Closing Fantasy on Xbox was as soon as however a dream, till the Xbox 360 era noticed Sq. lastly begin to present Xbox some love. Now, it appears like that spell might need run its course… have we seen the final of Closing Fantasy on Xbox?
Sq.’s world-famous Closing Fantasy JRPG sequence has gone by many phases. Within the early years, it was all about Nintendo, with the primary six video games launching for the NES/Famicom (I-III) and later the SNES/Tremendous Famicom (IV-VI). However with the appearance of disc-based media providing larger storage for greater worlds and higher presentation than earlier than (and at cheaper manufacturing prices than cartridges), Closing Fantasy VII-XII would migrate the favored sequence over to PlayStation. Possible not by design, however these cycles have lasted round a decade apiece, with the unique dropping in 1987, FFVII arriving in 1997, then with the delayed launch of Closing Fantasy XIII arriving just a little off-cycle in 2009… however for the primary time taking the franchise to a number of consoles from launch. Till pretty lately, it appeared like FF had escaped its exclusivity, de facto or in any other case, to change into a cross-platform model not caught on one system. All this left us questioning what would possibly occur after multiplatform, nearly-good RPG Closing Fantasy XV as we entered the following section of the cycle.
After which Closing Fantasy VII Remake occurred.
At this time, it definitely appears like Sq. is taking Closing Fantasy again to the PlayStation camp, with exercise throughout the franchise suggesting it although no one appears keen to really say as a lot. That is removed from the one pink flag for FF followers on Xbox, although, so let’s dive into a few of the issues that make us suspect that we’d not be seeing a lot, if any, FF motion on Xbox for some time…
FFVII Remake is rarely coming to Xbox, is it?
We have spoken earlier than in regards to the ongoing debacle that’s Closing Fantasy VII Remake on Xbox, and we’re nonetheless no nearer to getting any correct solutions than we had been when the primary a part of the remake launched completely for PS4 practically three years in the past. Initially introduced as a timed Sony unique for a minimum of 12 months, this deal was then seemingly prolonged when the trailer for the PS5 model additionally talked about a further six-month exclusivity interval. The improved remake did ultimately come to PC, hitting the Epic Video games Retailer as soon as the six months was up then Steam a full 12 months after hitting PS5, however nonetheless not a peep about the potential of an Xbox launch. It is unclear whether or not Sony could have paid for any additional extension to stop it from showing on different consoles, or if Sq. merely determined {that a} port arriving now so late within the day probably would not make sufficient cash to be viable, particularly within the wake of FFVIIR being a headliner on PlayStation Plus and streamable on PC with the service — it is protected to say that many followers who need to play it in all probability have at this level, limiting the marketplace for one other model.
It may nonetheless be that FFVII Remake could come to Xbox sooner or later, in fact. The reimagined traditional is about to be cut up throughout three releases, main some to imagine that we may see the total factor when it is all full whereas Sony places out the person elements within the meantime as console exclusives — the second half, Rebirth, is already confirmed to be one other timed PS5 unique. However with all the things else happening with the sequence in the mean time and the way it appears like each franchise and writer may be shifting away from Xbox, it is laborious to cling on to hope for one thing like that occuring, particularly when the primary a part of the remake trilogy would be the finest a part of a decade outdated by the point it is all wrapped up. At this level, it is in all probability safer to imagine that FFVIIR on Xbox simply is not occurring… a minimum of that manner it will be a pleasant shock if it in the future does present up.
Certainly Closing Fantasy XIV would have occurred by now if it was going to
Hit MMO Closing Fantasy XIV makes financial institution for Sq., with hundreds of thousands of gamers nonetheless loving life in and round Eorzea nearly a decade after A Realm Reborn first turned across the fortunes of the net recreation following its preliminary grim 2010 launch. Chatter round FFXIV coming to Xbox has been swirling nearly that total time, though a number of causes have been prompt for why a port of a recreation this totally large hasn’t occurred. These have together with a scarcity of official cross-play assist when the sport first launched which might have divided console gamers, and the extra price of Xbox Stay on prime of the sport’s subscription charge, although Sony has already confirmed the latter to be simply circumvented just by not requiring the console on-line sub for this specific recreation, however once more, that is not one thing that was frequent within the early years of FFXIV. The MMO is arguably in a greater state than it has ever been immediately, with ongoing work to the Essential Situation Quest (MSQ) to trim the fats and make it a greater expertise for newcomers, and the later expansions and endgame content material are excellent.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer acknowledged a number of years again that talks had been ongoing with director Naoki Yoshida’s staff to deliver the MMO to Xbox, and reiterated that assertion final 12 months in one other interview suggesting that talks would possibly nonetheless be ongoing. It is by no means too late to welcome extra Warriors of Gentle/Darkness to Eorzea and with all of the enhancements which have been made to the principle story that has now wrapped after 4 enormous expansions (future expansions will start a brand new chapter), XIV is in an amazing place to supply a full epic on-line journey from day one for brand spanking new Xbox gamers if it ever does occur. However as soon as once more, is there a hazard that the franchise seemingly pulling out of MS territory would possibly throw yet one more spanner within the works, although crossplay is a fairly frequent factor these days? I additionally can not help however wonder if Microsoft may be apprehensive about stepping on the toes of its personal The Elder Scrolls On-line bringing in a critically acclaimed MMORPG with an expanded free trial which helps you to play by the whole thing of A Realm Reborn and the award-winning Heavensward growth as much as degree 60 at no cost with no restrictions on playtime. Copypasta memeing apart, FFXIV is superb and I would like to see it on Xbox, having put 1000’s of hours into the sport throughout three generations of PlayStation consoles, however outdoors of Spencer reiterating that he needs it to occur, nearly a decade into the sport’s life, there’s nonetheless nothing to report on this entrance.
Closing Fantasy XVI is one other ‘timed’ PlayStation unique
Trying ahead to later this 12 months, there’s one other ‘timed unique’ Closing Fantasy recreation coming in June… however this time, it is a mainline recreation. It is one factor to drop spin-offs, remasters, remakes, and no matter else on any platforms you want however after having a number of major sequence releases go multiplatform, returning to a single format future for the following chapter can not help however really feel like a press release of intent. Closing Fantasy XVI shall be a timed PS5 unique, though sequence followers who’ve been following the FFVII Remake state of affairs probably know to take these phrases with a whole shaker of salt. Even Yoshi-P joked that followers ought to simply “purchase a PS5” moderately than look ahead to the brand new recreation to reach on different techniques (as if shopping for a PS5 is even one thing you possibly can simply get up and determine to do) so it does not sound like this spherical will go an entire lot higher than the final for FF followers on Xbox.
Granted, FF’s nature of telling self-contained tales means it may possibly go anyplace and every new recreation ought to be capable of maintain up by itself deserves, because it has been in a position to do for many years. However talking of a long time, perhaps we might be about to see what the fourth truly seems like for FF, having bounced from Nintendo to Sony to multiformat and now, seemingly, heading again to the PlayStation scene the place the franchise actually blew up. Sony and Sq. have appeared particularly tight of late, with not solely FFVIIR however new IP Forspoken getting picked up as PS exclusives, however it stays to be seen what this implies for the way forward for FF… will we ever truly see FFXVI on Xbox, or is that this simply going to be Remake over again with years of awkward wording that leads nowhere? If I hadn’t already, I would be taking Yoshi-P’s recommendation to only “purchase a PS5…”
Xbox Recreation Cross is all the way down to its final Closing Fantasy recreation
Principally all the mainline Closing Fantasy video games which have appeared on Xbox — VII, VIII, IX, X/X-2, XII, the XIII trilogy, and XV, so solely lacking MMO FFXI which closed down years in the past on 360 — have additionally discovered their manner into Recreation Cross lately, and whereas there was as soon as a strong library of FF classics among the many finest video games on Recreation Cross for JRPG followers to take pleasure in within the service, we’re now all the way down to only one. Lightning Returns: Closing Fantasy XIII is the one recreation within the sequence left in Recreation Cross, the ultimate recreation in its trilogy and a divisive single-character twist on the standard method. And even that in all probability will not be round for lengthy, provided that it joined final March and the earlier video games solely caught round for round 12 months, so it appears probably that it will solely be a matter of weeks earlier than we go from having a bunch of FF titles in Recreation Cross to having exactly zero. In the meantime, look over the fence on the PlayStation Plus library and you will find that total ‘trendy’ run of the sequence (excluding the XIII trilogy, presumably a results of Sony’s ongoing wrestle to grasp how its personal PS3 truly works), in addition to the FFVII remake. There’s nothing within the Nintendo Change On-line retro assortment both, thoughts, however in an ecosystem the place gamers appear completely superb with shelling out for a similar classics again and again, you possibly can’t actually begrudge Sq. for doing the identical because the platform holder with its personal video games.
Video games come and go from Recreation Cross on a regular basis, so by itself, this won’t be such a giant deal. However once you’ve received one of many largest MMOs on the planet locked to Sony consoles, the multi-part remake of the franchise’s most beloved recreation additionally unique to PlayStation, and the sequence’ subsequent mainline launch heading there as one other console unique, it is laborious to really feel like this is not a part of one thing greater. To not solely be lacking out on the remake of the fan-favourite FFVII on Xbox but in addition to see the unique depart Recreation Cross inside weeks of the remake touchdown on PS5 was just a little galling, nevertheless coincidental. And it is not simply the outdated video games that appear to be stepping out of the highlight on Xbox both — the odd low-key exception apart, there additionally appears to be minimal curiosity in bringing newer non-mainline releases to Xbox.
Even the spin-offs and collections are skipping Xbox
Put down the pitchforks, Stranger of Paradise stans — sure, Crew Ninja’s edgy motion prequel to the unique Closing Fantasy did certainly get some Xbox love final 12 months, though that in itself is bizarre. What’s the prequel to a recreation that has by no means existed on Xbox doing right here when series-wide love-ins like Dissidia and Theatrhythm have not been given a look-in? The latter is particularly topical with the newest model of the musical celebration of all issues FF, Theatrhythm Closing Bar Line, launching in February for Change and PS4. Given how a lot time I put into the 3DS variations, that is prone to be considered one of my most-played video games of the 12 months and it is truthfully a bit gutting to see this one skip Xbox, particularly after the inferior Kingdom Hearts equal made the lower with 2020’s Melody of Reminiscence. However on the similar time, it is not simply that one recreation, and there is a fair greater snub within the works.
I am speaking in regards to the Closing Fantasy Pixel Remaster sequence, which incorporates enhanced variations of the primary six video games within the franchise and is about to launch on just about all the things besides Xbox within the subsequent few months. The six video games are all on PC and cellular already however will arrive on (most) consoles quickly, and until I am fully underestimating the method, bringing easy 8- and 16-bit classics like these to all trendy platforms bar Xbox can not help however really feel pointed and intentional. That is the sequence’ very basis, video games which might be as necessary as slices of historical past as a lot as a few of them are nonetheless genuinely superb, and provided that they have been on numerous different techniques prior to now, it’s kind of loopy that Sq. would not need much more gamers to expertise or relive the early life of the franchise, particularly if the plan was to broaden on the universe additional sooner or later.
Now look, I do not need to come throughout as a prophet of doom right here, however when issues align like this, it is laborious to see a future for Closing Fantasy on Xbox. We’re nonetheless missing considered one of Sq.’s most profitable ongoing video games in FFXIV, we’re set to overlook out on mainline sequence entries (FFXVI) and remakes of the most well-liked recreation within the sequence (FFVII), and even the lesser video games do not appear to need to present up round these elements anymore. Positive, we received a remaster of a half-decent PSP recreation as some form of bizarre comfort prize late final 12 months with Disaster Core, and I’m truly wanting ahead to sampling Stranger of Paradise’s nonsense in some unspecified time in the future, however neither is known as a large enough deal to counsel that the sequence has a future on Xbox. If something, if that is all we’re getting, it is the other. Trying forwards, there’s at present nothing Closing Fantasy on the horizon for Xbox — a primary for a few years now that Stranger in Paradise’s DLC is completed — so till Sq. decides to inform us in any other case, we in all probability should not count on to see Closing Fantasy on Xbox once more any time quickly.
What do you suppose? Will Closing Fantasy return to Xbox sooner or later, or was the first rate run we had all we’ll get? Tell us down within the feedback!
