State of Play April 2023: Everything We Learned

Discover the latest updates on Final Fantasy XVI (FF16) with our comprehensive overview of the State of Play as of April 2023. Get all the latest details shared during the Final Fantasy 16 Livestream event, from gameplay features to character reveals with our exclusive coverage!

State of Play: April 2023 Information

Livestream Summary
Final Fantasy 16 is a Fully Fledged Action RPG Story Arc is Divided into 3 Parts of Clive's Life Game is Navigable Via the World Map Chocobo Mounts are Confirmed Difficulty Modes Introduced

Final Fantasy 16 is a Fully Fledged Action RPG

Final Fantasy 16 is completely transitioning from its turn-based roots and semi-action gameplay from its more recent mainline entries to a fully-fledged action RPG. Take battles in real-time and enjoy real-time action RPG elements!

Story Arc is Divided into 3 Parts of Clive's Life

The game's setting will be divided into three parts of Clive, the main character's life from his teens to his twenties up to his thirties. The majority of his teenage life story is playable via flashbacks.

Game is Navigable via the World Map

There is a world map that you can access in-game and use to head over to new locations in-game. The game will not feature an open world map and you must progress the game to unlock new map nodes to go to later on.

Is FF16 Open World?

Chocobo Mounts are Confirmed

It has been confirmed via the State of Play stream that you can mount Chocobos for faster navigation through the world of Valisthea! The specifics on which you can start riding Chocobos are still unconfirmed so stay tuned for more information regarding Chocobos!

Two Difficulty Modes Available: Story and Action Focused

Apart from selecting initial settings upon starting the game, players will also be able to choose between Story Focused and Action Focused mode, which allows players to focus on certain aspects of the game.

Story Focused gameplay will automatically grant Clive the assistance of the Timely Accessories, which gives players prompts for incoming attacks from foes and the like.

State of Play: Revealed Gameplay Features

New Gameplay Features
Learn Several Skills Tied to Eikons Encountered Timely Accessories for Non-Action RPG Players Multiple AI-Controlled Allies

Learn Several Skills Tied to Eikons Encountered

There are several skills that Clive can learn throughout the game. These skills are not tied to Clive, however, instead, the skills that Clive can learn are based on the Eikons that Clive has encountered throughout the game. There are several clips of Skills tied to Ifrit and also several showcases of skills that are related to Titan, Garuda, Rammuh, and even Odin!

Timely Accessories Added for Non-Action RPG Players

There are also Timely Accessories you can equip in the game. These accessories provide quick-time event windows in the game and provide visual assistance in executing combos, timing parries, and dodges to the player! These accessories will greatly help players new to the genre and help them adapt to the newly implemented action RPG-style gameplay.

Multiple AI-Controlled Allies

Over the course of the game, Clive will encounter several allied NPCs and some of them may even help Clive during his battles. As the game is completely set in an Action RPG setting, these allies are now fully controlled by AI and as such, you will only need to focus on controlling Clive during your game.

Torgal is your Loyal Dog Companion

Aside from other allied NPCs, you also have Torgal which is your primary canine companion over your journey to Valisthea. While Torgal is also an AI-driven character, he can be issued commands in-game as opposed to the rest of the allied NPCs Clive can encounter in-game.

Torgal Profile: Can You Pet Torgal?

State of Play: Cid's Hideaway Features

All Hideaway Features
Access Shops for Items and Equipment Upgrade Weapons in the Blacksmith Access the Arete Stone Unlock and Complete Sidequests Hunt Enemies Via the Bounty Board Learn the Game's Lore from Harpocates See All Character's Relations From Vivian

Shop Wares and Purchase Weapons, Armor, and Items

In Cid's Hideaway, you can shop from the merchants and purchase necessities for your journeys such as items and equipment! It is still unknown if you'll unlock new merchants or if the existing merchants will just expand their item selection so stay tuned for more info!

Upgrade Weapons in the Blacksmith

You can also find Blackthorne in the Hideaway to upgrade your gear. Upgrading is not free, however, and you'll need to spend hard-earned materials to obtain those higher-quality weapons!

Access the Arete Stone

The Arete Stone has four features you can access with the fourth one still being locked during the state of play which are the Hall of Virtue, Arcade Mode, and Stage Replay. Information regarding Stage Replay is not yet shown during the state of play so we'll be focusing on Hall of Virtue which is the training mode of Final Fantasy 16 and Arcade Mode.

Arete Stone Guide: All Available Features

Use Hall of Virtue to Practice Combos and Learn the Damage Output of Combos

On the Hall of Virtue, you can engage in a virtual battle and set multiple UI and parameters to test out your new weapons, abilities, and even combos to know their total damage output (which you can also set in the Hall of Virtue). This is a perfect testing ground to max out your damage combos and even just practice your inputs!

Arcade Mode Allows you to Compare Combat Scores Against Other Players

While Hall of Virtue is focused on training, the Arcade Mode is instead, a combat feature where you can compare your combat scores against other players. It's still unknown how these combat scores are measured whether they are set challenges you can do or just combo damage comparisons so stay tuned for more updates regarding the Arcade Mode!

Unlock and Complete Sidequests

The Hideaway is also a place where you'll spend a lot of time with several NPCs and is the perfect ground to get new sidequests and complete them. You can navigate the world map from the Hideout to start tracking these sidequests one by one and earn rewards for completing them all!

Tracking sidequests and learning about all the accessible quests is possible in the Hideout through Alliant's Reports which can be found on the pub area of the hideout.

Hunt Enemies Via the Bounty Board

Aside from Sidequests, there are monsters that must be exterminated in the world of Valisthea. These monsters are listed on the bounty board and can be hunted to gain rewards and renown points. Renown points can be used on the Patron's Whisper to gain more rewards such as items and ability points!

Learn the Game's Lore from Harpocates

Harpocates is an NPC you can interact with to gain new information about the game's lore. Harpocates can be talked to whenever you are in the hideout and his library of information will expand the further you get into the game as well as when the number of information you gain from the game increases.

See All Character's Relations From Vivian

Unlike Harpocates who shares information about the world's lore, Vivian's information is centered around every NPC in the game. You can learn about all the characters in the game as well as their affiliation and relationship with every other NPC in the game!

State of Play: Enemy Encounters

Enemy Encounter Summary
Battle Other Dominants Defeat Gigantic Bosses Engage in Eikon vs Eikon Battles

Battle Other Dominants

Having access to the power of Eikons is not exclusive to Clive. Journey through Valisthea and find and battle other Dominants, people who have obtained and can use the power of the Eikons for themselves.

Defeat Gigantic Bosses

Massive enemies exist in the world of Valisthea, take down these enemies to gain more control of the land that they control.

Engage in Eikon vs Eikon Battles

The key highlight of April's State of Play is the Eikon vs Eikon battles where you can take control of an Eikon and engage other Eikons in real-time battle. These battles are cinematic marvels and will be a recurring battle feature throughout the game's entirety.

Eikons Guide: All Eikons and How to Use

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