Square Enix Its sales are emphasized Final Fantasy XVI They are “extremely strong,” telling IGN that the game sold better than its installed base PlayStation 5. Its exclusive PS5 Three million copies were sold in its week of release, a figure that sparked an online debate over whether it had met its sales targets. Square Enix.
Final Fantasy VII Remake 3.5 million copies sold in three days when released as an exclusive PlayStation 4 In April 2020. Final Fantasy XV 5 million units were sold on the first day, but that game was released PlayStation 4 y Xbox One in November 2016 and remains the best-selling game in the series’ history. The controversy was sparked by a Bloomberg article that noted that sales of the game in Japan fell sharply in the second week after launch, that initial sales were lower than previous games in the long-running RPG series, and that Square Enix His flagship franchise was facing a “weak moment”.
In a statement from Square EnixDifferences in installed base between companies are noted PS4 When it comes out Final Fantasy VII Remakeand installation base PS5 When it is released Final Fantasy XVI Last month.
With 38 million consoles PS5 Ships worldwide (as of March 31, 2023), sales of Final Fantasy XVI Crossed three million units worldwide several days after its release on June 22, 2023,” Square Enix said.
“Taking into account the estimated sales figures Final Fantasy VII Remake and the difference in the size of its installation base PlayStation 4 At the time of publication of this title, we can see that the adoption rate Final Fantasy XVI High enough given its installation base PS5.
“Square Enix Believes that primary sales result Final Fantasy XVI They are very strong and we will continue to carry out extensive initiatives to encourage more people to play the game.”
Square Enix Known for its exaggeratedly high sales expectations, considering the internal failure despite selling millions of copies, since grave raider up to hitman.
Sources familiar with IGN’s performance Final Fantasy XVI They confirmed that sales have slowed considerably since launch, but the game is still not considered the disaster that some have claimed. A source pointed to producer Naoki Yoshida’s recent comments that there could be downloadable content on the horizon, which would imply greater investment during development as a key indicator. Final Fantasy XVI May be successful in the long run.
Final Fantasy XVI Inspired has divided fans, leaving behind the traditional RPG features of previous installments for a gritty, action-oriented experience game of thrones.
Lewis Wooldridge, director of research at Ampere Analysis, said its gaming data painted a positive picture. According to Ampere Games – Analytics data, Final Fantasy XVI It was the sixth largest title by monthly active users worldwide PS5 In June, from 13% of players PS5 that they played it in the three days following the launch, Final Fantasy XVI It had a second title PS5 Most played by daily active users worldwide, coming right behind FIFA 23But like games go beyond Fortnite y Call of Duty. By the end of the month, it had dropped to fourth place but appears to have leveled off, with major live services holding the top spot as the title. Diablo IV, NBA 2K 23 y GTA V.
“Final Fantasy XVI was released under market conditions that were quite different from previous releases in the franchise FFVIIR y FFXVSo comparisons are problematic,” explained Wooldridge.
“For example, Final Fantasy XVI Its an exclusive PS5 and was released earlier in its life cycle PS5 what FFVIIR in its life cycle PS4. When the active installation base PS5 At less than 40 million worldwide, sales of three million are certainly not bad.
“It may be below expectations Square Enix, but the launch environment and the game’s mature rating somewhat limit its potential. Given the success achieved by Yoshi-P in the rescue Final Fantasy XIVI imagine the imagination was particularly high.
“A sharp decline in sales in the days following release is also expected for an RPG: many of the initial sales will come from core players and fans of the franchise. It will be interesting to see if it continues to sell in the coming months and stay on the sales charts, which is probably a better indication of its performance.” Wooldridge said the perceived lack of sales in Japan stemmed more from popularity PS5 compared to Nintendo Switch In the country, where the latter dominates the sales charts. in japan, Final Fantasy XVI Attracted twice as many daily players as the next game PS5 more popular, Apex LegendsAnd most of the games were played during that period.
“It’s not surprising that the new direction the game took didn’t sell incredibly well in Japan,” Wooldridge said. “FFXVIIt has a more serious and dark theme than the previous installments, as well as, for the most part, an older cast of characters. Japanese players tend to favor younger characters (as seen with Nier Replicant(whereas in Japan, the main character was a teenager, but in its western release, the main character was a man in his 40s). FFXVI It seems to be aimed more at a western audience, as it lacks the traditional JRPG style.
“The game can be said to be somewhere in the middle between mainstream fans last fantasy And the larger ARPG audience, as it strays from its original style and structure…not enough to lose most fans of the franchise, but not enough to fully appeal to more mainstream gamers.”
Fans wonder where this will lead Square Enix for the inevitable Final Fantasy XVIIThe company is already raising expectations for the winter launch Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part 2officially called Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Also called its remake Final Fantasy VI It is a hot topic within its walls Square Enix.
Through: IGN
Editor’s Comment: It’s hard for an RPG to live up to being one of the best-selling games on a platform, but that doesn’t mean it’s a flop. In my case, FFXVI It’s not for me.
