Wark Digest #14 - Get Out the Salt
GeForce NOW Leak Names Possible FF Games?
A ton of information was leaked from Nvidia's GeForce NOW system earlier this week, revealing the names of some previously-unannounced titles—including a plethora of possible Final Fantasy titles.
What they're saying:
Included in the leak were a handful of FF names: Final Fantasy Tactics Remaster, Final Fantasy VII Remake on PC, Final Fantasy IX Remake, Final Fantasy XVI, Kingsglaive, Final Fantasy Origin, "Dot Remasters" for I-IV, and more
Other Square Enix titles named: Tomb Raider Anniversary (2021), an "Unannounced title by Square Enix", and Kingdom Hearts IV
Also listed were some interesting Nintendo exclusives—namely Shin Megami Tensei V, Bayonetta 3, and even New Super Mario Bros?!
Nvidia issued a statement on Tuesday:
NVIDIA is aware of an unauthorized published game list, with both released and/or speculative titles, used only for internal tracking and testing. Inclusion on the list is neither confirmation nor an announcement of any game.
NVIDIA took immediate action to remove access to the list. No confidential game builds or personal information were exposed.
Why it matters:
If the data is true, this means there is a huge number of Final Fantasy games in the works
This is the first "rumour" of either a Tactics remaster or a FFIX Remake
Likewise, this could be confirmation that FFXVI and FFVIIR will hit PC
What we thought:
I'm personally very skeptical that there's much meaning behind these names showing up on a list—it's practically unheard of for a Mario game to get ported to PC, and other things don't add up either
"Dot Remaster" is another term for the Pixel Remasters
Kingsglaive's inclusion is odd, as a movie; FFXV Pocket Edition is listed, as are the Platinum Demo and some "benchmark" editions used for testing a PC's capability to play a game, but not the full game itself
Then again, a FFIX Remake might work out well with the animated adaptation in the works...
What's next: Some of these titles may come to pass, but for now, the list probably doesn't mean much. Until some kernels of truth rise to the surface, it's probably best to treat this as a false alarm—albeit a potentially exciting false alarm.
FFXVI's Release Date—Hiding In Plain View?
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed a detail in last week's PlayStation Showcase video which may suggest a potential release date for Final Fantasy XVI.
What they're saying:
In the stunt-filled sizzle reel that kicked off the Showcase, the text "VALISTHEA - 06:16" can be seen on a news ticker
Valisthea is the world in which FFXVI will take place, making this at least some kind of nod to the upcoming exclusive
Some fans believe this is a sign that FFXVI will release on June 16 (6/16)
What we thought:
Given what we know of development, this wouldn't be an unrealistic release date... but it feels unlikely that it would be announced or teased in this way
This isn't the usual caliber of tease we've come to expect out of Naoki Yoshida—who previously hinted at upcoming FFXIV classes by wearing certain T-shirts during press addresses, for example
June 16, 2022 is a Thursday, which is a little unusual for a game release date (they tend to fall on Tuesdays or Fridays), but not outside the realm of possibility; some games recently have dropped on Thursdays, after all
As someone pointed out on our Discord, "F" is the 6th letter of the alphabet—so in a way, the text could be meant to represent F(F)16
What's next: Once again, take this with a hefty pinch of salt. It's probably just a little easter egg for an upcoming exclusive game. Or maybe we'll get some bombshell news at TGS that proves otherwise—who can say for sure?
Crisis Core & Advent Children
One thing that is certain, is that two key components of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII saw anniversaries in the last week.
Why it matters:
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children originally hit Japanese theatres on September 14, 2005
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII followed two years later, releasing on PSP in Japan September 13, 2007
Combined, they were the foundation of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, and are probably the most successful of its components (barring the original game itself)
Advent Children set a new precedent for how a Final Fantasy game could expand beyond its initial release, and somewhat helped redeem Square Enix's track record with animation after The Spirits Within's flat release
What we thought: Advent Children still holds up today, especially with the additional scenes added later for the Blu-Ray release. And I still can't watch the ending of Crisis Core without stifling a tear, even though I knew how it was going to end.
What's next: Speaking of wishful thinking on remasters, wouldn't it be great to have Crisis Core re-released for a modern system? Regardless, both stories will be adapted for Ever Crisis, the upcoming mobile reimagining of the Compilation—meaning Advent Children will become a playable experience.
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