Final Fantasy XVI aims for M rating to portray “difficult adult themes”

A recent trailer for Final Fantasy XVI hints at a Game of Thrones-style epic war storyline.

Next year's Final Fantasy XVI aims to be the first mainline, numbered game in the franchise to receive an M (for Mature) rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. That's according to producer Naoki Yoshida, who told GameSpot in a recent interview that the higher age rating is needed to tell a story with "difficult adult themes."

Responding to a question about "implied nudity" in a recent trailer for the game, Yoshida complained a bit about age ratings that he sees as "becom[ing] more and more restrictive recently regarding what can or cannot be shown." While acknowledging that those ratings are important to protect younger players, Yoshida said a lower age rating can be "somewhat of a hindrance" to storytelling.

"You find yourself changing things that you wanted to do in the game based on that rating," Yoshida said. "You wanted to show something, but because you have this certain rating that you need to go to-you need to move the camera away. And that ends up making the entire experience feel a little bit cheaper."

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