The core development team of Final Fantasy 16, specifically, Creative Business Unit III, appears to have moved on from the project, with no plans for a direct sequel or spin-off. This information came from Naoki Yoshida, the game’s producer, during an interview with Famitsu.
Yoshida, often referred to as “Yoshi-P,” explained aside from the DLC team, FF16’s developers have gone their separate ways, possibly working on different projects across Square Enix. This reflects the team’s desire to explore new horizons rather than expanding upon FF16 indefinitely, which, they are already doing with Final Fantasy XIV anyway.
Yoshida expressed that the team gained considerable knowledge and expertise while crafting the world of Valisthea in FF16. However, the team members are now keen to channel this experience into either the next title in the series or an entirely new challenge. This statement reflects a common trend in the Final Fantasy franchise, where sequels are rare, and each installment typically explores a unique universe and narrative and, in many cases in recent years, experiments with a different kind of gameplay. The most notable exceptions to this established pattern are Final Fantasy VII, which spawned multiple spin-offs and a movie, among others, alongside its ongoing remake trilogy, Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV.
For what it’s worth, the world of Final Fantasy 16 is expanding for at least the next two years. The recently released DLC, Echoes of the Fallen, adds a handful of hours’ worth of gameplay to the base game, introducing new story elements, battles, weapons, and an increased level cap, to help enrich the gameplay experience. The forthcoming DLC, The Rising Tide, scheduled for release in the following year, will feature Clive in a showdown with the Leviathan. Beyond this DLC, the core team is expected to embark on a new journey, potentially working on another mainline Final Fantasy title or a completely different project.
The Leviathan-centric DLC is expected to make significant changes to the story of Final Fantasy 16, possibly introducing a different ending. In a separate interview, Takeo Kujiraoka, the DLC’s director, hinted at the possibility of the encounter with Leviathan possibly altering the bittersweet fate of the game’s protagonist, Clive, post-credits.
While Final Fantasy 16 diverged from traditional RPG mechanics, favoring a more action-oriented approach, it was still well-received for its bold experimentation and ended up selling faster than most PS5-exclusives outside of the GOTY nominee, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The game’s departure from the conventional Final Fantasy elements has led to mixed reactions among fans, with some appreciating the innovation and others longing for a return to classic RPG mechanics. The game’s self-contained and fully realized story is seen as a fitting conclusion by many, who also express hope that Yoshi-P and his team will continue to contribute to single-player games, given their adeptness at crafting emotionally resonant narratives.
Looking ahead, the future direction of the Final Fantasy franchise fans are curious about the future direction of the Final Fantasy series, regardless of whether Creative Business Unit III is involved or not.
While FF16 might not have resonated with every fan, the franchise’s willingness to constantly reinvent itself holds the promise of delivering a diverse range of gaming experiences in the future, potentially leading to new favorites among its vast fanbase.
As for Creative Business Unit III, the Yoshi-P led division in Square Enix is working on the next expansion for one of the most popular MMO’s today, Final Fantasy 14, and its imminent arrival on Xbox platforms. It remains to be seen if their next project is a new Final Fantasy installment or if they’re providing support for the smorgasbord of in-development projects over at the Japanese gaming giant, which includes Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the trilogy-ending installment, a remake of Final Fantasy 9 (and possibly Final Fantasy X as well), and, finally, the next Kingdom Hearts.
