Final Fantasy is a series of games that has historically been based on turn-based combat; however, the series has undergone a significant transformation that has now enabled it to embrace a completely real-time system.
Square-Enix has previously attempted to explicate the reasons for implementing a full action combat system with Final Fantasy XVI. During an interview given to Game Informer, the publisher wanted to clarify all the doubts that fans may still have.
“We couldn’t ignore the feedback we’ve collected on fans, from Final Fantasy I to XV.” According to producer Naoki Yoshida, “To make a Final Fantasy that is numbered, you need as many people as possible.”
Director Hiroshi Takai commented on the PS5's graphics quality and realism: "Having a game where people just stop and do nothing with that sort of high fidelity graphics would create something that will make them uncomfortable," said Takai.
Square-Enix is aware that a portion of the user is unsatisfied with the abandonment of turn-based combat, but at the same time realizes that it might have lost some of the customers if it hadn't developed the game.
Final Fantasy XVI's Preview is available here.
