Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most anticipated titles coming from Square Enix. The title gathered excitement when revealed during the PlayStation 5 showcase in 2020. Since then, franchise fans continue to look for information on the project. While we know the title is coming in the Summer of 2023, there’s much still left to discover. The latest GameSpot interview shared a few critical details about the project.
On June 21, 2022, GameSpot interviewed Naoki Yoshida on his upcoming title. During the interview, Tamoor Hussaiin asks if players can expect a mature story in the latest mainline entry. Yoshida said that the rating was due mainly to the mature themes Final Fantasy XVI conveys.
I do believe that ratings are very important to ensure that younger players, younger children, are shielded from extreme material. . . But on the other hand, when trying to tell a story with difficult adult themes, these ratings can end up becoming somewhat of a hindrance.
Naoki Yoshida via GameSpot
Related: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: everything we know about the sequel
Though the team initially battled with what rating to settle on, they decided to follow through with a mature rating to avoid holding back during this anticipated title.
. . . To make sure that we could tell the story that we wanted in the way that we wanted to, we decided to pursue a mature rating in most of the regions that will be releasing the game.
Naoki Yoshida via GameSpot
While there is violence in Final Fantasy XVI, the pursuit of gore was not the reason for this rating. Final Fantasy XVI tells a story for older audiences.
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