When Final Fantasy 16 was on its way to release, there was no small amount of talk from its producers, including the very nice Naoki Yoshida, as to the hope that a more action-centric and darker-toned title might court younger fans for a franchise with a bit of an age problem. Final Fantasy, after all, is hardly a blip on the radar for Gen Alpha, and things aren't all that rosier for Gen Z. It's Millennials, and Gen X, who still connect with the franchise. And while I, a millennial, will keep playing these games until I either croak or they stop making them, many of my peers don't have time anymore.
FF16 was successful in this endeavor up to a point, but we've had no real reason in the years since its launch to firmly believe that the game has gone on to jet far beyond its three-million sales opener. Nor has Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, for all its fanfare and awards-winning—and sustained sales—been a big hit with younger gamers. How could it, when it celebrates nostalgia for a title that millions of gamers weren't alive for?
"I'm 53 now, and I've been playing...
