Going into E3, the Final Fantasy franchise was on a quest for redemption. Following the failed launch of Final Fantasy XIV, a suffocating sense of franchise fatigue set in as fans clambered about in search of any hope. Well, your hope has arrived in the form of Final Fantasy XV, previously known as Versus XIII. Tetsuya Nomura, the creative director of the project, recently spilled to Famitsu that the action-oriented RPG is just the first in a series of games which will advance the storyline.
"While Final Fantasy XV will have once climax, as a story, we plan to continue it further," explains Nomura. "In the trailer, there was a line that read 'A World of the Versus Epic,' which suggests that it will be part of an epic."
The designer's revelation reflects a growing trend within Square Enix to develop direct sequels to Final Fantasy games rather than reinvent the franchise with each consecutive game. Final Fantasy X-2 was the first of this breed, and Final Fantasy XIII is currently slated to release its third entry in 2014.
The shift in focus from turn-based mechanics to an action focus speaks to Nomura's past work, which includes Kingdom Hearts. In perhaps the most shocking moment of 2013's E3, the director unveiled Kingdom Hearts III immediately following the debut of Final Fantasy XV's trailer.
The story synopsis reads as follows:
"The armed forces of Niflheim launch a devastating assault upon the Kingdom of Lucis, casting Crown Prince Noctis and his comrades out of their homes and into the fray. The engaging tale to follow draws audiences into an awe-inspiring world steeped in the rich storytelling traditions of Square Enix's renowned First Production Development team."
Although no release date was announced, we know that Final Fantasy XV will launch on the Xbox One and PS4.
Source: Siliconera (via IGN)