FINAL FANTASY XV

FINAL FANTASY XV is an action RPG about Prince Noctis and his three friends on a journey through the world of Eos. Sweeping landscapes, cities and dungeons alternate with real-time battles, exploration, small everyday moments and the story of the Kingdom of Lucis.

Traveling together shapes the flow: the four drive in the Regalia, rest at the campfire, take on hunting quests, and at the same time must hold their own against the forces of the Niflheim Empire. The main story can be played in single player.

FINAL FANTASY XV was released on November 29, 2016 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The PC version FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION followed on March 6, 2018. On the same day, the expanded Royal Editions were released for consoles.

The Windows Edition includes additional content and supports high-resolution graphics and HDR on suitable computers. The Royal Edition adds, among other things, the expanded area of Insomnia and the option to play from a first-person perspective.

There are separate versions of FINAL FANTASY XV for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The Windows Edition is available through Steam, among others. On PS5 and Xbox Series, the respective console version can possibly be played via backward compatibility; this does not result in a separate native PS5 or Xbox Series release.

On PC, resolution and graphics details can be adjusted more extensively. For the Windows Edition, keyboard and controller controls are among the intended input options.

Noctis fights in real time with melee weapons, magic and the ability to teleport to a thrown sword. This warp attack brings him directly to enemies or creates distance. Multiple equipment slots allow switching between different weapon roles.

Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto support him with individual techniques. Battles combine attacks, dodging, cover and coordinated group abilities, rather than relying on a turn-based menu system.

Episode Gladiolus, Episode Prompto and Episode Ignis tell parts of the story from the perspective of Noctis' companions. They add to their personal conflicts and offer their own gameplay situations. With Episode Ardyn, another standalone story centered on a key antagonist was added in 2019.

The Royal Pack and the Windows Edition bundle many earlier add-ons. Episode Ardyn is still offered as separate content for the PC version. Which episodes are already included therefore depends on the edition.

For the Windows Edition, Square Enix recommends at least 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 760 or comparable graphics hardware. The original recommended spec lists 16 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM or Radeon RX 480. More than 100 GB of storage is listed for installation and game files.

The original system requirements refer to the 2018 release. For current Steam use, the current requirements of the Steam client also apply.

Prince Noctis leaves the royal city of Insomnia to meet his fiancée Lunafreya in Altissia. While he is on the way, the technologically superior Niflheim Empire attacks his homeland Lucis. The journey to the wedding becomes a fight for family, friends and the future of the kingdom.

The story focuses on the bond between Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto. Alongside the political threat, their conversations, conflicts and shared experiences carry the story.

Noctis uses various swords, greatswords, daggers and other weapons. Elemental magic is made from collected energies and can influence the course of battle. As his abilities develop, additional offensive and support options open up.

The royal arms and the power of the Armiger play a special role. In the expanded editions, an additional Armiger ability can be unlocked after collecting the royal weapons.

Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto are more than mere battle companions. Gladiolus protects Noctis and often takes on the role of the sturdy melee fighter. Ignis drives the Regalia and takes care of supplies and meals. Prompto captures experiences with his camera and brings firearms to the group.

Their conversations continue while driving, hiking, resting and in clashes. This creates an adventure in which relationships within the group are just as important as the major conflicts of the story.

The Regalia connects the vast areas of Eos via a road network. Between story objectives you can stop along the way, explore places and make detours to additional tasks. Off the road, Chocobos help with exploration.

The landscapes range from deserts and lakes to more densely built places. Different times of day and weather conditions change the atmosphere of a journey, while occasional encounters trigger new battles or discoveries.

Alongside the main story, hunting quests, hidden places and additional battles await. In inns and settlements, dangerous creatures are posted as targets. Dungeons often require longer exploration and lead to especially powerful enemies or valuable gear.

You decide for yourself when to stray from the main journey. Some goals can be reached early, while others benefit from stronger gear and advanced abilities.

While resting, Ignis turns found ingredients into meals with temporary benefits. The group can record experience from their adventures and gather new powers for the next battles.

Fishing and other pastimes offer variety outside the story. Prompto documents the journey with photos you can choose from later. These small routines make living together as friends a fixed part of the game.

The Royal Edition extends the end of the main game with additional sections in Insomnia, new enemies and side quests. It also adds the controllable Royal Vessel, a first-person perspective, further stories about Eos and additional options for the Regalia.

The Windows Edition brought this more comprehensive version to PC on March 6, 2018, and adds special graphics settings, high-resolution support and modding options. These are equipment differences between the editions, not additional native platforms.

The main story of FINAL FANTASY XV is played solo. The multiplayer expansion Comrades is a separate game mode in which your own characters can take on missions together. It was also released as a standalone product.

The historical online features and availability of individual Comrades versions differ by platform and version. The Noctis campaign remains separate from this.

FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION supports additional customization and modding on PC. The version also offers high-resolution display, HDR10 and extensive graphics settings. Which options are practical to use depends on your hardware.

Square Enix also provided a benchmark program that lets you gauge your computer's performance before playing.

FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION includes German menus, subtitles and German voice acting. English, French and Japanese are also available with full voice acting. The language selection listed on Steam may differ from regional console offers.