Square Enix has announced new details about Final Fantasy XVI during a special live broadcast titled "Final Fantasy XVI Pre-Release Information Recap." The broadcast revealed information about the downloadable version of the game and pre-release updates.
According to the announcement, the pre-download of Final Fantasy XVI will be available for players on June 20, 2023, starting at 12:00 a.m. local time in each country. This allows players to download the game data in preparation for the official release on June 22, 2023 that will also happen at 12:00 a.m. local time. Additionally, it was revealed that there will be an update released prior to the official launch.
During the broadcast, producer Naoki Yoshida explained that while they initially wanted to avoid releasing updates on or before the launch day, they discovered some rare flag control issues that could cause the game to become unplayable under specific conditions. As a result, they decided to release an update to address these issues. The update file will be available for download starting from June 20, 2023, and will automatically install when players are connected to the internet during the game installation process.
Yoshida revealed that the game was originally planned to be a two-disc set but eventually had to be condensed into a single-disc version. The decision was made to avoid escalating manufacturing costs and to ensure that the game could be finalized and shipped on time. It was noted that preparations were being made for a two-disc package, indicating the last-minute adjustments that were made.
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