In a recent interview with Push Square, FF16 DLC Director Takeo Kujiraoka revealed that replacing the traditional turn-based combat to action RPG combat attracted more younger players to Final Fantasy 16.
Further voicing his satisfaction, Takeo said:
“I think this shows that, to a certain extent, we’ve achieved one of our initial goals – to have players of all ages play the latest Final Fantasy game.”
While this change has worked for Final Fantasy 16, Kujiraoka emphasized that the future sequels will not necessarily be following the same direction. He added that with more young adults joining the player base, more possibilities will be opening up for the future installments.
This aligns with the comments made by FF16 producer Naoki Yoshida in his interview with Famitsu magazine back in 2022. Yoshida had explained how turn based RPG did not appeal to the younger audience. He also made a point about ditching the open-world design, since it did not align with the signature Final Fantasy movie-like gaming experience.
While the overall stats have spoken in the favor of the game, some players did not enjoy the drastic change. Gameplay depth, writing, sound, character design, and direction were some of the most criticized points by hardcore FF fans. As change is never easily accepted especially in video game franchises, only time will tell if the series can successfully balance tradition with innovation.
