Final Fantasy 16 is the first new Final Fantasy installment in Square Enix's long-running JRPG franchise since 2016's Final Fantasy 15. As expected, a lot of fans are eager to find out more about the game, specifically, when it will be released. Unfortunately, Square Enix had some bad news for Final Fantasy fans as it just confirmed that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the publisher to delay the game as well as its next big reveal.
Fans probably shouldn't expect Final Fantasy XVI until 2023
Final Fantasy 16 was first announced back in September 2020 at a PS5 showcase. Since then, Square Enix has talked sparingly about the upcoming game. After promising more details about FF16 this year, fans were left wondering about the status of the project. Thankfully, Square Enix has finally broken its silence about FF16.
In a post shared on Twitter, FF16 producer Naoki Yoshida apologized for not sharing more about FF16 this year as the COVID-19 pandemic has "delayed the game's development by almost a half year."
A message from Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida. #FF16 #FFXVI pic.twitter.com/qtfJUUp6LA
— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) December 27, 2021
2021 was supposed to be a big year for the Final Fantasy franchise. For the most part, it still is. Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier earlier this year as well as Final Fantasy VII Remake: INTERgrade before subsequently porting it over to the PC. Not to mention, we also got news of a remake of the first Final Fantasy game in Stranger of Paradise with a second trailer released back in October. Plus, Final Fantasy XIV appears to be even more popular with Square Enix even suspending sales of the game due to the unprecedented surge in player count.
Unfortunately, Final Fantasy fans will have to wait for a while to learn more about the franchise's next installment.
The good news here is that spring 2022 is just right around the corner. If Square Enix sticks to their promise this around, fans can expect to hear more about Final Fantasy 16 anytime between March and June of next year.
