Final Fantasy 16 Launches on PC: Mixed Reception and Comparisons with Its Predecessor

The long-anticipated release of Final Fantasy 16 on PC has finally taken place, approximately 15 months after the game first debuted on the PS5. This new version became available for purchase on Steam and the Epic Games Store on Tuesday.

Despite the excitement surrounding its launch, the game has received a rather tepid response. When viewed through the lens of Steam’s metrics, the reception seems even less favorable compared to the already modest response to its predecessor, Final Fantasy 15, at its launch.

In the early hours following its release, Final Fantasy 16 reached a peak of only 16,947 concurrent players on Steam, according to SteamDB. This figure is notably low for a title of its stature, starting even lower before gradually increasing over several hours before eventually leveling off. While it’s possible that numbers may rise as the weekend approaches, the initial turnout raises concerns.

In contrast, the Windows Edition of Final Fantasy 15 achieved a significantly higher peak of 29,498 concurrent players at its launch in March 2018. While falling under the 30,000 mark may not seem extraordinary, it is nearly double the player count of Final Fantasy 16 during its initial hours.

Both games are available in a similar number of countries, although Final Fantasy 15 has a slight edge. It’s essential to remember that Final Fantasy 16’s availability on the Epic Games Store may lead to a portion of its player base not being reflected in Steam’s statistics. Furthermore, Final Fantasy 15 was released before the Epic Games Store came into existence, resulting in a more consolidated audience at that time. Examining Steam’s global top sellers list, it’s apparent that Final Fantasy 16 is conspicuously absent, which does not bode well for its prospects.

This underwhelming response may lead to disappointment for Square Enix, the game’s publisher, especially with the impending release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Recently, the company announced its strategy to move away from exclusive platform releases in favor of launching its titles across as many platforms as possible. Given that PS5 sales for Final Fantasy 16 have already fallen short of expectations, it is unlikely that the PC version would drastically change its fortune.

On a brighter note, user reviews indicate that players are satisfied with the game’s port. However, the relatively low player base may limit the scope for the more unconventional modifications the game’s producer had warned against.

As fans look ahead, the performance of Final Fantasy 16 on PC offers valuable lessons and insights for future releases in the iconic franchise.