Final Fantasy 16 is expected to offer a very different gameplay experience compared to its predecessors. While most games in the long-running franchise have been turn-based, the last few additions have shown the subtle shift in how Square Enix does things for the series. Final Fantasy 15 getting a more active form of combat, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake throwing in a mix of turn-based options during normal hack-and-slash combat. One of the main reasons for this is that the developers have decided to move away from turn-based combat and make it more interactive and faster-paced to try to entice new players to give the series a chance. Naoki Yoshida, the game’s producer, explained this decision in a recent interview with Game Informer.
Yoshida noted that younger gamers who have grown up playing first-person shooters and games like Grand Theft Auto are not accustomed to slow and deliberate turn-based combat. These gamers may be turned off by having to wait for their turn to strike in Final Fantasy 16, especially if they have played games like Devil May Cry 5 or Bayonetta. Yoshida believes that this change will be necessary to attract new fans to the franchise and ensure the game’s financial success.
He said:
They grew up playing first-person shooters, they grew up playing games like [Grand Theft Auto], where basically you press a button and something happens immediately.
Final Fantasy 16 Isn’t Turn-Based Because Of GTA’s Popularity
The issue is that each new Final Fantasy game is more expensive to develop than the last. Square Enix needs to attract new fans to ensure its future financial success, but it must also avoid alienating its existing fanbase. This is easier said than done because the shift to an action-packed combat system has already resulted in a sizable amount of backlash from long-time fans. Final Fantasy 16’s combat director, Ryota Suzuki, is hopeful that the faster-paced action style will attract both new and old fans alike.
It is worth noting that Final Fantasy 16 will be the first game in the franchise to feature strong language, which includes a lot of swear words. Fans of the series will need to prepare themselves for a much different experience. The storytelling, narrative, and world may remain similar, but pretty much everything else is going to get overhauled.