The latest installment in the legendary Japanese video game series Final Fantasy was released on Thursday, a moment that fans of the slick graphics and intricate storylines have been eagerly awaiting, and one that could boost PlayStation 5 sales.
Final Fantasy XVI, the latest installment in one of the most well-known video game franchises with a combined total of more than 173 million copies sold according to publisher Square Enix, is only available on the Sony console.
In Tokyo, Naoto Nishimori, 37, made a detour before going to work to get his hands on the new installment and explained that he’s played all the titles in the series.
He said he was delighted when producer Naoki Yoshida – who is also known for Final Fantasy Yoshida – said he got his team to watch.
Yuan, a 21-year-old student who declined to give his last name, said he was drawn to the game’s story, whose gritty atmosphere makes it “particularly appealing.”
South Korean fans also came to the release. In Seoul, 23-year-old Jo Young-min said he expects the game to be a success because “Japanese culture is very popular and because Final Fantasy already has an avid fan base.”
A free day to play
The series, born in 1987, is an institution of the Japanese RPG (role-playing game) and now includes 16 numbered main episodes, but also dozens of other titles in different genres (fighting, racing, rhythm…).
It was originally released on Nintendo’s first console, but ten years later developers switched to the PlayStation, whose CD media offered greater storage capacity than Nintendo’s cartridges, allowing the franchise to attract a new audience.
Known for their constant renewal, Final Fantasy games have evolved over the decades from 2D turn-based combat to real-time confrontations.
Mr. Otani, a 36-year-old Japanese official who declined to give his last name, said he took the day off to play Final Fantasy XVI.
“The graphics are beautiful, the story is moving, so on release day I waited in line to buy it,” he added.
Daniel Ahmad of analyst firm Niko Partners told AFP that the release of this new episode, the demo of which was well received, combined with better PS5 availability on shelves, could help boost sales of Sony consoles.
The Japanese giant’s console was released in November 2020, but its production suffered from semiconductor shortages and supply chain disruptions related to Covid-19.