The question of where to play JRPGs, especially if you’re Xbox-bound, is kind of quirky, isn’t it? I mean, it’s not like Xbox is waving this big ol’ banner for JRPGs, right? Being all American and stuff in a sea dominated by Japanese games…it’s gotta be a bit awkward. Given that the Asian markets haven’t exactly been Xbox’s best pals—poor sales and whatnot—there’s a real obstacle course going on there. Oh, remember the Xbox 360 days? Even when it was supposedly a hit, big names like Persona and Kingdom Hearts were nowhere to be found on Xbox. They were cozying up with PlayStation and Nintendo, not ready to cheat on them with Xbox, so to speak. Funny how things change, yet they stay the same, huh?
Anyway, fast forward to today—Xbox hasn’t charmed Japan into a love affair just yet, but man, have they scored some JRPG biggies recently! Persona has finally taken the plunge onto Xbox Series X/S, like, who would’ve guessed? And some are hitting Xbox Game Pass, day one. It’s like a JRPG revolution or something, but not quite enough for Final Fantasy—until now. This little bomb dropped: Xbox Series X/S is THE console for Final Fantasy, even trumping the PlayStation 5. Bit of a plot twist, right?
So, here’s the kicker: At this past Xbox Games Showcase, Square Enix nonchalantly steps in and goes, “Oh hey, FF16 and FF7 Remake Intergrade are making their Xbox debut.” Mind blown. FF7 Remake is gearing up for winter 2025, freezing us in anticipation while prepping for Nintendo Switch 2. Meanwhile, FF16 is like, “Hey, I’m already here and on sale” at 50 bucks. Smooth move, Xbox. And they added that Xbox Play Anywhere thing, just in case you want to jump across PC, cloud, and console without a hiccup. #NoExtraCost
Can we pause and appreciate that Final Fantasy 16 took like two whole years to finally grace Xbox, after being a PlayStation thing since June 2023? I mean, Xbox Series X/S now hosts every mainline FF game from FF1 to FF16. Saving the exception drama for FF11, which lives only on PCs nowadays. MMOs, man.
Oh and yeah, PlayStation 5 is still on Square Enix’s VIP list but with one big oops—the FF13 trilogy. Those games—FF13, FF13-2, and Lightning Returns—are chilling on Xbox Series X/S thanks to some backwards compatibility magic, leaving PS5 in the dust. No PS3 playback—ouch.
But Xbox isn’t all rainbows and mogs here. Some Final Fantasy gems are still MIA, like FF7 Rebirth or spin-offs. It’s like they’re avoiding Xbox’s little club or something. Even as Xbox wears the crown for mainline FF games, it’s clear the story isn’t finished. So, chalk it up to gaming politics, console whims, and whatever else floats your Final Fantasy boat. It’s a messy love triangle of platforms and pixels. Still, here we are, picking sides, and man, isn’t that part of the fun?
