Square Enix has provided an update on the potential for an Xbox port of Final Fantasy 16, saying it wants to release the game on Microsoft’s console but can’t share a release date yet.
Speaking to Video Games, Square Enix’s Naoki ‘Yoshi-P’ Yoshida, producer of both Final Fantasy 14 and Final Fantasy 16, strongly suggested Final Fantasy 16 will eventually come out on Xbox by telling fans not to give up hope.
"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,” Yoshida said.
“But 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. But of course, I want to say that it’s not as if there’s zero hope, and we very much do want to achieve that. So players should not give up in terms of their hopes."
Final Fantasy 16 launched as a PS5 exclusive in June 2023, with its PC version launching last month. IGN's Final Fantasy 16 review returned a 9/10. We said: "Featuring fast, reflex driven, action heavy combat, Final Fantasy 16 is certainly a departure from what fans may expect out of a Final Fantasy game, but its excellent story, characters, and world building are right up there with the best the series has to offer, and the innovative Active Time Lore feature should set a new standard for how lengthy, story-heavy games keep players invested in its world."
Last month, Square Enix made public its dissatisfaction with Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s commercial performance, admitting neither game met profit expectations.
In a financial results briefing held May 13 but only released in September, Takashi Kiryu, president and representative director of Square Enix said: "In the HD Games sub-segment, we released multiple new titles, including major titles such as Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but profits unfortunately did not meet our expectations."
The company has already announced a significant rework of its business as it fights for profitability. It has a new multi-platform plan that encompasses PC and potentially Xbox and the next Nintendo console. But it has also canceled a number of games, and, Kiryu revealed, taken steps to better curate its pipeline of games.
In January, Yoshida said it might be time for a younger generation to lead the franchise and helm Final Fantasy 17. Square Enix's Trials of Mana, Legend of Mana, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games all hit Xbox for the first time last month.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
