Final Fantasy XVI is the next entry in the long-running JRPG franchise from Square Enix. Since we’re sixteen mainline games into the series, each new title needed to evolve and introduce new features and mechanics. The next game will adopt more freeflowing action-heavy combat than any other title in the franchise and it seems like producer Naoki Yoshida is fully aware that it won’t appeal to everyone.

In a recent interview with Japanese website Comic Days, Yoshida explained that he’s well aware of how divisive the combat might be in Final Fantasy XVI, especially for older fans who are accustomed to turn-based battles from previous titles. The combat will see a drastic overhaul that brings it closer to the action-based combat of Devil May Cry – not a coincidence as Devil May Cry 5‘s combat director Ryota Suzuki is also working on the game.

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Yoshida explains in his response to Final Fantasy XVI‘s overhauled combat:

“We want the world, especially the younger generation, to play the game. Also, the mainstream games nowadays are intuitive games where you press a button and the character shoots a gun or wields a sword, and the traditional RPG style of turn-based command fighting is no longer familiar to them.

It is also a fact that people are becoming less familiar with the old-fashioned style of RPGs, where you fight by selecting turn commands. That’s why the battles in Final Fantasy 16 are very action-based. We want to make people all over the world think that Final Fantasy is a great game.

Of course, I don’t think we’ll be able to satisfy everyone’s demands, so I’ve told everyone on the team that the first thing we need to do is to make something we think is fun, and make sure it reaches the people who like it.”

The Final Fantasy series has been known to evolve its combat system and experiment with new ideas beyond its signature turn-based battle system. Games like Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII introduced minor combat changes that left fans divided, but none quite like Final Fantasy XV which added freeflowing real-time combat that completely removed its turn-based systems. Depending on who you ask, this was a refreshing step forward for the franchise.

Final Fantasy XVI is currently in development exclusively for PS5 and is expected to release in 2023.

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Source: Comic Days