It's no surprise that Square Enix's unveiling of Final Fantasy 16 excited fans of the series about what next-gen could mean for the future of the developer's flagship titles. However, while the PlayStation 5 Showcase trailer did introduce players to a whole new world for the series, there are some clues that this game may be a part of a separate series from within the Final Fantasy franchise.
Certain aspects of Final Fantasy 16's lore and story make mention of key concepts that may land the game into the Fabula Nova Crystallis series of interconnected Final Fantasy titles. The game's inclusion into the series hasn't been entirely confirmed, but it might be a chance to finally get the sub-series off its feet with a better-received title and a concrete grounding of the connected themes.
What is Fabula Nova Crystallis?
Some players may not quite remember or may have never really known in the first place, but when Final Fantasy 15 began development as Versus 13, the name was more than just an odd choice by the developers. This was meant to be the start of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series of Final Fantasy titles, which would be both mainline and spin-off games in the series that involved connected themes. The major connecting thread between the two games was meant to be the importance of crystals in the lore and how the central stories were meant to involve these sources of power within the world.
When development on Versus 13 began to fall through, largely due to the spreading of duties between Square Enix's major teams, this left Final Fantasy 15 launching as a solo title with nothing else to back the Fabula Nova Crystallis branding. Later sequels eventually expanded the sub-series, but it wasn't until Final Fantasy Type-0 released two years later that a separate title joined in with similar themes, including the importance of crystals. The connections originally ran deeper, with l'Cie even appearing in both Type-0 and 13, but some of the cross-references were removed during the long developments of both games and subsequent sequels and HD re-releases.
Final Fantasy 16's Fabula Nova Crystallis hints
The major hint that points to Final Fantasy 16 being a part of the larger Fabula Nova Crystallis is less about the similarities to Final Fantasy 15 that fans expected to see in the trailer, but to the lore of Type-0. One line in the trailer calls out something referred to as the Mother Crystals, which seems to be relevant to the powers of each country, likely even being the source of each country's military or technological force. This holds a significant connection with Type-0's crystals, which were both a symbol and source of the power of the four warring countries found in the game, with one being destroyed before the player is even given control of a character.
Alongside the crystal, there is also the fighting class that appears to be similar to Final Fantasy 15's Kingsglaive, except they have a distinguishing brand on their faces that seems to call back to the l'Cie. In many of these cases, as was meant to be the original case with the Fabula Nova Crystallis sub-series, these themes are meant to show a connecting thread between the games and not a more concrete connection like the Final Fantasy 7 and 10 Easter Egg. So, until Square Enix actually announces Final Fantasy 16's inclusion in the series, the connections will likely remain subtle enough not to overtake the story and lore with these intentional references.
The Fabula Nova Crystallis sub-series has struggled from the start
While the sub-series has introduced some popular characters like Final Fantasy 13's Lightning, the title and its sequels weren't the best received among either fans or critics. Meanwhile, plenty of other games that still have a focus on the core tenants of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series, like Final Fantasy 14 or the re-release of Crystal Chronicles, but aren't officially linked titles. As a result, the series began with what can best be described as a rocky start, even though there is still plenty of quality to be pulled from the list of connected games.
One thing that doesn't help with the branding is the fact that the best game among the Fabula Nova Crystallis titles is Final Fantasy 15, but after years of changes, it hardly fits in with the others anymore. Between a change in directors, transitioning from one console generation to the next, and the complete redesign of Final Fantasy 15's characters, the only element seen in the game that still connects is the magical crystal at the center of the conflict. With characters that would have better connected the series, like the other Kingsglaives, essentially written out of the game, it means that the top title doesn't represent the sub-series very well anymore.
Final Fantasy 16 has a lot of promise
Disregarding the connecting themes that might tie the new title together with other Fabula Nova Crystallis games, Final Fantasy 16 leaning on its roots could mean big things for the future of the series on Next-Gen consoles. Combining the way that this new game looks to be taking the thrilling, action-based combat from the last two releases in the series and aims to improve on it, with the return to a medieval fantasy setting has it primed for success. This same method of utilizing what's been working from recent combat mechanics in a similar environment is what helps Final Fantasy 9 stand as one of the series' greatest successes, and the same may work for this new title.
Throwing all of this promise together with the themes seen in the Final Fantasy 16 trailer and the way they connect to related titles could mean that PS5 will be a new beginning for the series. Even more importantly, by leaning in on the Fabula Nova Crystallis aspects, it could mean that the upcoming success for one game could be a success for the series as a whole. While modern Final Fantasy is enjoying the success of both Final Fantasy 14 and 15, this is exactly what the internal sub-series needs in order to reach the heights Square Enix had originally planned for it.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PC and PS5.