For a few years now, we’ve been hearing that Final Fantasy XVI was inspired by HBO Game of Thrones, and during my trip to Tokyo, Japan to speak with Creative Business Unit III, I learned more about this. Specifically, and perhaps seriously, I learned that the group was inspired by the first four seasons of Game of Thrones. Or at least, that’s where it started.
“Right from when the game started developing again when we were in the early stages that was when [Season 4 of Game of Thrones on HBO] being broadcast,” FFXVI producer Naoki Yoshida told me. “We have watched it grow into a TV show loved around the world, not only by the older generation but the younger generation as well. So we bought a Blu-Ray box of Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 and asked everyone on the team to watch it basically to inform the developers that this was a trend in the world – that this is the kind of fantasy that people are enjoying.”
Iron Kingdom
But Yoshida said that the team was very careful to avoid feeling like FFXVI is a clone of Game of Thrones. While its inspiration is obvious, it feels like its own thing after playing and watching the game for about five hours. Also, with everything else going on in the game – specifically the Eikon vs. Eikon – the group that drew other inspirations such as Attack the giant, Neon Genesis Mission, monster, giantand more.
not only do Game of Thrones inspired Final Fantasy XVI’s story and world feel, but it also inspired a lot of its visual style, according to art director Hiroshi Minagawa.
Final Fantasy XVI Art Director Hiroshi Minagawa
“When I joined the team and talked to Takai-san about the overall look of the game, we had a general idea that we wanted something that would have that. Game of Thrones feel, that’s the kind of high standard pure fantasy you’ll see in that kind of show and visual medium,” he told me.
While people today are still debating where Game of Thrones start faltering, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks the answer lies somewhere in those first four seasons. Those episodes are a great TV show, and if FFXVI takes on the fantasy role that almost rivals them, then we could be in for something special. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long as FFXVI is launching for PlayStation 5 on June 22.
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