Final Fantasy XVI has been revealed as a PlayStation console exclusive

Sony opened Wednesday’s PlayStation 5 showcase with a Final Fantasy XVI reveal trailer.

Square Enix‘s standalone single player action RPG will be exclusive to PlayStation consoles, it announced.

Director Hiroshi Takai (Final Fantasy XIV, The Last Remnant) said: “From the establishment of an all new development environment, to learning the ins-and-outs of the PS5, the team and I have taken on countless challenges during our journey to bring you the sixteenth chapter in the storied Final Fantasy franchise.

“And though we’re pouring our hearts and souls into this project each and every day, it may still be some time before we can get it into your hands. However, I promise it will be worth the wait!”

Producer Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest X) said Square Enix is aiming to “provide players an experience unmatched in terms of story and gameplay”, and that Final Fantasy XVI’s “next big information reveal is scheduled for 2021”.

In August, an insider with a recent history of reliable news leaks claimed Final Fantasy XVI would be a PS5 timed exclusive.

It was originally scheduled to be revealed during Sony’s PS5 showcase in June but its announcement was pushed back, according to ResetEra forum member Navtra.

Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda said in January that the company was “making steady progress” on next-gen console titles while also developing cloud-native games.

And during a financial results briefing in February, Matsuda said PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X backwards compatibility meant the company wasn’t planning to release next-gen exclusives for some time.

The publisher claimed in March that its “2020 line-up, and the next-generation that lies beyond, is stronger than ever for Square Enix”.

Further reading

Final Fantasy XVI could be a PlayStation 5 timed exclusive, it’s claimed

Insider points to imminent reveal for next-gen RPG