Final Fantasy 16 Xbox sales are struggling after Microsoft and Square Enix skip Game Pass
At its recent showcase, Microsoft announced the immediate release of the Final Fantasy 16 Xbox version. Square Enix games have been landing on more platforms, but the RPG arrived on the console with minimal marketing. Two years after Final Fantasy 16 debuted on the PS5, the title is not finding initial success on the Xbox Series X|S. In Microsoft's most-played and top-paid lists, the game ranks surprisingly low.
The available data is fluid and changes constantly. Still, the Final Fantasy 16 Xbox port is only in the top 350-400 most-played games. The news is more positive in the paid chart, with the Standard Edition sitting in the first 50 spots and the Complete Edition in the top 30. Nevertheless, many gamers see the performance as lacking for a high-profile Square Enix game.
Critics on the ResetEra forums have several theories about why Final Fantasy 16 is not yet finding large audiences on Xbox consoles. One factor is that it's a late port of a game that has been accessible to PS5 players since 2023 and PC gamers since 2024. With Play Anywhere, many Xbox owners also game on PCs. Likely, some of these customers have already purchased the RPG on Steam or the Epic Games Store. As far as player counts, Final Fantasy 16 not being part of Xbox Game Pass is also significant.
In fairness to Microsoft, Final Fantasy 16 didn't meet expectations on the PS5 either. Compared to other Square Enix games, the publisher admitted that sales dropped off after a positive start. Still, despite a larger presence on Nintendo and PlayStation consoles, other Final Fantasy titles had attracted more Xbox players. The assertion that JPRGs can't be successful on the Xbox also now looks questionable. Players debate its subgenre, but the popular Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has clear JPRG elements.
Microsoft is shifting its focus to multi-platform publishing and upcoming Windows handhelds. As a result, there may not be many more Xbox Series X|S-specific releases in the future.
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