Final Fantasy games on the platform, and one of them is already available. Despite a heavy emphasis on PlayStation ever since the PS1 release of Final Fantasy 7, the iconic JRPG series has been moving toward wider platform availability in recent years. Final Fantasy 15's Xbox release helped make it a bestseller for the series, and Square Enix's apparent dissatisfaction with sales of FF7 Rebirth and FF16 indicated that PlayStation launch exclusivity may be on its way out again.
As highlighted in two quick trailers at Xbox Games Showcase, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is coming this winter, and Final Fantasy 16 is now available on Xbox platforms. The former is the deluxe version of the first game in the FF7 remake trilogy, while the latter is the most recent mainline installment. The showcase didn't mention FF7 Rebirth or the final game in the remake trilogy, however.
FF7 Remake Intergrade & FF16 Bring Flagships To Xbox
Defining Games In The Iconic RPG Series
FF7 Remake Intergrade and FF16 are very different Final Fantasy games, but they both represent the franchise's most significant modern efforts. As the first part of FF7's classic story, Remake and the PS5/PC port Intergrade served as major PlayStation calling cards. FF16, produced by the director of the acclaimed MMO FF14, goes for a more grounded style than the usual series approach, albeit with over-the-top Devil May Cry-style combat.
A "Modern Masterpiece": Final Fantasy 16 Review
Final Fantasy 16 is a fully realized masterwork of its genre, an effortlessly stylish and vibrant world coupled with determined innovation.
Both games are getting the full suite of Xbox releases. On console, they'll be available on Xbox Series X and the less powerful Series S, while they'll also Xbox's digital PC platform in addition to their previous Steam releases. Meanwhile, Xbox Cloud Gaming will make them accessible on some hardware that's otherwise incapable of running games for those with Xbox Game Ultimate.
Final Fantasy On Xbox Is Better For Everyone
More Fans Helps PlayStation Players Too
Final Fantasy's status as a PlayStation flagship was certainly iconic for a number of years, but the appearance of newer games on rival systems is for the best. Not only is it great that Xbox players can enjoy the games, but it's also a likely necessary step in ing the scale of the modern games. Enormous open worlds don't come cheap, and getting a large audience to invest in the experiences may be the most viable way to manage those without sacrificing the attention to detail that the series is known for.
These announcements follow the recent reveal of FF7 Remake Intergrade on the Nintendo Switch 2, which slotted into the already storied history of Final Fantasy on Nintendo platforms. I've already played through Intergrade on PS5, so neither of these releases will end up on my shelf, but I'm looking forward to more Final Fantasy options in the future.
