The world of video games is no stranger to passionate debates and a recent one, which revolves around the sales figures of Square Enix’s latest RPG offering, Final Fantasy XVI, is no exception.
After news broke that the game shipped three million units worldwide in a week, a torrent of speculation washed over the internet, with critics quick to point out a sales slump when compared to its predecessors, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy 15.
However, this somewhat reductive analysis misses some key contextual elements, which Square Enix was quick to highlight in a statement to IGN.
To frame this debate, it’s necessary to look back at the achievements of the previous two installments. The Final Fantasy VII Remake had shipped 3.5 million units in three days, which is an impressive feat. On a similar note, Final Fantasy 15 shipped five million units on its first day. In comparison, FF16 seems to fall short, at least on the surface. But, as Square Enix points out, we mustn’t forget that both these titles were launched during radically different console environments and also had different ESRB ratings, factors that undoubtedly influenced their sales.
A key point that Square Enix has highlighted is the PS5’s install base at the time of the release of FF16. As of this March, Sony has sold 38 million PS5 consoles shipped globally, a much smaller base when compared to the PS4 during the release of the previous titles. This contextual element is crucial when analyzing sales figures.
When this is taken into account, the attach rate of FF16 (i.e., the ratio of copies of the game sold to the number of consoles sold) is actually quite high.
Another point to consider is that FF16 is the first title in the franchise to receive a Mature rating, a marked shift that might have affected its sales, given that the game now targets a narrower age group. Despite this, Square Enix is not daunted. On the contrary, the company maintains that the initial sales results of FF16 are “extremely strong.” In their eyes, this is just the beginning and they plan to carry out a range of initiatives to encourage even more players to jump into their latest epic.
While Square Enix has a history of setting ambitious sales targets, often resulting in criticism when games underperform – a testament to its relentless drive for success. Even in the face of the perceived “failure” of some titles, the company persists in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in their games.
For FF16 the journey has just begun. Producer Naoki Yoshida has hinted at the possibility of future DLC, which might even feature Cid, so there’s hope that the already vast universe might expand. This, combined with the game’s eventual PC port, suggests Square Enix believes FF16 has a healthy future, despite its controversial start.
While some fans long for the days of the traditional role-playing elements that characterized older Final Fantasy games, the studio has chosen a more action-oriented route for its sixteenth iteration, echoing popular mainstream media franchises like Game of Thrones. This bold move may have divided fans, but it’s clear that Square Enix is not afraid to experiment and evolve.
In this volatile landscape of rapidly evolving gaming technology, it’s critical to evaluate sales figures in context. Quite the contrary, with its high attach rate given the PS5 install base and the unwavering confidence of Square Enix, it’s fair to say that the game is off to a strong start.
Square Enix is renowned for its lofty ambitions and with their continued investment in FF16, it’s clear they are playing the long game.
After all, in the world of Final Fantasy, the quest is often just as important as the final destination.
As fans look forward to the potential future of FF16, a different division over at Square Enix is already hard at work on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which comes out early next year. We’re also hearing rumblings of a potential remake of Final Fantasy 6, although if you ask members of the FF16 development team, more of them love Final Fantasy V. Finally, we’re also waiting on official confirmation of the remasters/remakes of Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy Tactics.
