So, Imran Khan, a pretty reliable journalist, is reporting that Square Enix is panicking because FF16 pre-orders are tracking behind FFX15. Gee, I wonder why:
-FF15 was on two platforms at release, Square sold FF16 to Sony as a 1 year timed exclusive (probably longer to be real, FF7R was supposed to be 1 year and still isn't on Xbox after 3 years), so there is one less platform for pre-orders
-The combined install base for PS4/XB1 when FF15 released was around 75m, and the combined install base was at 80m within 2 months of release. FF16 is releasing as a PS5 exclusive when PS5's install base will be at around 39m, that is alot lower than 75m. Even just comparing PS5 to PS4 it is 39m PS5 vs about 49m for PS4 when FF15 released (was at 53m end of 2016 2 months after FF15 released).
-They made design decisions with FF16 that have annoyed some fans of the series, including fast-paced DMC style action combat and no traditional party (only a rotating cast of single companions which change out at different parts of the story, sometimes no companion with you at all)
-16 is the first FF game to cost $70 at release
-15 started as Versus 13 and therefore had like 8 years to build up hype due to how long Versus 13 and 15 were in development for
Honestly I would have been shocked if pre-orders were anywhere near FF15. Inb4 FF16 is yet another Square Enix "failed to meet expectations" game at release, like countless other Square Enix games over the last decade and a half. They never learn.
