Sony will seemingly continue to release new PS4 games for the next few years, after SIE CEO Jim Ryan explained that it's "crucial" to keep the console's huge audience of owners "engaged and happy". Speaking to GamesIndustry, Ryan explained that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - and the boost given to many gaming brands as a result of so many more people staying home - has caused the company to reassess how it looks at serving owners of its soon-to-be last-gen console: "Obviously, our eyes and our horizons have lifted with regards to what's possible with that PS4 community, based on what we've observed over the last six months. That can be quite powerful, because in 2021, 2022... that PS4 community that we've spoken about, they will be the vast majority of people on PlayStations during that time. It is crucial that we keep them engaged and happy. And the last six months have demonstrated that we could do that to an extent that we didn't think possible when we were setting our minds pre-COVID." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps4-games-summer-2020-update&captions=true"] That may explain the recent shift in public philosophy we've seen from PlayStation regarding its PS5 exclusives. As recently as May, Ryan gave an interview in which he said he'd prefer developers to "make the most" of PS5's features, seemingly above making games that work across two generations of console. However, we subsequently saw the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon: Forbidden West announced for PS5 and PS4, which appears to push against that ideal somewhat. From a business standpoint, it's not an enormous surprise, of course - Sony's sold over 100 million PS4 consoles, meaning PS5 will have a far smaller market for years to come. That said, the company's aiming high with its new hardware, saying it hopes to sell more PS5s in its first fiscal year than PS4 managed. Ryan's clearly energised for the next generation, saying, "It's really exciting now. We are right on the brink. Everybody is four or five years into this, and it's really great to be so close to the big moment. You know, I've done them all, and this has easily been the most extraordinary of any of them." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Preorders for the PlayStation 5 are currently sold out, but if more go up they'll be in our PS5 preorder guide right away. For everything you need to know about PlayStation 5, check out our PS5 guide. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Demon’s Souls, the latest remake from Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) developer Bluepoint Games, is hitting the PS5 launch day, and with it reviving the start of the modern Soulsborne genre. But in bringing the PS3 classic to life after so many games in the genre, both developed by original devs FromSoftware and others, Bluepoint had an interesting task ahead of it: maintaining what many loved while making it feel fresh and modern. And that’s on top of optimizing it to showcase what the PS5’s SSD, DualSense controller, and more can add to the experience. IGN spoke with creative director Gavin Moore about the project, and came away with new info on the game’s visuals, haptics integration, and much more. Here are some of our biggest takeaways, which you can hear alongside seeing new footage in the video above. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/29/demons-souls-ps5-gameplay-trailer"]

PS5 Cinematic and Performance Modes

As a launch game for PS5, Demon’s Souls is aiming to showcase the technical prowess of the PS5, and to allow players some choice of how they want to play, Bluepoint is offering to visual modes for players to pick: Cinematic and Performance modes. Cinematic mode runs at native 4K at 30 FPS, and as Moore described it “It means we can up the resolution of every single tiny pebble in the game, right? The tessellation is incredible and it's all real-time, and it all casts real-time shadows. It's so immersive. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=demons-souls-ps5-screenshots&captions=true"] Additionally, Demon’s Souls will offer Performance mode, which runs at 60 FPS - “That’s a crisp 60, so it doesn’t drop,” Moore explained - with dynamic 4K resolution. “You'll be able to react faster to those attacks and roll and dodge out of the way and feel like you're a little bit more powerful if you've been having a hard time on the 30,” he said.

Demon’s Souls’ Use of PS5’s SSD, 3D Audio

And, of course., in addition to its visual performance, Bluepoint is hoping to bring Demon’s Souls’ world to life via the 3D Tempest audio built into the PS5. “We literally added thousands upon thousands of new sounds into this game, obviously paying close attention to what the original has done,” he said of just how intricate the audio detail work for the game is.” But he also noted how the 3D audio can actually change the way you play, alerting you to more precisely the location enemies or projectiles may be coming from. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-console-first-look-size-comparison&captions=true"] “You can feel the Imperial spies creep up behind you in the Palace of Boleteria. You can feel the creatures crawling out of the slime, he said. “I can hear the arrows go past my head. “When you tread on a track in the Shrine of Storms and a dart will fire out of the wall at you...most unfairly, because you don't know it's coming because it's just a sound. But now you can hear it. And it gives you that split second to react and roll for instance, or turn and guard.” Bluepoint has also recorded a new version of the original’s classic score, with an ambitious live-recording plan. “We've done a re-imagining of the original score by Shunsuke Kida's and it's absolutely stunning. We recorded the whole thing at Air Studios in London with a world-class orchestra, a full choir. We even recorded a world famous pipe organ at Temple Church in London,” he said, noting 120 musicians play on the new, reimagined score. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/demons-souls-remake-reveal-trailer-ps5-reveal-event"] However you choose to experience Demon’s Souls, Bluepoint is also aiming to make good use of PS5’s SSD in removing one of the greatest frustrations that can come with any Soulsborne - the time between death and getting back into the game. “If you think about the superfast loading, the frustration of the original game is not [necessarily] the challenge or the dying. It's the, ‘Oh my God, I've got to wait two minutes before I can get back into the game and take revenge and get my souls back.’ And now, you’re straight back into the game, and that's incredible,” he explained. “[We’re] using the SSD to improve the loading, but also using the SSD to create environments which are absolutely stunning. There are limitations to what the PlayStation 3 could do both visually and audi- wise. We created environments now, for instance, which are so intricate and detailed, every room or corridor tells a story.”

World Tendency and Online Support

Getting a bit more into the detail of Demon’s Souls, Moore confirmed that World Tendency is back from the original game and is largely true to the experience players had on PS3. When you’re playing offline, you can swing the tendency toward black or white, the former offering more difficult enemies and greater loot, while the latter has enemies that are easier but don’t offer as great rewards. While playing online, the larger player base affects the state of the world, but Moore did explain that the team is hoping to make World Tendency a bit more evident so players know what they’re contending with. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/demons-souls-remake-vs-original-comparison"] “I think the original game's problem was that [World Tendency] wasn't shown, right? You couldn't really understand where the tendency was. What we have done is try to improve World Tendency through the UI. So, you should be able to understand which state the world your tendency is in for playing the game,” he said, which will hopefully make the experience more understandable for newcomers. And on the subject of the game’s online servers, the original Demon’s Souls’ lasted for a famously long time before shutting down. While Moore explained there’s no specific timeline in mind, the plan is to support the game so long as the players are there. “We plan on, as long as there are people who are willing to keep playing Demon Souls and love the game, then the service will remain.”

Modern Improvements

Demon's Souls is also in the unique position of being a remake to the start of a genre that has been iterated and improved upon since the original's debut. Bluepoint had to balance both being reverential to the original experience but also making something that would be fun and rewarding to play by modern standards. "This is the game that gave birth to this genre of gaming. And so we have to pay great respect to the original vision, ut at the same time, we have to make a lot of modern-day life improvements. But none of those were taken lightly," Moore said. "When we decided to have a look at the camera, for instance...we changed the camera position slightly, and we made sure that it doesn't run through the walls and get stuck on collision and all those sorts of things. That doesn't mean that we don't have an option in the game so you can turn on the old camera if you want to. You can do that. We preserve all of that. It all exists there for the user to switch on and off as they wish. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/21/ps5s-launch-lineup-and-ui-beyond-episode-671"] The thing for us is you have to remember that the way you played the game 11 years ago is not the way you imagined the game. You imagine it completely different," continued. "We had to basically create the game as the way that the players of the original PlayStation 3 version imagined it to be. And then, at the same time, make sure that we created a game the new generation of gamers could enjoy and love as well." Moore made it clear that team wants to do right by the original developers and fans with the remake while providing something fresh and exciting for anyone jumping into the PS5. There's plenty to look forward to for both new and returning players to the world of Demon’s Souls when it launches alongside the PS5 on Nov. 12, including a new photo mode, robust character customization, and much more. But as you wait to play, be sure to check out our PS5 unboxing, our hands-on experience of PS5 pack-in Astro’s Playroom (not a Soulsborne), and the latest details on PS5 launch game Sackboy: A Big Adventure (does Sackboy have a soul?) And be sure to check out the full PS5 launch lineup to know what you can expect to play on day one. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Three-quarter scale arcade cabinet maker Arcade1up revealed the list of games coming to its digital pinball machines later this year. The three tables, Star Wars digital pinball, Marvel digital pinball, and Attack From Mars digital pinball, each come loaded with 10 different games. Here are the games included with the 3 upcoming Arcade1up pinball machines:

Marvel Games Pinball Included Games:

• Spider-Man
• Civil War
• Wolverine
• X-Men
• Thor
• Marvel's Women of Power- A-Force
• Ghost Rider
• Venom
• Fantastic Four
• Fear Itself

Star Wars Pinball Game List:

• Boba Fett
• A New Hope
• Ahch-To Island
• Battle of Mimban
• Darth Vadar
• Masters of the Force
• Star Wars: Rebels
• Han Solo
• The Force Awakens
• The Empire Strikes Back

Attack from Mars Pinball Game list:

• Attack from Mars
• Fish Tales
• The Getaway
• Junk Yard
• Medieval Madness
• White Water
• Red & Ted
• Funhouse
• Tales of the Arabian Nights
• No Good Gofers

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/10/marvel-digital-pinball-machine-announcement-trailer"] The Arcade1up pinball tables include a recessed 24" screen and built-in accelerometers, so you can gently nudge the tables and the game reacts as you'd expect the physical tables to react. Check out the gallery below to see images of the tables. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=arcade1up-pinball-machines-revealed&captions=true"] The new tables are a collaboration between TasteMakers, (the company behind the Arcade1up line) and Zen Studios, makers of the PinballFX franchise. Arcade1up first revealed the digital pinball tables, along with new arcade cabinets, during the Summer of Gaming earlier this year. All three tables should be widely available for preorder at GameStop and Walmart soon, with the Marvel machine already live at GameStop. You can sign up for alerts at the Arcade1up website. According to Arcade1up, the tables "are slated to arrive" around December 2020.

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard has said it's "hard to imagine" The Elder Scrolls 6 as a fully Xbox-exclusive game in a new interview that touches on many aspects of ZeniMax's acquisition by Microsoft. In the interview, GamesIndustry's James Batchelor posed the idea that seeing The Elder Scrolls 6 as exclusive was hard to imagine, particularly as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim owes some of its huge success to the sheer number of consoles it launched on. Howard replied by saying, "I would agree that is hard to imagine," but would say no more on the subject. The subject of Bethesda's games becoming Xbox exclusives has been a talking point since the moment we learned Xbox had agreed to acquire parent company ZeniMax for $7.5 billion. On Microsoft's part, here are good cases for both sides, and Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has previously said any decisions about exclusivity would be made on a "case-by-case basis". Howard backed up that case-by-case approach in the new interview, although he says that the early stage of the acquisition (it won't complete until 2021 at the earliest) means that, "We haven't gone through all of that, to be honest." This follows Phil Spencer's comments earlier this week, where he explained that it would be illegal for him to be making decisions for Bethesda until the acquisition is complete, meaning planning hasn't truly begun. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/23/xboxs-bethesda-exclusivity-stance-evolves-next-gen-console-watch"] Howard also makes clear that every Elder Scrolls game since Morrowind has partnered with Microsoft to some extent, so any exclusivity deals that do emerge aren't a huge change in and of themselves: "I can't really project where things will be except to say we've done those sort of exercises ourselves as an independent. "If you look at every Elder Scrolls game, there has been some exclusivity on Xbox or with Microsoft. We've partnered with every game. Morrowind was basically a console exclusive, Oblivion was a long timed exclusive, Skyrim's DLC was exclusive for a long period of time. We'll decide what makes the best sense for our audience when the time comes, and I can't really project today what that looks like." As we've heard previously, Howard confirms that Bethesda is "giving up very little" of its independence by joining Microsoft, and says, "We're a subsidiary, but we're still running our games and pushing everything the way that we have." The implication is that, while Microsoft will naturally have some say on decisions around Bethesda games, Bethesda itself will also have a major part in that process. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/15/xbox-series-x-the-final-preview] Speaking more generally, Howard explained that he hadn't anticipated how huge a news story the acquisition would become, because he'd been "in the weeds" while organising it: "I grossly underestimated the impact in the larger gaming community," he says. "I was naively surprised at how big it landed and what it meant in the larger context of games, but I was happy with the feedback we saw. A lot of people saw it as a big positive thing, the same way we do." It's well worth reading GamesIndustry's interview in full, which contains Howard's thoughts on the benefits of Game Pass (and how it could help reignite certain genres of games), and the effect of streaming on the industry. For more, you can read the five biggest takeaways from Xbox's Bethesda acquisition, or check out our Xbox Series X guide. And, if you're still trying to secure an Xbox Series X or S before next month's launch, keep an eye on our Xbox preorder page for up-to-date retail links. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Watch Dogs 2’s lead actor, Ruffin Prentiss, has not been asked to reprise his role as Marcus Holloway for Watch Dogs Legion, all but confirming that the character will not be returning in the new game anytime soon.

After the announcement of the return of original Watch Dogs star Aiden Pearce in Watch Dogs Legion, many expected Watch Dogs 2’s Marcus Holloway to make an appearance too - not least because it was the ending of the second game that teased a move to a London setting, with Marcus’ story left somewhat open-ended. However, WD2 supporting character Wrench was subsequently announced as a post-launch Legion character, with no mention of Marcus forthcoming.

Speaking to IGN, Marcus Holloway actor Ruffin Prentiss confirmed that he’s not been contacted by Ubisoft to step back into Marcus’ shoes: “I haven't heard from Ubisoft. I would love to reprise the role. It's one of my favorite things that I've ever done. When Aiden was announced I was like, ‘Oh, maybe there's a potential.’ [...] And then of course Wrench is in the game as well. He's my main partner in crime in Watch Dogs 2. So I think the realm of possibility still exists, but I have heard nothing from Ubisoft – but if they call, I'd absolutely jump back in.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/28/watch-dogs-legion-review"]

With Aiden Pearce actor Noam Jenkins reprising his role in the new game, it seems unlikely that Ubisoft would recast Marcus - and with Legion on the verge of release, with post-launch DLC already announced, it seems unlikely that Marcus will be making an appearance, at least in the short to mid-term.

This isn’t to say Prentiss is upset by the decision. “Look, Wrench is loved. And [Wrench actor] Shawn Baichoo is such a wonderful, fluid, and versatile actor. What he does with that performance and how he's able to maneuver – he was really fun to play with as a partner, but also just wonderful to watch and learn from. [...] He's earned this moment. He deserves every second of it. And the fans, the way they received Wrench, absolutely valid. We had a fun time making that game, but it's one of those things where, even when he was announced, I'm [still] getting messages like, ‘Hey, is Marcus coming?’”

The answer, for now, seems to be “no” – although there have apparently at least been ideas mooted about how Marcus could return. “When we finished the game,” Prentiss explains, “there was this feeling of like, they could go one of two ways. I think this kind of happened with the Assassin's Creed video games where the first game had one character and then the second game had a [different] character as the lead, who went on to continue to be the lead for a bit. This could be the realm of possibility, or it could just continue to have new protagonists with every game. And obviously Watch Dogs Legion is a very different game where you can play anybody, which is in terms of video gaming in general, it's pretty revolutionary.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-assassins-creed-crossover"]

Prentiss says that there was another, less conventional idea brought up, too: “One of the writers, he said his dream would be to have three or four main protagonists and then do an ‘Avengers’.” To be fair, that doesn’t sound hugely dissimilar to Legion’s Bloodlines DLC, the post-launch pack that will bring Aiden, Wrench and two new characters - an Assassin and a psychic - together.

For the time being, Marcus seems to be off the table for a Watch Dogs return, but I also discussed playing the character with Prentiss, talking through why he loved the character, and how important he thinks Marcus was for Black representation in video games.

Watch Dogs Legion arrives for PS4, Xbox One and PC today, and will get a next-gen version on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 launch day (with free-upgrades for those with current-gen versions). We awarded it an 8/10 review, saying its "bold use of roguelike mechanics in an open-world action game pays off in interesting ways, making this visit to near-future London feel more varied than the previous two games."

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Watch Dogs 2’s lead actor, Ruffin Prentiss, has not been asked to reprise his role as Marcus Holloway for Watch Dogs Legion, all but confirming that the character will not be returning in the new game anytime soon.

After the announcement of the return of original Watch Dogs star Aiden Pearce in Watch Dogs Legion, many expected Watch Dogs 2’s Marcus Holloway to make an appearance too - not least because it was the ending of the second game that teased a move to a London setting, with Marcus’ story left somewhat open-ended. However, WD2 supporting character Wrench was subsequently announced as a post-launch Legion character, with no mention of Marcus forthcoming.

Speaking to IGN, Marcus Holloway actor Ruffin Prentiss confirmed that he’s not been contacted by Ubisoft to step back into Marcus’ shoes: “I haven't heard from Ubisoft. I would love to reprise the role. It's one of my favorite things that I've ever done. When Aiden was announced I was like, ‘Oh, maybe there's a potential.’ [...] And then of course Wrench is in the game as well. He's my main partner in crime in Watch Dogs 2. So I think the realm of possibility still exists, but I have heard nothing from Ubisoft – but if they call, I'd absolutely jump back in.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/28/watch-dogs-legion-review"]

With Aiden Pearce actor Noam Jenkins reprising his role in the new game, it seems unlikely that Ubisoft would recast Marcus - and with Legion on the verge of release, with post-launch DLC already announced, it seems unlikely that Marcus will be making an appearance, at least in the short to mid-term.

This isn’t to say Prentiss is upset by the decision. “Look, Wrench is loved. And [Wrench actor] Shawn Baichoo is such a wonderful, fluid, and versatile actor. What he does with that performance and how he's able to maneuver – he was really fun to play with as a partner, but also just wonderful to watch and learn from. [...] He's earned this moment. He deserves every second of it. And the fans, the way they received Wrench, absolutely valid. We had a fun time making that game, but it's one of those things where, even when he was announced, I'm [still] getting messages like, ‘Hey, is Marcus coming?’”

The answer, for now, seems to be “no” – although there have apparently at least been ideas mooted about how Marcus could return. “When we finished the game,” Prentiss explains, “there was this feeling of like, they could go one of two ways. I think this kind of happened with the Assassin's Creed video games where the first game had one character and then the second game had a [different] character as the lead, who went on to continue to be the lead for a bit. This could be the realm of possibility, or it could just continue to have new protagonists with every game. And obviously Watch Dogs Legion is a very different game where you can play anybody, which is in terms of video gaming in general, it's pretty revolutionary.”

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-assassins-creed-crossover"]

Prentiss says that there was another, less conventional idea brought up, too: “One of the writers, he said his dream would be to have three or four main protagonists and then do an ‘Avengers’.” To be fair, that doesn’t sound hugely dissimilar to Legion’s Bloodlines DLC, the post-launch pack that will bring Aiden, Wrench and two new characters - an Assassin and a psychic - together.

For the time being, Marcus seems to be off the table for a Watch Dogs return, but I also discussed playing the character with Prentiss, talking through why he loved the character, and how important he thinks Marcus was for Black representation in video games.

Watch Dogs Legion arrives for PS4, Xbox One and PC today, and will get a next-gen version on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 launch day (with free-upgrades for those with current-gen versions). We awarded it an 8/10 review, saying its "bold use of roguelike mechanics in an open-world action game pays off in interesting ways, making this visit to near-future London feel more varied than the previous two games."

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Square Enix has detailed the six realms of Final Fantasy 16's world of Valisthea, providing us with more information about the game's setting. As we learned from the game's teaser website, Valisthea is a land "studded with colossal mountains of glittering crystal called Mothercrystals." These Mothercrystals provide aether to the people of Valisthea, and wars have been fought over the ownership of this powerful resource. This has split the realm into warring states, each with their own quirks and characters. It's very Game of Thrones. Five of the nations have a 'Dominant,' a special person imbued with the transformative power of an Eikon, special summons that "can level nations." Depending on the nation, a Dominant can be seen as royalty or a force to be feared. Here's some more information about the six realms of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16. You can check out all of the realm's flags on the Final Fantasy 16 teaser website. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-16-the-6-realms-of-valisthea&captions=true"]

The Grand Duchy of Rosaria

Rosaria is a nation made up of "small independent provinces in western Valisthea," and it's where the game's protagonist Clive Rosfield hails from. His brother Joshua Rosfield is the realm's Dominant, who is powered by the Eikon of Fire, a great Phoenix. The realm's Mothercrystal is called Drake's Breath and is held on a volcanic island off the coast. Rosaria's prosperity has been hurt by something called "the Blight", which threatens to bring the realm to its knees.

The Holy Empire of Sanbreque

Sanbreque is a theocracy ruled by a "Holy Emperor" who is worshipped as a living manifestation of God. The capital of Sanbreque is Oriflamme, which is actually built upon the Drake's Head Mothercrystal that supplies the realm with its all-important aether. The realm's Dominant "serves as the empire's champion" and is known to "rout its enemies" on the battlefield.

The Kingdom of Waloed

Waloed is based in the eastern partition of Valisthea, an area known simply as "Ash". Orcs and beastmen threaten to overthrow Waloed's rule, but the realm's Dominant and ruler has used the power of the Drake's Spine Mothercrystal to create "a mighty army" to stop them in their tracks and seek expansion beyond the borders of Ash. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-xvi-characters-and-world&captions=true"]

The Dhalmekian Republic

The Dhalmekian Republic is ruled by a parliament made up of representatives from five states in southern Valisthea. The area draws its powers from the Drake's Fang Mothercrystal, which is hidden in a mountain range. The area's Dominant is a "special advisor" to the republic's parliament and channels the power of Titan, the Eikon of Earth.

The Iron Kingdom

Made up of coastal islands in western Valisthea, The Iron Kingdom is ruled by an "extreme faith" called the Crystalline Orthodox, who worship the Mothercrystals. The Kingdom is often in conflict with Rosaria over the Drake's Breath Mothercrystal, which sits "at the heart" of one of the kingdom's islands and provides both nations with their power. Its inhabitants are known as the Ironblood who are isolated from the mainland, speaking their own language and treating Dominants as "unholy abominations" who are executed upon birth.

The Crystalline Dominion

At the heart of Valisthea is The Crystalline Dominion, which is built around a tall Mothercrystal known as Drake's Tail. The five realms used to war for control over the crystal, but an armistice was reached which left the area autonomous and controlled by a council with input from each state, except for The Iron Kingdom. As such, the area does not have its own Dominant. Final Fantasy XVI was announced for PS5 back in September of this year and has already completed "basic development", with more news about the game coming in 2021. You can find out more details about FF16 in our article covering the game's heroes and the world, and you can watch the first trailer, Awakening, here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Square Enix has detailed the six realms of Final Fantasy 16's world of Valisthea, providing us with more information about the game's setting. As we learned from the game's teaser website, Valisthea is a land "studded with colossal mountains of glittering crystal called Mothercrystals." These Mothercrystals provide aether to the people of Valisthea, and wars have been fought over the ownership of this powerful resource. This has split the realm into warring states, each with their own quirks and characters. It's very Game of Thrones. Five of the nations have a 'Dominant,' a special person imbued with the transformative power of an Eikon, special summons that "can level nations." Depending on the nation, a Dominant can be seen as royalty or a force to be feared. Here's some more information about the six realms of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16. You can check out all of the realm's flags on the Final Fantasy 16 teaser website. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-16-the-6-realms-of-valisthea&captions=true"]

The Grand Duchy of Rosaria

Rosaria is a nation made up of "small independent provinces in western Valisthea," and it's where the game's protagonist Clive Rosfield hails from. His brother Joshua Rosfield is the realm's Dominant, who is powered by the Eikon of Fire, a great Phoenix. The realm's Mothercrystal is called Drake's Breath and is held on a volcanic island off the coast. Rosaria's prosperity has been hurt by something called "the Blight", which threatens to bring the realm to its knees.

The Holy Empire of Sanbreque

Sanbreque is a theocracy ruled by a "Holy Emperor" who is worshipped as a living manifestation of God. The capital of Sanbreque is Oriflamme, which is actually built upon the Drake's Head Mothercrystal that supplies the realm with its all-important aether. The realm's Dominant "serves as the empire's champion" and is known to "rout its enemies" on the battlefield.

The Kingdom of Waloed

Waloed is based in the eastern partition of Valisthea, an area known simply as "Ash". Orcs and beastmen threaten to overthrow Waloed's rule, but the realm's Dominant and ruler has used the power of the Drake's Spine Mothercrystal to create "a mighty army" to stop them in their tracks and seek expansion beyond the borders of Ash. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-xvi-characters-and-world&captions=true"]

The Dhalmekian Republic

The Dhalmekian Republic is ruled by a parliament made up of representatives from five states in southern Valisthea. The area draws its powers from the Drake's Fang Mothercrystal, which is hidden in a mountain range. The area's Dominant is a "special advisor" to the republic's parliament and channels the power of Titan, the Eikon of Earth.

The Iron Kingdom

Made up of coastal islands in western Valisthea, The Iron Kingdom is ruled by an "extreme faith" called the Crystalline Orthodox, who worship the Mothercrystals. The Kingdom is often in conflict with Rosaria over the Drake's Breath Mothercrystal, which sits "at the heart" of one of the kingdom's islands and provides both nations with their power. Its inhabitants are known as the Ironblood who are isolated from the mainland, speaking their own language and treating Dominants as "unholy abominations" who are executed upon birth.

The Crystalline Dominion

At the heart of Valisthea is The Crystalline Dominion, which is built around a tall Mothercrystal known as Drake's Tail. The five realms used to war for control over the crystal, but an armistice was reached which left the area autonomous and controlled by a council with input from each state, except for The Iron Kingdom. As such, the area does not have its own Dominant. Final Fantasy XVI was announced for PS5 back in September of this year and has already completed "basic development", with more news about the game coming in 2021. You can find out more details about FF16 in our article covering the game's heroes and the world, and you can watch the first trailer, Awakening, here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

An article written by Square Enix Producer Naoki Yoshida has detailed the world and story of Final Fantasy XVI, and introduced us to heroes Clive, Joshua, and Jill. You can read the post in full over on the PlayStation Blog, where you can check out some artwork from the game and learn more about the motivations of the trio of main characters, as well as the world they inhabit. You can also check out the official Final Fantasy XVI website, which reveals even more details about the game's setting and cast, and the game's tagline: "The legacy of the crystals has shaped our history for long enough." Final Fantasy XVI takes place in Valisthea, a land "studded with colossal mountains of glittering crystal called Mothercrystals." The Mothercrystals have blessed the realms with aether for generations, allowing Valisthea's people to live in comfort. Of course, wars have been fought over the ownership of the Mothercrystals, which has created a set of conflicting nations, known as the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, the Kingdom of Waloed, the Dhalmekian Republic and the Iron Kingdom. A "ruinous Blight" has recently overcome the land, which is threatening to disturb the "fragile peace" achieved between the warring states. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-xvi-characters-and-world&captions=true"] The game's main protagonist is Clive Rosfield, the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria. Rosfield is a knight known as the "First Shield of Rosaria" who is tasked with protecting his younger brother Joshua, described as "the Dominant of the Phoenix." A Dominant is a special person who is essentially a vessel for devastating creatures called Eikons, special Summons that "can level nations." Depending on the nation, Dominants are treated as royalty or used as weapons of war. The blog notes that more Eikons will be revealed in the main game as players journey through Valisthea. It was expected that Clive would become the Dominant of Rosaria, but destiny chose Joshua, who can transform into a Phoenix to protect his nation. Joshua has bestowed Clive with "the Blessing of the Phoenix," which allows the protagonist to "wield a part of the Eikon's fire." Joshua also "quails at the sight of a carrot on his dinner plate," and laments the fact that he, the more frail Rosfield brother, received the Eikon's power. Then there's Jill Warrick, a confidant of the brothers who is an expatriate from the Northern Territories and ward of the Duchy of Rosaria in order to sow peace between the two factions. She's a member of the Rosfield household and a close childhood friend of the brothers. Final Fantasy XVI was announced for PS5 back in September of this year, and has already completed "basic development", with the next big reveal event relating to the game coming in 2021. It's still a matter of conjecture as to whether the game will come to PC, after its announcement for the platform was scrubbed. You can watch the game's first trailer here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

An article written by Square Enix Producer Naoki Yoshida has detailed the world and story of Final Fantasy XVI, and introduced us to heroes Clive, Joshua, and Jill. You can read the post in full over on the PlayStation Blog, where you can check out some artwork from the game and learn more about the motivations of the trio of main characters, as well as the world they inhabit. You can also check out the official Final Fantasy XVI website, which reveals even more details about the game's setting and cast, and the game's tagline: "The legacy of the crystals has shaped our history for long enough." Final Fantasy XVI takes place in Valisthea, a land "studded with colossal mountains of glittering crystal called Mothercrystals." The Mothercrystals have blessed the realms with aether for generations, allowing Valisthea's people to live in comfort. Of course, wars have been fought over the ownership of the Mothercrystals, which has created a set of conflicting nations, known as the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, the Kingdom of Waloed, the Dhalmekian Republic and the Iron Kingdom. A "ruinous Blight" has recently overcome the land, which is threatening to disturb the "fragile peace" achieved between the warring states. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=final-fantasy-xvi-characters-and-world&captions=true"] The game's main protagonist is Clive Rosfield, the firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria. Rosfield is a knight known as the "First Shield of Rosaria" who is tasked with protecting his younger brother Joshua, described as "the Dominant of the Phoenix." A Dominant is a special person who is essentially a vessel for devastating creatures called Eikons, special Summons that "can level nations." Depending on the nation, Dominants are treated as royalty or used as weapons of war. The blog notes that more Eikons will be revealed in the main game as players journey through Valisthea. It was expected that Clive would become the Dominant of Rosaria, but destiny chose Joshua, who can transform into a Phoenix to protect his nation. Joshua has bestowed Clive with "the Blessing of the Phoenix," which allows the protagonist to "wield a part of the Eikon's fire." Joshua also "quails at the sight of a carrot on his dinner plate," and laments the fact that he, the more frail Rosfield brother, received the Eikon's power. Then there's Jill Warrick, a confidant of the brothers who is an expatriate from the Northern Territories and ward of the Duchy of Rosaria in order to sow peace between the two factions. She's a member of the Rosfield household and a close childhood friend of the brothers. Final Fantasy XVI was announced for PS5 back in September of this year, and has already completed "basic development", with the next big reveal event relating to the game coming in 2021. It's still a matter of conjecture as to whether the game will come to PC, after its announcement for the platform was scrubbed. You can watch the game's first trailer here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.