A brand new social media commercial video for the PlayStation 5 has revealed the timing of the exclusivity window deal between Sony and Square Enix for Final Fantasy XVI – revealing that the hotly anticipated upcoming RPG shall be unique to Sony’s latest {hardware} for at the least six months.

The advert, which was posted to the official @PlayStation Twitter account, is fairly express – that includes footage of FF16 in motion with accompanying textual content alongside the underside of the display that reads: “Final Fantasy XVI anticipated Summer 2023. PS5 unique for six months.“. 

This textual content seems to disclose the precise timing of the exclusivity settlement between Sony and Square Enix – although this is not to say that FF16 will instantly crop up on different platforms after six months, as seen within the case of another current Square Enix exclusives.

In the case of Final Fantasy VII Remake, the exclusivity interval was one yr – however after one yr, Sony appeared to re-up their dedication to the sport, paying for an additional six-month exclusivity deal for the PS5-only FF7 Remake Intergrade new-generation re-release and enlargement. Six months after that, FF7 Remake lastly made its method to PC – and because it at present stands, no Xbox model is in sight. 

FF16’s platform standing has additionally appeared somewhat curious since its announcement. The preliminary reveal trailer as broadcast in a PlayStation State of Play stream featured disclaimer textual content that declared that the model of the sport proven within the trailer was working on a PC that was specced to the same stage as a PS5, in addition to an outline of the sport as “PlayStation Console Exclusive”, however “additionally out there on PC”. However, variations of that trailer uploaded individually nixed that disclaimer – and Square Enix instructed our pals at Gematsu that that they had no additional data on FF16’s launch for any platform past the PS5.

Based on current Square Enix and Sony exclusivity tie-ups, it appears possible that FF16 will on the naked minimal come to PC six months or so after the PlayStation launch. There’s additionally each change it nonetheless could come to Xbox – because the final two main-line Final Fantasy titles have come to Xbox, in addition to Kingdom Hearts 3 and a spread of ports and remasters. Only FF7 Remake seems to have skipped the Microsoft platform fully.

Elsewhere, the identical video contains a glimpse of Forspoken, with the identical acquainted disclaimer textual content. In this occasion, it says “Foprspoken out there January 24, 2023. PS5 unique till January 23, 2025.” That provides that new Square Enix IP a two-year exclusivity interval – although additionally it is coming to PC, on Epic Games Store, on day one.

The truth Forspoken’s exclusivity does not stretch to PC implies that the identical may theoretically be true of FF16 – but it surely appears unlikely, provided that we’ve not formally heard a few PC launch at this level, presumably lower than 9 months from FF16’s launch.

As all the time, time will inform. FF16’s closing launch standing stays a thriller, however we all know somewhat extra concerning the sport now than we did just a few weeks in the past – with the sport’s bosses confirming they may reveal the discharge date earlier than 2022 is over, and explaining why the sport will not function as broad illustration as another FF video games. 

If you need to take in all of the FF16 data you will get your arms on, make sure to take a look at our deep dives into the improvement workers, together with profiles of the sport’s most important director and artistic director, a fight system evaluation, and our primer introducing you to the FF16 character solid. The sport will arrive someday this coming summer season.