Square Enix continues to consistently pursue its multi-platform strategy. Final Fantasy XIV Online Having already arrived on Xbox at the beginning of the year, the publisher is now following up with two more heavyweight titles: From now on, Final Fantasy XVI Available digitally for Xbox Series X|S and PC. And coming this winter. Final Fantasy VII Intergrade Remake, thus confirming the rumors that had been circulating for weeks.
Final Fantasy XVI is now playable on Xbox
Get started Final Fantasy XVI, which is now playable on Xbox for the first time – including cross-save options via Xbox Play Anywhere. Those who purchase the digital version can seamlessly continue playing on console and PC, including cloud support. A clear plus for Xbox players.
The title is available as Complete Edition, both extensions Echoes of the Fallen and The Rising Tide It includes everything – and at a discounted price. Alternatively, the base game can be purchased separately, as can the DLCs or an expansion pass. A free demo is also available. You can experience the first few hours of gameplay with protagonist Clive in advance – including progress transfer to the full version.
As a bonus, Square Enix is also including some digital items: Blood Sword, Warrior's Heart, Courage Blade, Cait Sith Talisman, and the "Sixteen Bells" music roll.
Final Fantasy VII Remake will follow in winter
It was also announced Final Fantasy VII Intergrade Remake For Xbox Series X|S and PC – also with Xbox Play Anywhere. The release is scheduled for this winter. This means that all main single-player titles in the series will be available on Xbox in the future. For fans who were previously limited to the platform exclusivity of Square Enix titles, this is a clear signal.
Even if there is no information about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth The recent announcement, which has been met with criticism from Xbox, shows that Square Enix's platform strategy is becoming noticeably more open. Whether this will ultimately lead to timely releases on all platforms remains to be seen. A win for Xbox, a slight loss for PlayStation after years of exclusivity.
What was that about FF16 only being available on PS5 because of the SSD, blah blah blah... I guess the question is whether you can make enough money with it.
The Series X has significantly more loading screens than the PS5. Also, despite running at 120fps, there's more stuttering in the cutscenes. Booting takes longer. All in all, nothing dramatic for me, but still behind the standard PS5.
Yes, but it's working, and that's what matters. The statement was that it wasn't possible at all, but it looks like it is working after all.
Aside from that, with these brown-grey textures and linear levels, why does the game even have such high requirements?
Square's main point was that Sony's SSD solution would make it difficult to port to other devices. I don't have a gaming PC, so I can't comment on that. But the first 5.5 hours on the Xbox seem to confirm this. Frequent loading screens, stuttering in-engine cutscenes, stuttering rendered cutscenes, more pop-in, and longer boot times. I didn't experience any of this in 300 hours on the PS5, about 240 of which were on the standard version.
For me, overall, it's not a dealbreaker. Because I agree: things are going well. Others will spread the hate back into the world.