Just under three months from the long-awaited release of Final Fantasy XVI, Naoki Yoshida took advantage of PAX East 2023 to present some elements of the title. During a presentation lasting just over an hour, the producer, accompanied by translator Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, unveiled several new elements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPpeKX1PDIO
While a few video extracts focus on the clashes between Primordials, the main discovery lies in the extent of Valisthea’s environments. Far from the dark dungeon visible during the preview last February, the landscapes encountered here are as vast as they are bright. And one thing is certain, it is that everything is done here so that we take full eyes. Between the desert expanses crossed on the back of chocobo, the market alleys of small villages or the lush forests, the panoramas unveiled are not only varied but above all very beautiful. And that’s pretty good since Yoshida reminded that Final Fantasy XVI will revolve around 4 pillars: the narration, the characters, the fights and finally the graphics. Regarding this last point, things seem to be off to a good start.
A live demo also revealed the 3D world map and its teleportation points for the first time. Thus Naoki Yoshida confirms that it will be possible to return to any place already visited, in particular to finish secondary quests there or to gain a little additional experience. Fast travel, while not completely instantaneous, should take no more than 3-4 seconds to get from one city to another.
The presentation ended by recalling that other elements would be put forward during the month of April, in particular concerning the RPG mechanics of the title.