Square Enix has a reputation for very high sales targets for its biggest titles, so when we got word that Final Fantasy 16 sales had taken a dramatic week-two dip in Japan, many believed the game would also fall below Square Enix's usually lofty expectations. As it turns out, Square Enix says Final Fantasy 16 sales are “extremely strong”.
During its launch week, Final Fantasy 16 sold three million copies. According to a Bloomberg report, sales of the game dropped by 90% in Japan during its second week, indicating a lack of momentum.
However, speaking with IGN, Square Enix has offered a more detailed view of Final Fantasy 16 sales and how it compares to other recent releases like Final Fantasy VII Remake.
“Taking into consideration the sales figures of the acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the difference in size of the install base of the PlayStation 4 at the time of this title’s release, we can see that the attach rate of Final Fantasy 16 is considerably high, given the PS5 install base. Square Enix considers the initial sales results of Final Fantasy 16 to be extremely strong, and we will continue to carry out a wide range of initiatives to encourage even more people to play the game.”
While Final Fantasy 15 sold 5 million copies at launch, it also released on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, with a PC release roughly one year later. With Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the game sold 3.5 million copies in just three days after its exclusive release on PS4. The PS5 release of Final Fantasy 16 has sold almost as many copies in the same amount of time while marketing to a smaller install base compared to the PS4 at the time of Final Fantasy 7 Remake's release.
For now, Final Fantasy 16 is only available on PS5 but a PC version has already been confirmed and should arrive in 2024.
KitGuru Says: I've played quite a bit of Final Fantasy 16 in recent weeks. I can see why some longtime fans have issues with it, after all, there is very little ‘RPG' to be found here. However, for someone like me, who primarily appreciates Final Fantasy for its story and boss fights, this is a perfect direction for the series.