Final Fantasy XVI: The Birth of the First Mature Final Fantasy Game

Final Fantasy XVI is unquestionably a highly anticipated video game. However, what makes this game unique is that it will be the first mainline-numbered game in the Final Fantasy series to receive a Mature rating upon release. Of course, many would believe that developer Creative Business Unit III (CBUIII) wanted to create an ultra-violent game to match its newly created combat system. The team spoke with journalists at Game Informer and revealed that this was not the case. Instead, the game’s rating came organically, with many team members not giving it much thought. Producer Naoki Yoshida states that it was never their intention to create a game that was more violent, but the new game’s content restrictions necessitated the higher rating.

The Challenges that Come With Age-Based Video Game Ratings

Naoki Yoshida acknowledges that ratings are essential and are meant to protect children and individuals from potentially sensitive content. However, video games’ rating systems have changed over the years, restricting what a studio can do in a game. This is especially difficult for studios focused on the creation of realistic content. Today, games have more realistic visual fidelity, and including more realistic visuals, even towards zombies, can raise a game’s rating from Teen to Mature. Today, a Teen rating system limits a lot of the things that can be done in a game and could restrict the narrative flow.

The Story CBUIII Wanted to Tell

CBUIII highlighted that they made Final Fantasy XVI the way they wanted, warts and all. They wanted a realistic game that genuinely spoke about complex and violent themes such as war. To produce an authentic experience, the game had to be realistic and include some violent themes. As a result, viewers will see Clive fighting for his life in the trenches with dirt and blood covering him. The new Mature rating will allow the team to show the story they intended to tell, maintaining a “real feel” in the game. In other words, some parts of the game could only be realistically shown and understood using this rating.

Mature Rating: Advantages for the Localisation Team

Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, the localization director for Final Fantasy XVI, welcomed the Mature rating as it gave the team more leeway to create natural conversations between characters. In certain situations, swear words would come out naturally, and by restricting them, the conversations would feel contrived. The team’s goal is to create an unforgettable experience that people can’t help interacting with, and this meant that some characters needed to use inappropriate language. However, it’s not something that will be forced: if a character wouldn’t swear in a particular situation, they won’t in the game.

Final Thoughts

Throughout the game, players will notice how the Mature rating has influenced the action-heavy combat scenes and altered the dialogue between the characters. Although the Final Fantasy has always been about getting as many people to play as possible, lowering the game’s rating isn’t always possible when creating content based on reality. After trying to limit language and mature themes, CBUIII concludes that a Mature rating was the best way to maintain the game’s “real feel.” For those curious to see what the team at CBUIII has created, at Game Informer, information about the game can be found under our FFXVI coverage hub by clicking the banner below.