- Final Fantasy 16 was released last year, but its sales were limited by the PS5.
- On this platform, it became the most downloaded digital game of 2023.
- In the US/Canada, the result was much worse, with the game finishing in 12th place.
Final Fantasy 16 was released last year, living up to the legacy of Final Fantasy with a fresh take. The game was focused on action gameplay, presenting some of gaming’s biggest set pieces for epic boss battles. It also performed well, selling according to Square Enix’s expectations.
Soon after its release, Square Enix announced 3 million sales for the game. This title was a major success with Japanese audiences, in particular, becoming a fan-favorite entry.
According to PlayStation, Final Fantasy 16 was PS5’s most downloaded game in Japan.
Why it matters: Major games like Resident Evil 4 and Street Fighter 6 were released in Japan last year, making this result more impressive than usual.
Final Fantasy XVI was the Most Downloaded PS5 game on the PlayStation Store in Japan for 2023! 🔥 #FF16 #PlayStation https://t.co/bMV94gACTp pic.twitter.com/UY352QhOeq
— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) January 24, 2024
PlayStation Blog’s latest list confirms the most downloaded games of 2023 across PS4 and PS5 consoles.
As expected, Japanese fans are obsessed with the Final Fantasy series, and they did not disappoint Square Enix. This is not too surprising since the JRPG franchise has been a major part of gaming in the region since its debut in 1987.
Hogwarts Legacy took the second place, becoming another predictable result. As 2023’s best-selling game worldwide, it made a name for itself in all regions, though Western audiences contributed to its success the most.
In the US/Canada, Hogwarts Legacy took the first spot on this list. However, Final Fantasy 16 is nowhere to be found in the top 10. The game sits all the way down in the 12th position, highlighting a major delta between its reception in Japan and US/Canada.
This divide could be associated with the critical changes made to Final Fantasy’s formula in this offering. Square Enix tried to juggle traditional JRPG elements with combat akin to the Devil May Cry series last year.
It appears these changes were better received in Japan than in the West.
Still, Final Fantasy 16 is set to go through a major sales boom soon.
Following its popularity last year, the game will arrive on PCs soon. Xbox Series S|X consoles could also receive a port, with a reliable leaker claiming that discussions are underway to bring this title to Microsoft’s platforms.
Overall, Final Fantasy 16 dominated the Japanese market. It also drove PS5 sales since PlayStation experienced record-breaking hardware results in the region last year.
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