The article recommends ten games to play after finishing Metaphor: ReFantazio, an RPG by Atlus that combines elements from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. Suggested games include Persona 5: Royal, Shin Megami Tensei V, Etrian Odyssey, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, among others. These games offer similar experiences in terms of social simulation, RPG mechanics, and political storytelling, catering to fans of Metaphor's unique blend of gameplay elements.
Apple Arcade is set to expand its gaming library with the addition of several Final Fantasy titles, including a 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV and its sequel, The After Years, launching on December 9th. The original Final Fantasy and Trials of Mana will follow on January 9th. These releases are part of a broader update that includes 15 new games, marking a significant boost for the subscription service, which has seen a quieter period recently.
Final Fantasy producer Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida has expressed interest in creating a new strategy spin-off game in the Final Fantasy series, possibly in the vein of the beloved Final Fantasy Tactics. While ruling out the possibility of it being set in the Final Fantasy 16 universe, Yoshi-P acknowledges the potential for a new game with similar strategy-soaked roots, citing the presence of staff who worked on previous games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy 12 on the Final Fantasy 16 team.
Square Enix has announced an "aggressive" AI strategy for 2024, aiming to enhance development productivity and marketing sophistication. The company's president, Takashi Kiryu, envisions leveraging AI and other technologies to create new content forms, continuing Square Enix's trend of investing in speculative tech like blockchain and cloud services. This move reflects the growing integration of AI in the gaming industry, as seen with AI replacing voice actors in the game The Finals.
Square Enix's new president, Takashi Kiryu, has announced an aggressive approach to integrating AI into the company's game development and publishing processes. In his New Year's Letter, Kiryu outlined initiatives to enhance development productivity and marketing sophistication, with long-term goals of creating new forms of content using cutting-edge technologies. He highlighted the potential of generative AI to revolutionize content creation and the development process itself. This follows the company's previous commitment to blockchain technology and parallels Xbox's investment in AI for dialogue and narrative tools to streamline game development tasks like localization and testing.
Square Enix has shared New Year's messages from the producers of various games, highlighting the upcoming release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the ongoing support for Final Fantasy XVI, including a second DLC and a PC version. 2024 will also feature new adventures in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail and the launch of FOAMSTARS. Additionally, the 30th anniversary of LIVE A LIVE will be celebrated with various initiatives, and more information is expected to be announced soon.
While waiting for the release of Final Fantasy XVI, fans can check out some lesser-known spin-offs such as Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Final Fantasy Type-0, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, and Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII. These games have developed a cult following and are worth playing despite their troubled development cycles and hardware limitations.
The physical editions of Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters for PlayStation 4 and Switch sold out immediately on Square Enix's website, leaving fans at the mercy of scalpers who are selling them for hundreds of dollars on eBay. The standard edition costs $75 and the Anniversary edition costs $250. While it is still possible to order physical copies from Asian retailers, the price comes close to $100 with shipping, and the earliest delivery is in June. However, the Pixel Remasters are not the definitive versions, and players can still access the new versions digitally.
With the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection for PS4, almost every mainline Final Fantasy game will be playable on either PS4 or PS5, except for Final Fantasy XI and XIII. Final Fantasy XIII is playable on Xbox Series X|S, but fans have been wondering why Square Enix hasn't released a remastered Final Fantasy XIII collection. Final Fantasy XVI will be a PS5 exclusive.
