Final Fantasy XVI is set to release on the 22nd of June, 2023, and the whole community is all the more excited to finally get their hands on this highly anticipated title. For now, it will remain a console exclusive on PlayStation 5. But in the future, there might be possibilities for release on other platforms, including FF 16 releasing on the Nintendo Switch.
Will Square Enix release FF 16 on the Nintendo Switch?
The title is already shaping up to be a GOTY contender even before its release. Thanks to the generous free gameplay demo, fans have already got a taste of the game. The third-person action-adventure RPG is also an online multiplayer you can enjoy with friends. It will follow the main character Clive Rosfield’s journey toward a path of revenge and redemption. Reportedly, the game will also follow a darker and more serious tone than its predecessors.
#FF16 発売まであと「1」日！
『ファイナルファンタジーXVI』
🔔体験版配信中🔔https://t.co/FUdgmYaleA pic.twitter.com/BVZiDdRrHS— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@FF16_JP) June 21, 2023
While some fans might hope the Nintendo Switch to be a platform for the game, the chance of it is low. However, we are also not completely ruling out the possibility of it. Below are some reasons why it might or might not release on Switch.
Reasons why it might not release on Nintendo Switch
- The game’s scale might be the biggest reason it might not release on Switch. As capable as the device is, at the end of the day, it is still a handheld/hybrid console with hardware limitations. We doubt it can meet the technical requirements of a next-gen AAA title like Final Fantasy XVI.
- The only mainline Final Fantasy games on Switch are the old I-VI (Pixel Remaster) turn-based ones. Other than that, there are a few spin-offs as well. However, FF XVI aligns with the games since FF XIV when it truly turned into a third-person action RPG by ditching the turn-based mechanic. Factoring that in, chances of the game’s release on this platform are thin.
- Square Enix made a deal with Sony to make the title exclusive for PS5 for at least six months from the release date. Ports to other platforms will certainly take longer than that. Keeping that in mind, a port to Nintendo Switch is a long shot, given the time it would take to optimize and accommodate the game for the device.
- One of the USPs of Final Fantasy XVI is that it is a next-gen game with stunning visuals and over-the-top gameplay elements. Bringing it to switch will require a significant downgrade in quality and thus would be a major compromise in that department. We are unsure if that would be a good move for the IP.
Reasons why it might release on Nintendo Switch
- We have heard rumors of a new and improved Nintendo console, and many speculate that it might be Switch’s successor, the Switch 2. If it turns out to be true, we might see a powerful handheld/hybrid console capable of running FF VI without compromising the overall quality. In that case, there is still a possibility for the game to be released on that Nintendo handheld device.
- Due to advancements in cloud gaming, we might see the game on Switch. But we can not call that a ported version.
Do you think Final Fantasy XVI will be coming to the Switch, or is it impossible? Please share your opinion with us in the comments below
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