Final Fantasy 16 is reportedly "coming sooner than people think"

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Square Enix has reportedly been working on Final Fantasy 16 for "at least four years"

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 16 was just announced for PS5 this month, but it sounds like it won't be so long before we get to play it.

That's according to industry journalist Jason Schreier, who had this to say while talking on the Triple Click podcast (thanks, Push Square): "I've heard from people who are familiar with the game's development that it's actually been in development for at least four years in some capacity, so it's coming sooner than people think."

It makes sense when you watch the first trailer, revealed during September's PS5 showcase. Typically with a big AAA game announcement like that, you're lucky to see a brief cinematic followed by the game's logo and "coming soon..." But Square Enix came out swinging with cinematics and a generous helping of gameplay footage, certainly indicating that development is well underway.

For reference, Final Fantasy 15 started development way back in 2006, eventually releasing 10 years later in 2016. But that was an extraordinary situation where Square Enix announced the title shortly after development began and changed creative direction numerous times. Likely (hopefully), Final Fantasy 16's development won't hit so many roadblocks.

Of course, "sooner than people think" isn't very specific, so we can't say for sure exactly how soon we're talking here. Square Enix has said the next Final Fantasy 16 reveal isn't coming until next year, so hopefully we'll get a release date then.

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Final Fantasy 15 released in 2015. We've updated the article and regret the error.

Final Fantasy 16 is just one of the upcoming PS5 games we can't wait to play.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.