If FFXV is going take cues from another game, I'd rather them take cues from Bravely Default, which shows that some people in at Squeenidos still realize what made FF great. A likeable cast of characters, a story with a simplistic basis and some interesting quirks, an intuitive but thoughtful battle system, and well realized world.
As for Xenoblade, I loved it, but it felt very distinct from Final Fantasy. It's not the experience I look for from Final Fantasy.