The Decade-Long Journey: How Long Did It REALLY Take to Make Final Fantasy XV?
Final Fantasy XV’s development saga is almost as epic as the game itself. The short answer is that it took approximately ten years to create, from its initial conception as Final Fantasy Versus XIII to its eventual release as Final Fantasy XV in November 2016. However, this seemingly straightforward timeframe is far more complex when considering the various stages, changes, and challenges the project faced. It wasn’t a smooth ten-year process from start to finish. Instead, it involved a significant project reboot and restructuring that eventually led to the game we know today.
A Tumultuous Development Timeline
The development began in 2006 under the working title Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a spin-off project initially intended to share the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythology with Final Fantasy XIII. Over the years, Versus XIII grew more ambitious, but this ambition was coupled with internal changes and a lack of progress. Ultimately, the project was officially rebranded as Final Fantasy XV and transferred to a new director, Hajime Tabata, who took the helm and restructured the entire project. The shift from Versus XIII to XV wasn’t merely a title change; it was a complete overhaul that kept some core concepts and characters, but discarded a considerable amount of previous work.
The fact that the core characters and locales from Versus XIII remained for Final Fantasy XV makes it fair to say a lot of development was not truly scrapped. Considering this aspect, it’s reasonable to view the ten-year development time as a single, continuous process with a significant reboot rather than two separate projects. Square Enix themselves handled the primary development of XV. This complex development process makes understanding the timelines rather difficult. Essentially, although six years of development did not produce a final product, the concepts carried over, therefore, the ten years to develop FFXV as a whole holds true.
The game’s extended development cycle undoubtedly contributed to the hype and anticipation surrounding its release. However, it also led to various criticisms regarding its plot holes and narrative inconsistencies, as some elements that were intended for the game were cut during the transition from Versus XIII.
The Impact of the Lengthy Development
The lengthy development timeline of Final Fantasy XV had a significant impact on both the game and Square Enix. The pressure to release the game after such a long wait was considerable, and the weight of expectations had a direct influence on the final product.
The decision to shift from a spin-off title to a core numbered entry of the franchise shows the significant faith and investment Square Enix placed in the project. The massive overhaul, while necessary, likely contributed to some of the narrative issues that critics and fans pointed out upon release. However, despite these challenges, Final Fantasy XV went on to be a commercial success.
The impact of this extended development isn’t isolated to XV itself. Information was kept tightly under wraps during development of its sequel, Final Fantasy XVI which many fans believe is due to the issues regarding the production of XV. When putting these two games’ development cycles together, that’s a combined 17 years of development for two games which is a remarkable amount of time for any studio to undertake.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify details surrounding the development and other aspects of Final Fantasy XV, we’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions:
How Long Is A Full Playthrough of Final Fantasy XV?
A standard playthrough of Final Fantasy XV, focusing on the main objectives, takes approximately 28 hours. However, for players aiming to complete all side quests and achieve 100% completion, the game can take about 94.5 hours.
How Long Is One Day in Final Fantasy XV?
An in-game day in Final Fantasy XV lasts for roughly 20 to 30 minutes of real time. This means that one in-game hour is approximately 2.5 minutes of real time. Consequently, a full 24 hours in game takes 1 real-time hour. This time cycle can feel slightly odd as the game progresses.
How Old Are the Main Characters in Final Fantasy XV?
The main protagonists have the following ages: Noctis and Prompto are both 20 years old, Ignis is 22, and Gladiolus is 23. Many fans expect Ignis and Gladiolus to be much older due to their more mature demeanor.
Did Final Fantasy XV Sell Well?
Yes, Final Fantasy XV has sold exceptionally well. As of May 2022, it has sold ten million units worldwide, securing its place among the best-selling entries in the Final Fantasy franchise.
How Much Money Did Final Fantasy XV Make?
Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire, the mobile game, has generated gross revenue of $518.4 million from around 51 million downloads. The average revenue is $10 per download.
Is There a Final Fantasy XV Sequel?
While the Final Fantasy XV universe continues to grow with spin-offs and additional content, there is no full direct sequel currently planned. Square Enix prefers to explore the world of FFXV through smaller projects rather than a main sequel.
Where Did Noctis Go for 10 Years?
During the decade-long time skip in the game, Noctis sleeps within the Crystal where he absorbs the power necessary to fulfil his destiny.
Is Noctis Alive at the End of Final Fantasy XV?
While Noctis does sacrifice himself to destroy Ardyn, he is given his peace in death, and is not alive by the end of the game. This sacrifice ensures the light returns to the world and the daemons are vanquished.
How Old Is Ardyn?
The main antagonist, Ardyn, is approximately 2033 years old. This revelation explains much of his hatred for the line of Lucis.
What is the Longest Boss Fight in Final Fantasy XV?
The longest boss fight in Final Fantasy XV is against the Adamantoise, a colossal turtle. It can take up to 72 hours of real-time (3 days) to defeat it.
Why Is Final Fantasy XV’s Story So Short?
The main game story for FFXV is shorter than some previous entries due to constant story revisions and cutting of content, even late in development, in part due to changes made after its original branding as Versus XIII.
Is Final Fantasy XV a Long Game?
The length of Final Fantasy XV can vary greatly. When focused on just the main objectives, it’s about 28 hours long. However, including all side content can increase the playtime to around 94 hours.
Is Final Fantasy XV Better Now?
Yes, due to updates, patches, and DLCs, Final Fantasy XV is improved from its original release. The game runs better on next-gen consoles and PCs, however, it does not fully address the core narrative issues.
What happens if you do not sleep in Final Fantasy XV?
If you don’t sleep for long periods, you do not get negative status effects, you simply stop receiving status “buffs” which have positive effects.
How Long Did Final Fantasy VII Take To Develop?
The final version of Final Fantasy VII was developed in just over one year with a staff of between 100 and 150 people, which was an incredibly large team at the time.
Conclusion
The creation of Final Fantasy XV was a long and complex undertaking, taking approximately ten years to produce the final product. This decade-long development included a shift in leadership, a major project reboot, and several changes to the plot and gameplay elements. While this lengthy production had a significant impact on both the game and the developers, Final Fantasy XV ultimately became a commercial success. The game remains a popular, though complex entry in the franchise and a demonstration of the dedication and challenges of modern game development. The development timeframe, while long, underscores the sheer ambition and scale of the project. Despite criticisms and issues, the finished product is a testament to the hard work and dedication of those who worked on it.