Final Fantasy XV
An open-world journey to reclaim a stolen Crystal and save Eos.
Final Fantasy XV is a 2016 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. It is the fifteenth main installment of the Final Fantasy series, released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2016, with later versions for Windows and Stadia. The game sold ten million units worldwide by May 2022, making it one of the best-selling entries in the series.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Square Enix Business Division 2
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Director
- Hajime Tabata
- Producer
- Shinji Hashimoto
- Artist
- Tetsuya Nomura
- Roberto Ferrari
- Yusuke Naora
- Isamu Kamikokuryo
- Designer
- Takatsugu Nakazawa
- Writer
- Saori Itamuro
- Akiko Ishibashi
- Takumi Nishida
- Composer
- Yoko Shimomura
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Final Fantasy XV is set on the Earth-like world of Eos, divided into four nations: Lucis, Accordo, Tenebrae, and Niflheim. Lucis possesses a magical Crystal gifted by deities, accessed through the hereditary Ring of the Lucii. Accordo is an island nation of free trading cities. Niflheim is a technologically advanced empire that has subjugated most of Eos, including Accordo and Tenebrae, though Tenebrae retains limited autonomy due to its Oracle, a priestess who communes with gods and cures the Starscourge—a plague that absorbs light and turns infected into nocturnal Daemons. Central to the lore are the Astrals, six divine guardians based on summoned monsters, and the True King, a prophesied figure who appears when the Starscourge threatens eternal night. This conflict spread the Starscourge. For centuries, Lucis has warred with Niflheim, which seeks Solheim's glory. An armistice is declared, with Niflheim gaining Lucian territories outside Insomnia and a marriage arranged between the heirs of Lucis and Tenebrae.
Development
Final Fantasy XV was primarily developed by Square Enix's Business Division 2, with assistance from HexaDrive, XPEC Entertainment, Plusmile, and Streamline Studios. The director was Hajime Tabata, producer Shinji Hashimoto, main writer Saori Itamuro, and art directors Tomohiro Hasegawa, Yusuke Naora, and Isamu Kamikokuryo. Character designs were by Tetsuya Nomura and Roberto Ferrari, with later revisions by Naora. Clothing was designed by Hiromu Takahara of Japanese fashion house Roen. The soundtrack was composed by Yoko Shimomura, and cutscenes were directed by Takeshi Nozue. Development began in 2006 as a PlayStation 3 spin-off called Final Fantasy Versus XIII, part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries, using the Crystal Tools engine. Originally intended as a darker entry, it was directed by Nomura. After six years of troubled development, the project was rebranded as the next mainline entry in 2012, shifting to eighth generation platforms and the Luminous Engine. At that time, Versus XIII was described as 20-25% complete, with Tabata noting it never took shape.
Reception
Critics across all platforms gave Final Fantasy XV generally favorable scores, according to Metacritic, with Famitsu awarding both versions 38 out of 40. Several game designers, including series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, called it their favorite game of 2016. The story received mixed opinions, but the main cast's chemistry was widely praised. Andrew Reiner of Game Informer liked the simpler plot after the complexity of Final Fantasy XIII. Peter Brown from GameSpot and Polygon's Philip Kollar appreciated the everyday activities and character bonds, with Kollar describing Noctis's friends as the game's emotional core. However, Jonathan Leack of Game Revolution felt the characters were uninteresting early on, and Adam Beck of Hardcore Gamer called the main story a major letdown despite enjoying the lead characters. Many critics also faulted the minimal role of supporting characters. Reviewers from GamesRadar, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and Destructoid noted that the expanded media was essential for understanding the full story. The visuals and realistic art style were well-received, with IGN's Vince Ingenito highlighting the unusual realistic details in towns and environments. The open world design, its scale, and depth of detail were praised by multiple critics, as was Yoko Shimomura's musical score.
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