Final Fantasy 16 actor Ben Starr has said that he would love to reprise his role as Clive if given the opportunity again. Unfortunately, however, there have been no calls from Square Enix, and it’s unlikely there will be any since the company has indicated that it has no plans for a sequel or spin-off.

Final Fantasy 16’s Ben Starr feels “personal attachment” to Clive

Starr, who earned praise for his role as Clive, made the comments above during a Video Games Chronicle podcast. “If anyone asked me to do Clive again, I would jump at the chance,” Starr said. “I feel such a personal attachment to him, as I said, and so if someone said we would like Clive to be involved in whatever thing, I would go, ‘yes, please let me do it’ because I feel a responsibility to do that.”

A longtime Final Fantasy fan, Starr also revealed that he’s had no communication from Square Enix regarding a potential role in Kingdom Hearts, which features Final Fantasy characters.

Producer Naoki Yoshida previously revealed that Final Fantasy 16’s development team has already disbanded, and there are no further plans for the game beyond its DLC and PC release.

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Unfortunately, 2023 wasn’t the best year for PlayStation exclusives. The only title from Sony’s stable to make it on our Game of the Year 2023 list is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. However, there were plenty of third-party masterpieces to make up for it. Check out our favorite games of the year below!

PlayStation LifeStyle Game of the Year 2023 List:

10. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077’s had a long road to redemption. When Son kicked the game off the PlayStation Store because of technical issues, we never thought its DLC would end up on our Game of the Year list two years later. Phantom Liberty has enough content to be a game in its own right and offers an alternate take on how V’s journey could have ended up. Unfortunately, the DLC and the 2.0 update that launched alongside it are only available on PS5. However, if you have the PS4 version, you can still upgrade for free!

Buy Cyberpunk 2077 on Amazon

9. Final Fantasy 16

It seems inevitable that Final Fantasy 16 will be one of the more divisive entries in the series. It primarily concentrates on one character, Clive Rosfield, as opposed to a huge party, and the story is focused on his perspective. For some fans, that eschews franchise tradition, but we appreciated the narrowed focus compared to Final Fantasy 15, which was a bit all over the place. Clive’s story stands out as one of the more poignant we’ve seen in a Final Fantasy, and it’s a spectacle to behold.

Buy Final Fantasy 16 on Amazon

8. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

This pseudo-prequel to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes the series back to its roots and pays homage to the original. Unlike the sprawling epics we’ve gotten in the last few entries, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is localized to 9th-century Baghdad and ditches many of the role-playing elements to emphasize stealth, assassinations, and parkour. We couldn’t help but be relieved to play a distilled experience, and Basim Ibn Ishaq’s origin story reminded us why we fell in love with the franchise in the first place.

Buy Assassin’s Creed Mirage on Amazon

7. Hogwarts Legacy

Despite the controversy surrounding the Harry Potter franchise, Hogwarts Legacy managed to captivate us with its rendition of the titular wizarding school and the surrounding countryside. For those of us who grew up alongside Harry, the chance to attend Hogwarts was a dream come true. Exploring its nooks and crannies, attending classes, and seeing the many easter eggs the developers included was a treat. Where Hogwarts Legacy goes above and beyond, though, is that the gameplay is fun enough to stand on its own merits. Even if this is your first visit to Hogwarts, you can still have a blast and leave wanting more.

Buy Hogwarts Legacy on Amazon

6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order itched the scratch Star Wars fans had for years when it was released in 2019, and we couldn’t wait to get back to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. It’s everything the first game was, but bigger and better. Cal gets more abilities and equipment, environments are more expensive, and we even get to chill in a cantina whenever we want. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor provides the excitement that most of Disney’s projects have lacked and has done much more to keep the franchise alive than it gets credit for.

Buy Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on Amazon

5. Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 is our favorite fighting game of the year because of its respect for newcomers and veterans. It’s an excellent point to enter the series, thanks to its revamped mechanics and multiple control options. However, it still retains enough of the franchise’s traditions to keep from alienating those who cut their teeth on SF 2-5. We also loved the absolutely bonkers story mode that channeled Yakuza to make one of the best create-a-fighter experiences ever. If you have even a little interest in the fighting genre, it’s worth checking this game out.

Buy Street Fighter 6 on Amazon

4. Resident Evil 4 remake

Resident Evil 4 revolutionized the series when it debuted in 2005 and is lauded as one of the best games ever. Its influence on gaming as a whole is so strong that many doubted that a remake could do it justice. However, Capcom managed to pull off a fantastic retelling that complements the original perfectly. Almost every aspect of the original has been remade or expanded, and the updated gameplay makes blasting through Ganados a thrill. Resident Evil 4 remake is another excellent entry in the alternate continuity started with RE2 remake, and we’re excited to see which game gets reimagined next (fingers crossed for Code Veronica)!

Buy Resident Evil 4 remake on Amazon

3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man and its Miles Morales-centric follow-up were hard acts to follow. Somehow, Insomniac Games managed to outdo themselves and then some with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Peter Parker and Miles join forces to take on a multitude of threats while navigating their personal lives. From Kraven the Hunter’s militaristic menace to the symbiote Venom sapping Peter of both his good nature and healthy relationships, this gutsy sequel took an already solid foundation and gave both heroes an expanded inventory of unlockable abilities, gadgets, and suits with which fans could explore and defend New York City. While this movie could have resulted in a tired storyline or rote gameplay loop, instead it strengthened an already excellent series with thoughtful writing, inclusive characters, and comic book-powered combat to satisfy all players. The biggest problem with this tandem adventure is that it eventually has to end.

Buy Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on Amazon

2. Baldur’s Gate 3

Player agency has been a hot topic in the gaming industry for decades. Some studios like to keep players focused on the task at hand, while others open their worlds up for a bit more interaction. However, with Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios went beyond this. It removed practically all limitations to how a player could affect their surroundings. See a locked door? You can talk the key out of an NPC, blow it down, find a hidden route to completely bypass it, or simply ignore it. The challenge in this CRPG is to find your way, and there are so many possibilities and so much raw content that everyone’s playthrough will be different.

1. Alan Wake 2

It took 13 years for Alan Wake 2 to be released, but the wait was worth it. FBI agent Saga Anderson joins Alan’s struggle to escape the Dark Place, and we’re once again thrust into the madness surrounding the town of Bright Falls. The plot is a roller coaster examining family, religion, and the supernatural, and it had us hooked from beginning to end. Excellent pacing keeps the lengthy story from becoming a slog, and the ability to alternate between Saga and Alan’s story means each player will have a slightly different experience during their playthrough. While it’s rooted in survival horror, we recommend this game to anyone who wants a strong single-player experience.

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Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida has said that the game will remain a stand-alone story as there are no plans for a sequel or spin-off. In fact, FF16’s development team has already been disbanded for the most part, leaving behind only those who are working on the game’s DLC and PC release.

Naoki Yoshida wants to work on the next game rather than Final Fantasy 16 sequel

Speaking to Famitsu (via MP1st), Yoshida himself expressed his desire to work on a new game and story as opposed to continuing FF16. That said, he doesn’t know if Square Enix will change its mind or if it has any plans to extend the game beyond its upcoming DLC.

“The development team for FF16 has been disbanded, except for the main DLC team, but at least we don’t envision us creating a sequel or spin-off to FF16,” Yoshida said. “I have accumulated a lot of knowledge from FF16. Rather than continuing with one title forever, I would like to use that knowledge to consider new challenges, such as the next title.”

Yoshida also revealed that FF16’s second DLC — The Rising Tide — will be meatier than Echoes of the Fallen and is expected to last around 10 hours.

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Square Enix unveiled Final Fantasy 16 DLC at last night’s The Game Awards 2023. The first expansion — Echoes of the Fallen — is out now. The second expansion is titled The Rising Tide, and will be released in Spring 2024.

Final Fantasy 16 DLC details

Echoes of the Fallen costs $9.99. The Rising Tide was not priced, but Square Enix did announce an Expansion Pass with both DLC for $24.99. Echoes of the Fallen becomes available in-game after players unlock Origin as a destination on the FF16 world map. You also have to complete the quests “Where There’s a Will” and “Priceless.”

“As the sun sets over the land of Valisthea, strange, dark crystals begin to circulate on the black market. Could they be the sinister fruit of a long-slumbering Mothercrystal — one the world never knew existed?” reads an official synopsis. “Setting out in search of answers, Clive and company encounter a group of suspicious traders. Their trail leads them to a long-abandoned Fallen tower known as the Sagespire and the terrible secrets that await within…”

Echoes of the Fallen comes with two special bonuses: the iconic Buster Sword and new background music “Away (1987) Orchestrion Roll.”

The Rising Tide will be detailed ahead of its release.

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Square Enix may be pleased with Final Fantasy 16‘s initial sales, but the PS5 exclusive couldn’t prevent the company from losing billions. A new report reveals that Square Enix has lost nearly $2 billion of its value since Final Fantasy 16’s release.

Final Fantasy 16 sales didn’t meet the “high end” of Square Enix’s expectations

Bloomberg reports that analysts are concerned about Square Enix’s historical reliance on its Final Fantasy franchise to make up for a series of lackluster releases. This is partly why despite selling millions at launch, Final Fantasy 16 sales weren’t the saving grace that the company was hoping for. Square Enix previously said that the PS5 exclusive’s sales didn’t meet the “high end” of its expectations.

“Flooding the market with unfinished, bad or untested games is a bad move,” Tokyo-based developer Michael Prefontaine told Bloomberg. He specifically listed Marvel’s Avengers, Forspoken, and The DioField Chronicle as examples of such games. Elsewhere, Macquarie Capital Securities Japan analyst Yijia Zhai wrote in a note to investors that the company has concerns about Square Enix’s “game development structure and game quality control, which could limit the longer term performance.”

Other analysts have echoed these sentiments, adding that Square Enix continues to release average, forgettable games.

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Square Enix hasn’t spoken much about Final Fantasy 16‘s future since its launch. However, the company just announced a new Final Fantasy 16 update that adds numerous skins for free, as well as premium DLC that’s now in development.

The Final Fantasy 16 update adds free costumes

Square Enix announced the update and released a short trailer for it (which contains some big narrative spoilers). The update is currently live, too.

The trailer went over some of the new features that will be in the update. Clive Rosfield, Jill Warrick, Torgal, Joshua, and Ambrosia are all getting skins, and all five can be seen in the trailer (but only the first three are named). Players can also now transmog their sword so it keeps the stats of one blade while having the look of another.

Square Enix also tweeted out the patch notes in a thread, which are much more detailed than the trailer.

Producer Naoki Yoshida also spoke in a separate video about how there will be new control schemes (which the last big update also touched on) and revealed even more about what the studio has in store. After thanking fans for their support and feedback, he noted that he saw how players wanted more from this world and these characters. And in order to accommodate those hungry for more, the team has started development on two premium expansions. He didn’t give any details, so it’s unclear how big they will be, when they’ll come out, or how much they’ll cost.

This is also an update from his statement from July where he said the studio was thinking about its options regarding DLC. He also noted in May that DLC wasn’t being planned at the time, but seemed to imply that fan demand might cause Square Enix to change course.

A PC port is now in development, too, meaning that Final Fantasy 16 will no longer be a total PS5 exclusive. Yoshida said he’d also like to give updates on both the DLC and PC port by the end of the year.

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Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has offered a brief review of Final Fantasy 16, showering the game with high praise. Having seemingly finished a playthrough, Sakaguchi declared that FF16 is the “ultimate” fantasy.

Final Fantasy 16 is Final Fantasy, says Hironobu Sakaguchi

For those who haven’t been following the discourse surrounding FF16, the game has been somewhat polarizing among Final Fantasy fans despite earning rave reviews. Some players argue that it’s too much of a departure from the series to be classified as a Final Fantasy game, with intense debates surrounding its combat and gameplay mechanics. But for Sakaguchi, FF16 is Final Fantasy.

That settles it, then. Can’t argue with the father of Final Fantasy, right? Wrong! While a large number of fans expressed their fondness for FF16 in response to Sakaguchi’s tweet, others dared to disagree.

FF16 producer Naoki Yoshida previously expressed his disappointment with online trolls, stating that they are “tiresome” to deal with. While welcoming constructive criticism, Yoshida said that there’s no reason for anyone to be intentionally negative and malicious.

Sales-wise, FF16 is off to a strong start considering its PS5 exclusivity. However, in what is now a Square Enix tradition, the game has yet to meet the “high end” of the publisher’s expectations.

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Final Fantasy 16 sold 3 million copies in just a week. However, the acclaimed RPG has not hit Square Enix’s highest expectations.

Square Enix blamed the PS5’s install base

As noted by Bloomberg‘s sources, Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu reportedly said in a post-earnings call that Final Fantasy 16’s initial sales “did not meet the high end of the company’s expectations.” Bloomberg also alleged that he blamed “slow adoption of the PS5,” which is unusual since the PS5 is vastly outselling the Xbox Series X|S and is only slightly behind the adoption rate of the PS4. He reportedly noted that the company has plans to boost sales now that more systems are out there.

This is all a little unexpected since other stories concerning Final Fantasy 16, aside from the company reportedly worrying about pre-order numbers, were all positive. It was the fastest-selling PS5 exclusive and performed “extremely well” according to Square Enix. However, sales can still be solid but under expectations, especially when tied to one single system with a user base of 40 million people, which is what Square implied with its “extremely well” statement.

For comparison, Final Fantasy 15 launched on PS4 and Xbox One in November 2016 and sold 5 million copies in just a few days, a milestone it could hit because of the multiplatform release on two systems. Final Fantasy 7 Remake sold over 3.5 million copies in 10 days in April 2020. And while it did just launch on PS4, the PS4 install base was over 106 million at the time.

Square Enix has been notorious for its acclaimed, multi-million-selling games still coming under expectations. Tomb Raider, Hitman, Sleeping Dogs, Just Cause 4, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Marvel’s Avengers, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy are some of the other Square Enix-published games that came in under what the publisher expected. Most of those studios and franchises have also been sold.

Final Fantasy 16 is different because it is the only title in this group that was developed in Japan. Square Enix also noted that Forspoken sales were “lackluster,” but it’s the least acclaimed title of the bunch and therefore doesn’t have positive reviews backing it up like the others.

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Final Fantasy 16‘s launch sales have been the subject of bizarre debates, but now that the dust has somewhat settled, one analytics firm says the game performed “robustly.” Contrary to reports, data gathered by Ampere Analysis reveals that Final Fantasy 16 not only did well in the West but also in Japan.

Final Fantasy 16 was ‘by far’ PS5’s most-played game in Japan during launch month

According to Ampere Analysis, Final Fantasy 16 was June’s sixth biggest PS5 game globally by monthly active users. Considering its launch date of June 22, that’s quite a feat. Around 13% of PS5 players played Final Fantasy 16 during launch month in June/July. Quick math tells us that this amounts to over 5 million players considering PS5 sales have topped 40 million worldwide.

Breaking the figures down by market, Ampere Analysis found that 34% of players were from USA and 24% were from Japan. However, it was Japan that saw the highest average play time per player, with more than 22 hours. The average play time per player in USA during launch month was 18 hours.

“For three days following the launch, FF16 was the second-highest PS5 title by daily active users globally, just falling short of FIFA 23, but surpassing the likes of Fortnite and Call of Duty,” noted Ampere Analysis’ Louise Wooldridge. “By the end of June it had dropped to fourth place, but now seems to have stabilized, and is maintaining a solid lead ahead of big live service titles like Diablo IV, NBA 2K23, and GTA V.”

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Final Fantasy 16 released to a positive response and record-breaking sales for a PS5 exclusive, but online discourse surrounding the game has been divisive to say the least. Some loved FF16’s new direction while others debate whether it classifies as a “Final Fantasy game.” Producer Naoki Yoshida has now addressed some of the negativity surrounding FF16 online.

Final Fantasy 16 trolls come from a place of malice, says Yoshi-P

In a documentary released in Japan and translated by Twitter user aitaikimochi, Yoshida said that some of the negativity surrounding FF16 comes from a place of malice. Constructive criticism is one thing, but Yoshida doesn’t understand why the game’s development team is being “yelled” at by a bunch of random people.

“There’s a lot of people who just yell at you — people I’ve never seen, met, or talked to before,” said Yoshida. “It’s weird. What did we do to them? Perhaps they just write it from a place of negativity and malice. It’s tiresome.”

It certainly doesn’t help that FF16 got caught in the crosshairs in the never-ending console war, which was further exasperated at launch time due to Microsoft fighting the Federal Trade Commission in court over its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Despite Square Enix celebrating FF16’s sales, some folks remain convinced that releasing the game as a PS5 exclusive has spelled doom for the franchise.

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