Final Fantasy 16 Successfully Appealed To Younger Players, Says Square Enix

Expert Verified By

Expanded To New Audience With Action Combat Gameplay!

Story Highlight
  • Final Fantasy 16 broke away from this IP’s traditions in many ways, including its combat.
  • Square Enix says it aimed to attract a broader audience and succeded.
  • The studio will still appeal to older and hardcore players in the future.

Final Fantasy 16 has been out for nearly a year, and the dust around this title has been settled. It sold 3 million units at launch, but reception remained divisive, with hardcore fans either loving or disliking the new direction.

Square Enix recently discussed this approach, claiming that it was aimed at bringing in new players to the IP. The gaming giant states that Final Fantasy 16 succeeded and introduced many younger players to this series.

Why it matters: Final Fantasy has a legacy lasting nearly three decades, so it can be difficult for younger audiences to relate to this series.

Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16 Is Expanding Further Through A PC Launch In 2024

Speaking to Push Square, Square Enix discussed the transition from turn-based combat.

According to DLC director Takeo Kujiraoka, recent Final Fantasy games have attracted older fans. This is no longer the case for Final Fantasy 16, as the director states that surveys show a wider age group played this entry.

Square Enix states that this release saw more players in their teens and twenties.

We’ve achieved one of our goals – to have players of all ages play Final Fantasy.

-Takeo Kujiraoka

One major difference was the action-based combat. The game was often compared to Devil May Cry since the combat system aimed for more stylish and fast-paced gameplay revolving around combos.

However, the director was quick to clarify that this would not become a common theme moving forward. Future Final Fantasy games will try and cater to all groups as the studio hopes to unlock exciting possibilities.

Despite the new players, Final Fantasy 16 was limited by its PS5 exclusivity. This will change soon, with producer Naoki Yoshida confirming that the development of the PC port is rapidly heading toward its conclusion.

Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16 Was The Second Biggest PS5 Exclusive In 2023

Square Enix’s statement is interesting because this year’s highly-rated Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth takes the opposite approach.

It adopts a hybrid combat system and requires knowledge of the first remake. This means that the entry appeals to more hardcore fans, and reports claim that it sold about half as many units as its predecessor because of these limitations.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Already Recouped Its Budget A Day After Release

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 has already managed to recoup all the budget a day after it launched, as over a million players purchased the game.

Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater Trailer Spotted On PS Store; Releases On August 25th 2025

Metal Gear Solid Delta's trailer appears to have been accidentally revealed on PSN, confirming its release on PC and PS5 on August 25, 2025.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Reviews Getting Banned On Steam That Mention DEI

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 reviews on Steam are being banned if they discuss anything about the DEI elements, according to emerging reports.

A New AAA Castlevania Title Is Set To Be Announced This Year, Rumors Suggest

If rumors are true, classic Konami franchise Castlevania is set to make a comeback with a reveal expected as early as 2025.

Death Stranding 2 Nears PS5 Launch As It Gets Rated In South Korea

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has been rated in South Korea, with the classification board stating it is "Not available for minors."