Everything We know about Final Fantasy XVI: Release Date, Characters, Bosses, and More

Very few titles in recent memory have gathered as much hype as the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI, the newest installment in the genre-defining and acclaimed RPG series, and there are many reasons for that, from its impressive announcement trailer to the fact that the game is being developed by a team of award-winning developers, featuring, among many talents, Final Fantasy XIV’s Naoki Yoshida, Kazutoyo Maehiro, Hiroshi Minagawa, Kazuya Takahashi, and Masayoshi Soken. With that said, here’s everything we know about Final Fantasy XVI.

Final Fantasy XVI Synopsis and Trailers

Not much was revealed or leaked regarding the main plot of the game, but in Final Fantasy XVI, players will take on the role of Clive Rosfield, a talented knight and the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria, as he embarks on a path of revenge after his home is destroyed and his future is shattered by the Eikon of Fire Ifrit. You can check out the game’s Dominance trailer below, as well as the game’s Awakening trailer here.

More on the Game’s Combat System and Bosses

As you could check out in the trailer above, Final Fantasy XVI will not feature the series’ characteristic turn-based combat system, which was already absent ass the main system in both Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy VII Remake, instead featuring an action RPG approach, where players will be able to make use of a wide array of moves as they pave their way across the battlefield and create a wide range of combos.

It’s also important to point out that Clive will be able to switch between each Eikon’s powers during battle. The game is also set to feature boss battles against not only Dominants, such as Hugo Kapka, as we could see in the newest trailer, but also against the Eikons themselves, where, if the trailer is any indication, players will take on the role of Ifrit.

The game’s producer Naoki Yoshida, in an official post on the PlayStation Blog, also revealed his thoughts on Final Fantasy XVI’s combat system, which will be composed of, in his words, ”high-octane battles featuring our protagonist Clive Rosfield wielding a full arsenal of attacks unique to the game’s many Eikons (summons).” It’s also important to point out that Ryota Suzuki is working as the game’s combat director. Among his many works, Suzuki’s work can be seen in both Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon‘s Dogma.

All Revealed Characters

Even though the trailers feature the appearance of many characters, only five of them were officially announced. You can check out a quick overview of all the officially announced characters below, according to their official character descriptions.

• Clive Rosfield: The game’s main protagonist, as well as the eldest son of the Archduke of Rosaria and the wielder of the title of ”First Shield of Rosaria”, given to the one tasked with protecting the Phoenix. He sets on a road of revenge after his life is destroyed at the hands of the Dark Eikon Ifrit.
• Joshua Rosfield: Clive’s younger brother and the Dominant of the Phoenix, which grants him command over the Eikon Phoenix. Differently from Clive, however, Joshua is known not for his bravery, but for his extremely caring nature.
• Jill Warrick: A childhood friend and a trusty confident for both Clive and Joshua, Jill was born in the Northern Territories. She was taken from her home to be the ward of Rosaria and grew up alongside the brothers as a member of the Rosfield household.
• Hugo Kupka: The Dominant of the Eikon Titan as well as the Permanent Economic Adviser for the republic, Hugo is currently one of the most powerful and wealthy men on the continent, as well as the most powerful man in the republic.
• Benedikta Harman: The Dominant of the Eikon Garuda as well as an extremely talented swordswoman, Benedikta is a member of one of Waloed’s elite intelligences. Coldhearted and ruthless, she crosses paths with Clive during her pursuit of the Eikon of Fire.

Final Fantasy XVI Release Date

As you could check out in the Dominance trailer, Final Fantasy XVI is set to be released in the Summer of 2023, exclusively for the PlayStation 5. On that note, it’s worth pointing out that, according to the game’s director Hiroshi Takai, the game is already fully playable from beginning to end, so the team is now working on polishing it and optimizing the experience.

As you wait for the arrival of Final Fantasy XVI, you can currently play a wide range of Final Fantasy titles on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and on the Nintendo Switch, and PC.