AI Summary
5 min readSquare Enix Says FFXVI Sales Are Fine — Asmongold Isn't Buying the Excuses
Final Fantasy XVI launched last month exclusively on PS5, and early sales figures have sparked concern among fans. The game sold 3 million copies in its launch week — a solid number, but one that falls short of the 3.5 million the Final Fantasy VII Remake sold in its first three days back in 2020. Square Enix responded to IGN by saying the game's sales are "extremely strong" and that the attach rate is "considerably high given the PS5 install base." Asmongold, reacting to the news on stream, is not impressed by that framing.
The Real Problem Is the $500 Console
Asmongold's core argument is straightforward: the PS5 costs $500, and a lot of people simply don't have that to spend on a single console. "Because like people buy a PC, people already have an Xbox, people have a PS4, money is tight," he said. "In order to play one of these games on a console you have to buy the fucking console." He points out that exclusivity deals benefit the platform holder, not the player. "There is no benefit for the end user that these games are not available on every platform." He also notes that developers often would make their games available everywhere if they could, but Sony (or Microsoft or Nintendo) pays them not to. "So yeah, Sony loves their bullshit," he said, before adding that Nintendo is just as bad — t
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:03) **Episode Kickoff** - Asmongold introduces himself at San Diego Comic Con 2023 and sets up the day's biggest gaming news.
- 2 (02:05) **Square Enix Responds to Final Fantasy XVI Sales Concerns** - Square Enix tells IGN that FFXVI sales are "extremely strong," attributing this to the PS5 install base.
- 3 (02:26) **Asmongold's Reaction: The Console Barrier** - Asmongold criticizes console exclusivity, arguing that requiring a $500 PS5 purchase to play the game is anti-consumer and benefits no one but the platform holder.
- 4 (03:08) **Blaming Sony for Exclusivity Deals** - He notes that Sony pays developers to keep games off other platforms, calling the practice "bullshit" and pointing out that Sony has more exclusives than anyone.
- 5 (04:14) **Nintendo's Exclusivity Model** - Asmongold briefly acknowledges Nintendo's similar approach, but returns to his main frustration: the cost of entry for a single game.
- 6 (04:45) **Sales Comparison: FFXVI vs. FFVII Remake** - He addresses the reported launch figures (3 million for FFXVI vs. 3.5 million for FFVII Remake), arguing the comparison is flawed due to a smaller PS5 install base.
- 7 (05:18) **The PS4 vs. PS5 Era** - Asmongold suggests the PS4 was a bigger deal for its time, and that FFVII is a more iconic, mainstream title, which naturally drives higher sales.
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Show Notes
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