Since its revelation, Final Fantasy XVI has been the subject of many controversies and discussions across the internet. Much has been said about its exclusivity on PlayStation 5, but it's noteworthy that a release for Sony's last-gen hardware was initially planned. Why was it canceled?
The fantasy JRPG was announced as a timed exclusive for PS5, sparking various doubts. Many players wondered if it would eventually come to Xbox or PC. While the version for Microsoft's console is conspicuously absent, and it remains unclear if it will ever exist, we now know that a port for computers is in the works.
However, many fans expressed their dissatisfaction because the title is not available for PS4. Now, it turns out that a version for that hardware was in development but was canceled because it performed worse than the previous installment.
Final Fantasy XVI looked worse than FF XV on PlayStation 4, confirms Naoki Yoshida
In a recent interview, producer Naoki Yoshida discussed various topics related to the JRPG and the franchise as a whole. When asked if the team initially intended for the game to be a PS5 exclusive, he assures that, in fact, the decision was made in the middle of development.
The Japanese creative confesses that they worked on a version for PS4 but canceled it due to technical issues. He even states that the game's assets pushed the console to its limit. "There were certain parts where we had to reduce the quality to a point lower than [Final Fantasy XV]," he commented.
Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P, wanted players to enjoy Clive Rosfield's story as if they were on a Russian morning without loading screens interrupting the action. However, it was "really difficult to achieve that on PS4," so they canceled the port.
It's worth noting that this isn't the first time the Japanese creative has spoken about the canceled PS4 version of Final Fantasy XVI. In the months leading up to the 2023 release, he stated that, to reach the level they wanted on the last-gen console, ]they would have needed at least 1 or 2 additional years of development.
"I had to make a decision at that moment. It was like, 'okay, we don't want to extend it that much. Let's just go for the PS5 version," Naoki Yoshida said in 2023.
But tell us, do you think canceling the port was the right decision? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments.
Final Fantasy XVI is available for PlayStation 5, with a version for PC in development.
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