Speaking recently with Japanese outlet Young Jump, creative director and series mastermind Tetsuya Nomura explained that Kingdom Hearts 4 (as well as mobile title Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link) is being designed as a “reset” that will be easier for new players to get into.

“I do think of Missing Link and 4 as a reset,” Nomura said (via GamesRadar). “I wanted to end it with 3, or rather reset it, so I appointed new writers and even made a new logo to make it easier for new people to get into it.”

Nomura went on to say that the action RPG will still serve as a follow-up to Kingdom Hearts 3, but though existing fans will find the connective tissue, he says the hope is that more new players will be able to hop in this time.

“For those who know how Kingdom Hearts 3 ends, the reason why Sora ends up like that in the ending is because we wanted to reset the story in a way,” Nomura said (via @aitaikimochi on Twitter). “This should make it even easier for newcomers to join the story starting from Kingdom Hearts 4. Fans of the Kingdom Hearts series will also be able to feel like, ‘oh so it’s THIS’, but we’re making this game with the hopes that new players can enjoy it as well.”

Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022, though details on it have been scarce since then. Leaks have previously claimed that it is targeting a 2025 release.

While the verdict is out on whether the patch fixes all the issues, Square Enix recommends downloading and installing the update. In the meantime, it will continue “investigating this issue” alongside Sony Interactive Entertainment. Stay tuned for further updates in the coming days.

Final Fantasy 16 first launched last year for PS5 and despite the hype, Square Enix revealed that profits from it and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth didn’t meet expectations. It recently released for PC, peaking at over 22,000 concurrent Steam players.

The Standard Edition is available for $49.99, but there’s also the Complete Edition for $69.99, which includes the base game and both expansions, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide. Head here for more details on its features.

[Notice] PlayStation®5 version of FF16

In response to the crashes and graphical bugs that were occurring on the PlayStation®5 version of FINAL FANTASY XVI, SIE have released a new system update. Please try downloading and installing this update.

— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) September 20, 2024

We will continue to work on investigating this issue in collaboration with SIE. #FF16

— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) September 20, 2024

In recently published briefing for a financial meeting that was originally held in May, in addition to reiterating that Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth both failed to meet commercial expectations, Square Enix has confirmed that it is now pivoting to a multiplatform model, including for its legacy titles.

“We will shift to a multiplatform strategy,” the company says. “In the case of HD games, we will create a global environment that allows more customers to enjoy our major franchises and AAA titles, including from our back catalog.”

That means it’s likely the company will release its major games on more than just PlayStation right out the gate, in addition to bringing existing exclusives to other platforms. Final Fantasy 16, for instance, recently released for PC, and based on leaks and comments from its own developers, is likely to eventually come to Xbox Series X/S as well. Meanwhile, Xbox players will doubtless also be keen to get their hands on Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its sequel.

The company recently published official documents for a financial briefing that was originally held in May, shortly after Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s February release, where it confirmed that “profits” generated from Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth “unfortunately did not meet our expectations”. The company also added that despite the latter’s February release, initial sales during that quarter “were not as strong as expected.”

Since Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s release, Square Enix hasn’t provided any sales figures for the title. Reports had claimed that the title was underperforming, selling at roughly half the pace of 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Final Fantasy 16, meanwhile, sold over 3 million units in less than a week of its launch. Initially, Square Enix said it considered the action title’s sales to be “extremely strong”, but later added that the game had failed to meet “the high end” of the company’s expectations where sales were concerned.

Amidst disappointing sales for major releases, Square Enix has confirmed that it is pivoting to a multiplatform model. Read more on that through here.

As per SteamDB, the game saw a peak of over 22,000 concurrent players on Steam upon its PC release. Those certainly aren’t terrible numbers- for instance, that’s higher than what Final Fantasy 7 Remake managed upon its own Steam release (over 13,000 peak concurrent players), though that was several months after the game had already released for PC via the Epic Games Store.

At the same time, several other JRPGs have seen notably higher player numbers on Steam than Final Fantasy 16, including the likes of Tales of Arise (60,274 peak concurrent players), Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (46,161), Persona 3 Reload (45,002), Persona 5 Royal (35,474), or even Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (34,995).

Final Fantasy 16 is available on PS5 and PC. Read our review of the original PS5 version through here. Make sure to also read our reviews of its expansions, Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide. Leaks have claimed that the game is also headed to Xbox Series X/S, something its developers have hinted at as well.

Set in Valisthea, the world depends on Mothercrystals, which provide benefits like magic. The nations are divided based on the Dominants, hosts of the Eikons, and each vies for more power. Clive is unique, as he can utilize several different Eikonic abilities and teams up with Cid the Outlaw to ultimately upend the world.

Final Fantasy 16 costs $49.99 on PC, with the Completion Edition retailing for $69.99. The latter includes two expansions – Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide. Head here for more details on its PC requirements (including the whopping 170 GB of installation space). You can also read our feature for the different PC features to expect.

Following the latest system firmware update for the PS5, the action RPG has received reports of crashes and “graphics-related issues”, which Square Enix acknowledged. It’s checking with Sony Interactive Entertainment for more details and urges fans to wait for more updates.

What kind of graphics issues? As seen on the Final Fantasy 16 subreddit, they range from a glowing Tarja to broken green pixels on the floors and walls. How long it’ll take to fix the issue remains to be seen, so stay tuned.

For more details on Final Fantasy 16, check out our review. You can also read more about the PC requirements and the overall release here.

《お知らせ》 PlayStation®5版 FF16 について

先日リリースされたPlayStation®5のシステムアップデート以降、PlayStation®5版ファイナルファンタジーXVIにおいてクラッシュやグラフィックスに関連する不具合が報告されております。
現在、SIE様と共に状況を確認中です。…

— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@FF16_JP) September 17, 2024

A PC Demo is Available 

Some players may be unsure whether they want to purchase Final Fantasy 16. Fortunately, a demo is available to help those who are on the fence and need a little extra convincing. Much like the PS5 demo, PC players get to try out the game’s prologue and tinker with a special “Eikonic Challenge” mode. The PC demo is perhaps a bit more important than the console counterpart, as it gives PC players a chance to see how the game runs with their specific specs. It can be downloaded on Steam and the Epic Game Store.

PC Minimum Requirements

With all the action FF16 brings, it’s no surprise that it’s a somewhat taxing title when it comes to PC specs. However, it appears that developers have made the game quite scalable, as the minimum PC requirements aren’t too demanding for any modern PC build. With this said, you may need to upgrade your storage because an SSD is required. Using the minimum requirements, you can expect FF16 to run at 30fps at 720p, which is enough to bring Clive Rosfield’s story to life. The minimum specs call for Windows 10 or 11, an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400 processor, and 16GB RAM. For graphics cards, you need an AMD Radeon RX 5700, Intel Arc A580, or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. The minimum specs also require Version 12 DirectX and you’ll also need 170GB of storage.

PC Recommended Requirements

If you have a beefier PC build, you can shoot for the recommended PC requirements, which will have the game running at 60FPS at 1080p. Once again, as expected, an SSD is required. These are the specs that the developer recommends Windows 10 or 11 OS, an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel Core i7-10700 processor, and 16GB RAM. As far as graphics cards go, an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is recommended. Developers also recommend Version 12 DirectX, and you should have 170GB of available space.

Supports Up to 240fps

PS5 players enjoy a quality mode that runs at 30fps and a performance mode that runs at 60fps. On PC, developers have been able to take things further with official 240fps support. It’ll take a very capable PC as well as upscaling to achieve this framerate.

FF16 Will Feature Dynamic Resolution Options

FF16 will feature the option to turn on dynamic resolution which will allow the game to adjust dynamically to meet graphical demand. Additionally, there will be a host of upscaling options, as confirmed by the developer. More specifically, as revealed in the demo, the dynamic resolution options will include NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3, Intel XeSS 1.3, and Legacy (TSCMAA + AMD FSR 1). Upscaling is not available when dynamic resolution is enabled.

Various Graphical Settings Will be Available

If you purchase FF16 on PC, you will have access to several graphical settings, allowing you to adjust the game to suit your machine’s specs. As seen in the demo, it’s possible to change the screen brightness, choose between upscaling options, and enable dynamic resolution. The following graphics settings can also be adjusted: sharpness, frame generation, framerate, motion blur, vignette, chromatic aberration, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency, graphical fidelity, texture quality, terrain detail, shadow quality, water quality, clutter density, NPC quantity, screen space reflection, ambient occlusion, bloom shader, and variable rate shading (VRS). It should be noted that the settings may change in the final retail version.

Save Data from the Demo Will Transfer to the Retail Version

You shouldn’t hesitate to immerse yourself in the demo version of FF16 out of fear that all the gameplay will be for nothing. As is the case with the PS5 demo, the save data will transfer to the retail version. That means you won’t have to play through the prologue once again when the game launches on September 17. It’s a beefy demo, containing over 2 hours of content, so it’s really convenient to not lose all that progress.

A Normal and Complete Edition Are Available

Final Fantasy 16 PC is available for pre-orders, and fans can choose between a standard and complete edition. The regular version contains the base game and it’s priced at $49.99. For $69.99 players can grab the complete edition which comes with the Echoes of the Fallen and Rising Tide DLC.

Fixes Have Been Pushed Out Following Demo Feedback

In the Rock Paper Shotgun interview, the developer explains that optimizing the game for PC wasn’t an easy task because the original game was “tailored for the PS5 in a lot of different ways.” Following the release of the demo, developers have received feedback regarding the game’s performance, and Update 1.01 was pushed out to address some complaints.

The update addresses several issues, including Dynamic Resolution being locked on the lowest setting and enemies not appearing properly in specific battle content. Graphics not being displayed properly under some states have also been mended. Other fixes included fixes graphical tearing in particular instances when using borderless screen mode and special effects not playing properly under specific conditions. Furthermore, UI not displaying properly under some conditions, screen resolution changing under certain conditions, and rare instances of GPU crashes have been dealt with, in addition to other minor issues. Developers aren’t done yet perfecting the game and are still fine-tuning the game, and they are investigating instances of stuttering in a few environments.

Steam Deck Users Shouldn’t Have High Expectations

The Steam Deck has shown itself to be quite capable of punching above its weight and playing a host of recently released games. Final Fantasy 16 runs on the handheld, though you will have to make a few compromises. By default, the game uses low graphics presets on Valve’s device, and AMD FSR 1 is turned on. With these settings the FF16 demo hovers around the 30fps mark, though it does drop to as low as 19fps during intense moments. Anyone familiar with the PS5 version will notice the dip in graphics, though it’s amazing that the game runs at all on the Deck.

Numerous Cutscenes are Capped at 30fps

FF16 features stunning cutscenes that tell the story of Clive Rosfield and his battles against the Eikon. Some are rendered in real time while others are pre-rendered and capped at 30fps. It isn’t too much of a problem, though it may be annoying to some players who are used to higher framerates. If it’s too much of a distraction, a mod is available for the PC demo which unlocks the cutscene framerate.

PC Performance Impressions

The demo has been tested with minimum and recommended specs, and the results are good, although there are a few complaints, as per Youtuber Daniel Owen. Even on an RTX 4090 with the game running at 60fps, there is some stuttering though, as previously stated, developers are aware of the issue and are investigating it. On a GTX 1070, it’s possible to hit 1080p but the game won’t hold a consistent 30FPS. For players using an RX 6700 XT, it’s possible to hit medium settings, with the game hovering slightly above the 60fps mark.

No Native Ultrawide Support

Unfortunately, FF16 doesn’t have native ultrawide support on PC. Once again, PC modders come to the rescue and with a simple mod, it is possible to enable narrow and ultrawide support. The useful mod also allows you to adjust gameplay FOV and removes pillarboxing and letterboxing in borderless/fullscreen mode.

Final Fantasy 16 Has DirectStorage

DirectStorage is a technology developed by Microsoft to take full advantage of SSDs. It promises several benefits, including faster load times, reduced CPU overhead, and optimized data streaming. The advantages of DirectStorage are seen in titles such as Forspoken, which manages to “reduce its load time from an average of around 10 seconds down to a single second.” FF16 will support DirectStorage so you can expect speedy load times.

Has support for Adaptive Triggers + ability to switch controller button icons

Not all PC players enjoy using a keyboard and mouse for gaming, and some prefer using a controller, especially for third-person RPGs. On PS5, Final Fantasy 16 uses the DualSense’s unique features to increase immersion. This includes the implementation of the adaptive triggers during several moments, including when opening doors and pulling levers. PC gamers can enjoy the PS5 experience, as the game has support for adaptive triggers. In addition, players can switch controller button icons to their liking.

Speaking in an interview with Anime News Network, producer Yoshinori Kitase provided assurances that the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 (or whatever it ends up being called) won’t make too many radical changes to the story, but that, at the same time, the development team is also hoping to deliver “a new sort of feeling of satisfaction to the players” that it couldn’t with the original Final Fantasy 7 back in the day.

“We do hear a lot of players’ different conjectures, saying, ‘Oh, how much will this story change from the original?’ And I do want to comment that I don’t think that’s how it will be,” Kitase said. “We’ve always kept the original in mind, and I don’t think it’s going to be a storyline that will betray the fans of the original [game]. But also, at the same time, [it’s] been 27 years since the release of the original Final Fantasy 7. There are these things that we feel we can only do now in the remake project that can bring a new happiness, a new sort of feeling of satisfaction to the players playing this game now 27 years later. What this will entail exactly is something we hope players will experience soon.”

Earlier this year, the trilogy’s creative director Tetsuya Nomura confirmed that the development team was already “hard at work” on the next instalment. Later, the aforementioned Yoshinori Kitase stated that Square Enix was hoping to wrap up development within three years, which would suggest the company is targeting a 2027 release for the remake trilogy’s final instalment.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is based on the 1988 RPG Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds of Salvation. It sees the player, Erdrick, embarking on a quest to defeat Baramos, the archfiend. The remake offers a gorgeous new art style akin to Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy, UI changes, choice of appearance for the protagonist, and the new Monster Wrangler Vocation, which can use monster abilities.

Launching on November 14th, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Check out some more extensive gameplay here. You can also learn more about the different graphical modes and difficulty settings here.

🎊#DragonQuest III HD-2D Remake has gone gold! 🎊

Time for a snap of Yuji Horii, father of Dragon Quest, and Masaaki Hayasaka, producer of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, to commemorate the moment 📸

Just 2 months until the worldwide release on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series… pic.twitter.com/yHvaoswF2y

— DRAGON QUEST (@DragonQuest) September 14, 2024