen already, there's plenty we haven't. In the trailer we see the harsh circumstances faced by the Bearers, those born with the ability to cast magicks at will, and we see the truth that lies behind the Mothercrystals, long supposed to have bestowed blessings upon humanity. The new trailer also offers a glimpse of the first steps of Clive Rosfield, the protagonist of the game, as he and his allies fight to take back control of their fate. Catch the full trailer in English below. We've also added some new screenshots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWgVDIv3rs Screenshots Final Fantasy XVI will launch for PlayStation 5 on June 22.