[30/08] FFXV @PAX 2015: confirmed for 2016; release date to be revealed in March; concept art, etc.
The latest Active Time Report for the elusive Final Fantasy XV has just concluded at PAX Prime 2015. Those with zero expectations for this event can at least walk away somewhat satisfied that Tabata has been able to disclose some new in-progress footage and tidbits of information. It is a lot more than what the Gamescom Active Time Report offered early this month.
The biggest (non?-) news is that after Tabata received a scolding from his bosses back at Tokyo HQ, Square Enix executives have finally given the man the green light to announce the vague news that Final Fantasy XV will indeed be launching sometime in 2016. For those of you who would have preferred an actual release date, you'll have to sit and wait until a special event in March. Yes, they are announcing an announcement. This is Square Enix; they seldom surprise you.
The reason for the March timing, according to Tabata, is that Square Enix have many collaborative efforts that they need to make sure are in place, as well as to ensure the game has reached a level of substantial quality.
Footage is shown of what is dubbed the Final Fantasy XV Progress Report Vol 1.
It is basically a series of in-progress footage highlighting a myriad of features at work with an approximate percentage of completion score accompanying each segment. Snippets of footage reveal Cor Leonis, a samurai swordsman enemy monster, and Noctis wielding a gun in what looks like third-person shooter footage. One snippet depicts a sidequest (40% completion) of Noctis stealthily breaking into a Niflheim enemy base, carefully avoiding detection.
Concept art is shown of Cindy's Hammerhead gas station (an establishment in reality owned by the real Cid of this game), the Regalia car, the Havana-inspired town of Lestallum, Leviathan (who is a female Eidolon), the Venice-inspired Altissia, Lunafreya escaping from a war-torn Lucis, and the gang enjoying a relaxing picnic.
An unseen concept art is of an outpost known as Caem next to a main road. Caem does appear in the driving footage, but Tabata states that they're unable to show the inside of it for spoiler reasons. The outpost's chief purpose is to allow the party access to a boat to traverse the waters to reach the land of Accordo.
Asked if the boats will be rendered in real-time and with seamless travel, Tabata said: “Yes, of course, everything will be rendered in real-time. You’ll get in the boat in real-time, seamlessly. Your travel across the ocean in real-time, as well… But you won’t be journeying on the boat, as well. It’s sort of a one-way trip, in that sense.”
Finally, there is a decent chunk of vehicular footage. The team explains how they made the decision to switch from left-side driving to right-side, which will be standardised across the entire game's world map. Selecting auto mode will set the course for an assigned destination, though the player will still be free to control and stop the car for any sightseeing reasons. Be mindful that your joyride escapades will rely on the amount of petrol you have in the tank. In the event that the Regalia is running on empty, Tabata jokingly stated that you'll have to get out and push.
Finally, a video message from Avalanche's founder and CCO Christofer Sundberg confirmed that talks between Square-Enix Japan and Avalanche Studios (famed for the Just Cause games as well as Mad Max) are underway in regards to utilising some of the latter's technology for FFXV, but these talks are still early and they have nothing more to say. A whole load of nothing, essentially.
The next ATR session will be at Tokyo Game Show next month. This time, the characters King Regis and Lunafreya Nox Fleuret will be in the spotlight, so stay tuned if you're in any way interested in those side characters.
Images from Gematsu
The latest Active Time Report for the elusive Final Fantasy XV has just concluded at PAX Prime 2015. Those with zero expectations for this event can at least walk away somewhat satisfied that Tabata has been able to disclose some new in-progress footage and tidbits of information. It is a lot more than what the Gamescom Active Time Report offered early this month.
The biggest (non?-) news is that after Tabata received a scolding from his bosses back at Tokyo HQ, Square Enix executives have finally given the man the green light to announce the vague news that Final Fantasy XV will indeed be launching sometime in 2016. For those of you who would have preferred an actual release date, you'll have to sit and wait until a special event in March. Yes, they are announcing an announcement. This is Square Enix; they seldom surprise you.
The reason for the March timing, according to Tabata, is that Square Enix have many collaborative efforts that they need to make sure are in place, as well as to ensure the game has reached a level of substantial quality.
Footage is shown of what is dubbed the Final Fantasy XV Progress Report Vol 1.
It is basically a series of in-progress footage highlighting a myriad of features at work with an approximate percentage of completion score accompanying each segment. Snippets of footage reveal Cor Leonis, a samurai swordsman enemy monster, and Noctis wielding a gun in what looks like third-person shooter footage. One snippet depicts a sidequest (40% completion) of Noctis stealthily breaking into a Niflheim enemy base, carefully avoiding detection.
Concept art is shown of Cindy's Hammerhead gas station (an establishment in reality owned by the real Cid of this game), the Regalia car, the Havana-inspired town of Lestallum, Leviathan (who is a female Eidolon), the Venice-inspired Altissia, Lunafreya escaping from a war-torn Lucis, and the gang enjoying a relaxing picnic.
An unseen concept art is of an outpost known as Caem next to a main road. Caem does appear in the driving footage, but Tabata states that they're unable to show the inside of it for spoiler reasons. The outpost's chief purpose is to allow the party access to a boat to traverse the waters to reach the land of Accordo.
Asked if the boats will be rendered in real-time and with seamless travel, Tabata said: “Yes, of course, everything will be rendered in real-time. You’ll get in the boat in real-time, seamlessly. Your travel across the ocean in real-time, as well… But you won’t be journeying on the boat, as well. It’s sort of a one-way trip, in that sense.”
Finally, there is a decent chunk of vehicular footage. The team explains how they made the decision to switch from left-side driving to right-side, which will be standardised across the entire game's world map. Selecting auto mode will set the course for an assigned destination, though the player will still be free to control and stop the car for any sightseeing reasons. Be mindful that your joyride escapades will rely on the amount of petrol you have in the tank. In the event that the Regalia is running on empty, Tabata jokingly stated that you'll have to get out and push.
Finally, a video message from Avalanche's founder and CCO Christofer Sundberg confirmed that talks between Square-Enix Japan and Avalanche Studios (famed for the Just Cause games as well as Mad Max) are underway in regards to utilising some of the latter's technology for FFXV, but these talks are still early and they have nothing more to say. A whole load of nothing, essentially.
The next ATR session will be at Tokyo Game Show next month. This time, the characters King Regis and Lunafreya Nox Fleuret will be in the spotlight, so stay tuned if you're in any way interested in those side characters.
Images from Gematsu
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