Square Enix May Have Skipped 'Final Fantasy XVI' In June PS5 Event

Did Square Enix deliberately avoid showcasing “Final Fantasy XVI” during a PlayStation 5 event in lieu of another of their titles?

Recent speculation reported by Wccftech notes that Square Enix made that critical decision during the big revelation of the PlayStation 5 console in June. Instead, the developer announced a brand new title named “Project Althia,” ScreenRant reports.

It clearly left fans of the “Final Fantasy” franchise wanting more news on their beloved games even though “Project Althia” was very visually impressive. In fact, a game like the latter could best represent the improved graphic quality and processing power that the PlayStation 5 comes with.

“Final Fantasy XV” is the most recent game in the popular RPG series, but it was released back in 2016. Fans of the long-running franchise have been anxious to find out what’s next and were probably keeping their fingers crossed that some “Final Fantasy” news would come with the PS5 announcement.

However, this rumor claims that Square Enix made a conscious choice not to share any “Final Fantasy” news then and that the next game will be released on a “tried and true” engine, possibly like Unreal Engine 4.

Square Enix instead pulled a bait and switch and wanted to share “Project Athia” instead because this game was designed expressly to take advantage of the powerful new tech offered by the PlayStation 5.

“Final Fantasy XIV,” currently one of the most played MMORPGs in the world, is still seeing constant updates to keep players involved and invested. The recent release of “Final Fantasy VII Remake” turned a lot of heads and earned rave reviews. Yet neither of these are new games in the series which has been lying dormant for four years now.

Sony clearly wants to sell its next-gen console for an audience that seemingly can’t get enough of video games. Yet factors like the global pandemic have caused trade shows like E3 and its ilk to be canceled, preventing them from showing off their new tech except via streaming events.

If those also factored into Sony not presenting the next chapter in a decades-old franchise in favor of a shiny new graphics-filled toy, then it would indeed be disappointing for “Final Fantasy” fans worldwide. Still, this remains mere speculation, and “Project Althia” will have the chance to capture the hearts and minds of the gaming audience when it too launches on the PS5.