It looks like someone is about to lose their job after Final Fantasy 16 just became available to download and play for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers.
The latest game in the JRPG anthology franchise released last year and was met with critical acclaim. However, despite all the noise it made, even receiving praise from the creator of the franchise, and selling 3 million copies in under a week, Square Enix deemed its sales weak. It’s believed that Square is blaming the game’s exclusivity on PS5 as a factor in its lackluster commercial performance.
So, if you missed out on all the fun last year and you have an active PS Plus Premium subscription—it costs $159.99 per year, the last time I checked—you might want to head on over to the PlayStation Store right now.
This leak didn’t come from one particular source. Many users on the internet flocked to social media and forums to confirm what their eyes were seeing.
Upon further investigation, it seems that FF16 is only exclusive to PS Plus Premium subscribers, which isn’t available worldwide.
It’s not like Sony is supposed to release anything today, either. Sony confirmed next month’s slate of PS Plus games earlier this week, which so far includes Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, MLB: The Show 24, and Little Nightmares 2, which becomes available to download on September 3.
FF16 is easily one of the more controversial entries in the franchise. Completely eschewing traditional JRPG combat mechanics, FF16 plays more like an action-adventure game than its predecessors.
It’s unclear if Square Enix will continue with a similar gameplay transition in the next entry, but the game’s director, Naoki Yoshida, did express his intention to see someone else direct the next installment.
Speaking of, Square Enix effectively ended its long-standing partnership with Sony earlier this year. In an attempt to fight off its low annual earnings reports, Square has opened its doors to releasing its biggest games on Xbox, starting with Final Fantasy 14. It’s believed that FF16, which is getting a PC port on September 17, is up next.
Square is currently working on the next game in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy saga following the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in February—an early contender for Game of the Year.
