Final Fantasy XVI story trailer reveals new characters and conflicts

Eikonic War is coming to Final Fantasy. by Robin Bea Oct. 22, 2022 Square Enix

Square Enix Final Fantasy XVI revealed some fascinating new details about its story in a surprise October trailer packed with conflict.

Square Enix Here’s everything we learned from the Final Fantasy XVI “Ambition” trailer

FFXVI ’s world , Valisthea, is declining as the power of the absolutely massive crystals dotting its landscape fades. Square Enix

The crystals fading leads to magic and life itself draining from the world, which is presumably responsible for the fatal case of dry skin we see in the trailer. Valisthea sadly hasn’t discovered moisturizer yet. Square Enix

Square Enix Of course, the end of the world isn’t enough to stop Valisthea’s five nations from fighting to rule over the rubble.

FFXVI ’s hero , Clive Rosefield, is the prince of Rosaria, called the “bastion of tradition” in the trailer. Square Enix

He’s the older brother of Joshua, the young’n who got shockingly splashed with blood in an earlier trailer. The new footage makes it even more brutal, revealing it’s from his father being run through with a sword in front of his eyes. Square Enix

Square Enix That seems to activate Joshua’s powers as a Dominant, letting him control the Eikon Phoenix .

The Holy Empire of Sanbreque (“where ambition is divine”) is home to an extremely smarmy king, and Crown Prince Dion Lesage. Square Enix

Lesage heads the order of dragoons — Final Fantasy’s famed high-jump champion warriors. He’s also the Dominant of Bahamut, another mainstay of the series. Square Enix

In the Dhalmekian Republic, we meet a character who laments the start of a war, but seems plenty willing to join it. Square Enix

He appears to be the Dominant of Titan, based on his rock-like Eikon form , and his life bar in a later gameplay sequence reveals his name as Hugo. Square Enix

The straight-up creepy Iron Kingdom isn’t seen much. We just meet some kind of religious figure who’s extremely blasé about murder in the name of “cleansing corruption.” Square Enix

Finally there’s the Kingdom of Waloed, led by Barnabas Tharmr, an accomplished swordsman and Dominant of Odin. Square Enix

FFXVI ’s story kicks off with Sanbreque invading Rosaria, kicking off a war that eventually drags the other nations and their Dominants in as well. Square Enix

Square Enix The Ambition trailer also shows some massive Eikon battles so full of effects they’re a bit hard to follow.

Square Enix We see Garuda, Shiva, Titan, and Ifrit in action...

Square Enix along with a man who’s one possible Dominant of Ramuh (the other most likely option is much fluffier).

Square Enix Final Fantasy games have always dealt with national conflict in some sense, but war is front and center in FFXVI .

Even after the latest trailer there’s a lot left to uncover about FFXVI ’s story ahead of its Summer 2023 release date . Square Enix

Final Fantasy XVI story trailer reveals new characters and conflicts

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