Final Fantasy 16
News, coverage and analysis tracking Final Fantasy 16 across the outlets.
'I'm So Happy I Didn't Get It': Ben Starr Auditioned for 007 First Light's James BondActor Ben Starr, known for Final Fantasy 16, revealed he auditioned for the role of James Bond in 007 First Light but did not get the part, which went to Patrick Gibson. Starr expressed happiness about not getting the role, praising Gibson's performance as "unbelievable" and "perfectly cast."
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor Ben Starr auditioned for James Bond in 007 First Light, "and I'm so f***ing…Actor Ben Starr, known for his roles in Final Fantasy 16 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, revealed he auditioned for the game 007 First Light but did not get the part. Starr expressed gratitude for not getting the role, praising Patrick Gibson's performance as James Bond and stating he was terrible during his audition.
Tekken 8’s Season Pass 4 Will Feature Baki the Grappler’s Yujiro HanmaBandai Namco has announced that Yujiro Hanma from the manga series Baki the Grappler will be the next crossover character added to Tekken 8 as part of its Season 3 Character Pass, arriving in Early 2027. The article also details the upcoming releases of Kunimitsu, Roger Jr., and Bob for the same pass, and touches on rumors of Tifa Lockhart potentially coming to Street Fighter 6.
Tekken 8 Grabs One of the Craziest Guest Characters YetTekken 8 has revealed Yujiro Hanma from the Baki the Grappler manga and anime series as its latest guest character for Season 3, arriving in early 2027. Yujiro, known as the protagonist Baki's impossibly strong father and the series' final boss, joins previously announced characters Kunimitsu, Bob, and Roger Jr. This addition is noted as a particularly surprising choice, even more so than Clive from Final Fantasy 16.
Future Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games could release more quickly as Square Enix makes "steady progress" on a framework for "regular" major game launchesSquare Enix is making progress on a framework to accelerate the release of major titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The company aims for more regular launches of its flagship RPGs, addressing the long gaps between mainline entries. Upcoming releases include expansions for Final Fantasy 14 and Dragon Quest 10, alongside Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Square Enix is Making “Steady Progress” to Release New Games in Tentpole Franchises More FrequentlySquare Enix is making steady progress in enhancing its development pipelines to release major franchise titles more frequently. The company aims to shift from a focus on quantity to quality and implement a multi-platform strategy. Upcoming releases include Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 14: Evercold, and Dragon Quest 10: Expansion 8.0, with further news expected for Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Says Clair Obscur’s Success Shows Appetite for More Action GameplayNaoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, believes modern gamers desire more action elements, citing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as an example of a turn-based RPG successfully integrating real-time mechanics. He suggests this trend reflects a player preference for both strategic depth and immediate feedback. Hamaguchi also discussed the challenges of adapting the original Final Fantasy 7's combat for the Remake trilogy.
Persona boss says it out loud: turn-based RPGs never left, it's just that "recent critically acclaimed games have brought renewed attention to them"Atlus P-Studio head Kazuhisa Wada believes turn-based RPGs never truly disappeared but have recently gained renewed attention due to critically acclaimed titles. He suggests that the perception of turn-based combat as outdated stems from developers shifting towards action-oriented gameplay rather than refining turn-based designs. Wada emphasizes the timeless appeal and exhilaration that turn-based gameplay offers, noting that many series and indie titles have continued to deliver high-quality experiences in the genre.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director says RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 "may have been inevitable" as new players favor real-time games over turn-basedFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi believes the trend of blending turn-based combat with real-time elements is an inevitable evolution for RPGs, as younger players favor instant feedback. He notes that pure turn-based games are increasingly seen as legacy genres, though innovative titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Persona 5 demonstrate ways to keep the combat engaging through presentation and mechanics.
The 10 best RPGs for busy adults looking for a breather from hectic schedulesThis article ranks the best role-playing games suitable for busy adults seeking a relaxing gaming experience. It highlights titles like Citizen Sleeper, Final Fantasy 16, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, emphasizing their accessibility, replayability, and ability to be enjoyed in short bursts or longer sessions. The selection considers games with straightforward controls and engaging narratives that cater to varied playstyles and time constraints.
Tekken players have spent years asking for FF7's Tifa only for rumours to suggest she's been poached by the…Rumors suggest that Tifa Lockhart, a popular character from Final Fantasy 7, may be added to Street Fighter 6 instead of Tekken 8. Tekken players have long requested Tifa as a playable character, and the appearance of Final Fantasy 16's Clive Rosfield in Tekken 8 has fueled speculation. While unconfirmed, the possibility of Tifa joining Capcom's fighting game has caused a stir in the fighting game community.
Street Fighter 6’s Year 4 Characters to Include Final Fantasy 7’s Tifa Lockhart – RumorRumors suggest that Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7, along with Vega, Hagar, and Gouken, will be part of Street Fighter 6's Year 4 character pass. This leak, corroborated by multiple sources, follows previous accurate predictions about character additions. Tifa Lockhart's inclusion would mark the first Final Fantasy character in a mainline Street Fighter game.
Every game rumored for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026This article compiles rumors and speculation about games potentially coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. While only a few titles have confirmed release dates, numerous unannounced games, including remakes and new installments in existing franchises, are rumored to be in development or planned for porting. Sources like NateTheHate are cited for many of these claims, though the article stresses that these are unconfirmed.
"We should be building new IPs": Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy 16's Ben Starr doesn't want games to be stuck in the pastActor Ben Starr, known for his roles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy 16, advocates for the video game industry to prioritize the creation of new intellectual properties over relying on existing franchises. He believes that while established series like Resident Evil are successful, the focus should be on originating new characters and worlds.
"Marathon is gonna be Game of the Year," actor Ben Starr says, because it has Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 award magnet Jennifer EnglishActor Ben Starr believes Bungie's upcoming game Marathon has a strong chance of winning Game of the Year, citing a perceived "Jennifer English effect." This phenomenon suggests games featuring Jennifer English, who has roles in Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, are critically acclaimed. While Starr made the prediction during the Marathon debut, he also acknowledged Grand Theft Auto 6 as a likely contender for the award.
After gracing Final Fantasy 16 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with his silky voice, actor Ben Starr is ready to tackle dating RPG Love and Deepspace: "I love feral people"Actor Ben Starr, known for his work in Final Fantasy 16 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, expressed his interest in participating in the dating RPG Love and Deepspace. Starr discussed his enjoyment of dating sims and fanfiction, and his enthusiasm for the creative aspects of the genre.
"I didn't expect them to have the same impact as Final Fantasy 16": Clair Obscur Expedition 33's Ben Starr thought "being an idiot with Balatro" would be his biggest role of 2025, not Sandfall's surprise-hit RPGVoice actor Ben Starr expressed surprise at the significant success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, noting it unexpectedly rivaled the impact of Final Fantasy 16. Starr, who also contributed to Hades 2, initially believed his biggest role of 2025 would be related to Balatro. The RPG's widespread acclaim highlights a strong player demand for its specific style.
"F*** me, I guess": Hades 2 actor Ben Starr "hated" himself while playing the roguelike because his character Prometheus is a "hard boss"Ben Starr, the voice actor for Prometheus in Hades 2, admitted to struggling immensely with his character, describing the experience as hating himself due to Prometheus being an exceptionally difficult boss. Starr, also known for playing Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16, found himself captivated yet frustrated by the challenge presented by the roguelike's demanding boss encounters.
For the first time ever, Square Enix is crowned top publisher on Metacritic thanks to its 2025 run of remakes like Final…Square Enix has been named the top publisher of 2025 by Metacritic, marking the first time the company has achieved this ranking. The publisher's strong performance was driven by a lineup of remakes and ports, including Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16, which contributed to an average Metascore of 84.
Square Enix is the best video game publisher of 2025 according to MetacriticMetacritic has ranked Square Enix as the best video game publisher of 2025, based on critic scores for its nine released titles. Despite a lineup consisting primarily of ports and remakes, Square Enix achieved the top spot with consistent 'good' reviews across its releases. Other notable publishers on the list include Gamirror Games, Capcom, Microsoft, and Nintendo.