Final Fantasy 16 has not sold well during its first week on Xbox Series X/S. Despite the game’s high review scores and lauded status as a numbered entry in one of Japan’s most iconic RPG franchises, Final Fantasy 16 is already struggling to push copies for its latest console release.
FF16 is well-known for taking heavy inspiration from the Western game industry. This is evident in its gameplay, which is much more action-oriented than many earlier entries in the series. The narrative, too, is influenced by the dark fantasy genre, which has been increasingly popular in the West. Publisher and developer Square Enix prioritized British voice acting for Final Fantasy 16, recording audio and facial capture for the English localization before the domestic Japanese version. The game’s port to Xbox, a console that’s much more popular in the West than in East Asia, is yet another appeal to Western fans.
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According to Twitter user Lakrix, who works for the stat-tracking organization Alinea Analytics, Final Fantasy 16 sold approximately 22,000 copies on Xbox during its first week on the market. This makes up a tiny fraction of the game’s lifetime sales across all platforms and is less than 10% of the game’s first-week sales on PlayStation, which broke the record for the best PS5 retail launch in Japan.
Final Fantasy 16 Underperforms on Xbox
It’s worth noting that Final Fantasy 16 was shadow dropped on Xbox Series X/S during a recent Xbox Games Showcase, so it didn’t receive as much marketing or attention as other anticipated releases. This could very well be a contributing factor to the game’s low sales numbers. Even still, Square Enix likely considers the Xbox launch disappointing.
FF16 was originally a PlayStation 5 exclusive before being ported to PC over a year after its initial release. The series has been strongly associated with the PlayStation brand ever since the landmark entry Final Fantasy 7 launched on the PlayStation 1, eventually becoming one of the most iconic titles of that console generation. The relationship between Sony and Square Enix has come under more scrutiny, however, as the gaming landscape continues to evolve. Final Fantasy 16’s timed exclusivity was the source of much controversy, with the game being review bombed by fans who wanted to play it on other platforms.
The Xbox launch is part of Square Enix’s new release strategy for Final Fantasy games, which favors multiplatform titles over exclusive ones. This strategy was announced as a response to disappointing profit margins for timed PS5 exclusives like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Foamstars. Seeing as Final Fantasy 16 is failing to move the needle even after a multiplatform release, Square Enix may recalibrate its future plans once again. There are other considerations to be made, however, such as the delayed nature of the PC and Xbox ports. Perhaps the next new Final Fantasy game will fare better if it releases day-and-date on all platforms.
Final Fantasy 16
10/10
- Released
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June 22, 2023
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine