In a wide-ranging interview about Square Enix’s highly anticipatedFinal Fantasy 16,the game’s director explains how its use of the PS5’s DualSense controller will go far beyond simple rumble effects. Fans who’ve been waiting to get their hands on the latest entry in the beloved franchise were treated to a welcome surprise today when Square Enix announced thatFinal Fantasy 16has gone gold3 months ahead of schedule.
First announced in 2020 at Sony’s PlayStation 5 showcase event,Final Fantasy 16is the latest game in Square Enix’s long-running RPG series. Like some other recent entries in the series,Final Fantasy 16features a combat system that feels closer to an action game than a traditional RPG. Given the game’s mix of magical and melee combat,Final Fantasy 16has the chance to get creative with how it uses the advanced haptics on the PS5’s DualSense controller. Sony recently began making its high-endPS5 DualSense edge available at more retailers, making it easier than ever for gamers to get their hands on the upgraded controller.
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As part of an interview posted to the official PlayStation Blog,Final Fantasy 16director Hiroshi Takai discussed his experience developing for the PlayStation 5 and went into detail about how the RPG will make full use of the DualSense controller. Based on Takai’s comments,Final Fantasy 16is taking a restrained but deliberate approach to taking advantage of the controller’s unique functionality. Some of the scenarios described include using the adaptive triggers to simulate weight when lifting up doors or to increase immersion when taking the reins of one of the series’ iconic Chocobos.
Takai also noted that the DualSense’s advanced vibration features would be used to “create a heightened feeling of presence in cutscenes.” The development team even went as far as to convert the sound effects from the in-game cutscenes into haptic feedback that could be fed back to the controller to “portray details that we’ve never been able to before, like the movements of the air.” The controller’s effects also come into play duringcombat inFinal Fantasy 16, with Takai stating that the action-RPG-style gameplay has been designed so that players can “really feel” every input. If implemented well, this could make the combat inFinal Fantasy 16feel more visceral than in previous entries.
By taking not just what’s being displayed on screen duringFinal Fantasy 16into consideration, but also what’s happening in players’ hands, Square Enix has the opportunity to make this one of the most immersive games in the franchise’s long history. And with recent remarks indicating thatit should take at least 35 hours to beatFinal Fantasy 16, the DualSense features should help ensure that the game feels great the whole time.
Final Fantasy 16is set to release on June 22 for PS5.
