As we reported earlier in the week, Final Fantasy 16 copies have found their way into the hands of consumers ahead of next week’s release, and unfortunately spoilers are starting to circulate all over the web. This has prompted Square Enix to release a statement on the game’s official social media account, asking for cooperation from players as it attempts to preserve the experience for patient fans.
“We’re aware that a small number of physical copies of Final Fantasy 16 are being circulated,” the statement starts. “We’re in the process of a thorough investigation into the illegitimate acquisitions and are acting to limit this ahead of the official launch of the game on 22nd June.” It adds that its “priority is to ensure the full game experience is not spoiled for our fans”.
The post continues: “For those who received a copy ahead of launch, we kindly ask that you don’t share any aspect of the game, including screenshots, videos, and livestreams until after Final Fantasy 16 has officially launched. We ask for your assistance and cooperation in this final week ahead of launch. It’s almost 22nd June, and we can’t wait for you to experience the full game the way the development team intended.”
Obviously, you won’t find any spoilers here on Push Square, but this is probably a timely reminder to tread carefully on social media this weekend. Hopefully things don’t get out of hand!
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[source twitter.com]
Comments 40
Those idiots will make sure that I'll never get to play a game early again. I would imagine that PS will handle it similarly to Xbox in the future, so that you can't play physical copies until release day.
Welp, time to ignore comment section in gaming website then, just like when I played uncharted 4 back then, lol.
@dschons Hey that's a good idea, just one time lock so players can't spoil the game on the internet, especially on story heavy games, I didn't know xbox have this feature.
It happens. I already have the copy of Sonic Origins Plus. Many people got the new Zelda days earlier. You cannot control all retailers everywhere!
they should just be happy that People are so excited for their game.
because people have not been excited For a square enix game in a long time.
after the dead on arrival fanfare for forspoken and babylons fall which pretty much stuck, They should just roll with this and be happy.
Also this feels kind of like another square enix water is wet article. OMG spulerz on the internetz!? Klondike Kat is on the job!
No, a physical disc should be playable offline. It's our duty to not look at spoilers.
I wonder if stores that break street dates actually get punished at all, or blacklisted. It happens so often you would think they all see zero risk in doing it.
Given the lack of anything else that's interesting, if I like the demo (downloaded but haven't had time to play it), I may just buy the game because of the dog.
@Sil_Am The problem is when e.g. Youtube randomly decides "Hey, you like Final Fantasy? How about we recommend you a video that shows the final boss on the thumbnail to you"
@mariomaster96 has that ever happened to you though? Just, I watch quite a bit of YouTube but don’t recall anything getting spoiled that way. Nothing with TOTK, for example, despite all the leaks. Even games that are out now (Diablo, whatever) I am not really seeing what I would call spoilers in my feed..? Guess it must happen as people talk about it a lot though.
@kyleforrester87 Yes, with Super Mario Odyssey. Luckily not a game where I care about the story but it spoiled that Mario takes over Bowser (since it showed Bowser with a moustache)
I guess it depends if you recently watched related videos to that topic or not. I often listen to Mario soundtracks so maybe that's why it got recommended.
@mariomaster96 I guess. The official trailers detailed so many takeovers (t-Rex etc) that I probably would have just seen that thumbnail and thought nothing of it, but I see what you mean. I don’t really mind things being spoiled, I suppose.
@kyleforrester87 It’s 100% happened to me with games and movies (I had a huge TLoU2 death spoiled this way before it even came out). It’s happened to a few friends, too. And so many of these videos put a spoilery image or text front and center for attention.
Weird hack but if there’s something I’m interested in coming soon, I stop watching any and all YT videos on the topic like two months in advance. That seems to help.
Turns out the copies were obtained illegally. Not exactly sure if that means retailers sold them early of if they were stolen.
If possible, SE should consider release the game in advance of a few days. Discs are likely already shiped to sellers and it may be even easier to make digital copies available to download. This would be beneficial for those that already purchased the game and also for players that want it day one without preorder.
As a spoiler/leak hater I suggest things to folks:
-Adjust your Youtube main page as something other than "main page". Like Music, News etc.
-Use "Improved Youtube" and close recommendations, cards, next up plays etc.
-Use "Spoiler Protection 2.0" and write the keywords related to the thing you don't want to get spoiled.
Before I used to get spoiled a lot on Youtube but with these it really decreased dramatically. I would beat the ***** out of those Youtube videos with spoiler thumbnails and headlines just to get wievs. *****! Hope they suffer from terrible deaths.
@Scottyy lmao a bit harsh, but I feel you. Spoilers in YouTube thumbnails are the worst.
@Grimwood Damn. No need to be so rude.
@Gaia093 If it's a small independent, they probably wont get sent future releases. If it's Amazon, probably nothing
@Scottyy Bookmarking your subscriptions page instead of the YouTube homepage helps a lot, plus setting subscriptions as a shortcut on your phone and using that instead of the icon installed by the app.
Comment blockers are great too.
I think the is the only website I use daily where I don't block the comments.
Yeah those all are ways to protect.
More reason to go digital.
@kyleforrester87 happened to me with Horizon Forbidden West with a recommended video that had a thumbnail of the last few minutes of the game and even with a spoiler Name in thumbnail.
@Cordyceps so they should be happy that people have acquired the game early and will possibly spoil and ruin The experience for several others?
@kyleforrester87 happened to me a few times. Most recently with kingdom tears and spiderverse. I think signing out of my account helped tho
@kyleforrester87 it happened to me when GoWR came out , bought the game day one of course and I didn't have much time to play it first , then going into YouTube and the recommended videos spoiled soooo much for me .
@mariomaster96
Ugh that is legitimately the worst. Your just looking through your YouTube feed not even thinking about looking up the game in question and then randomly just BAM! Here's a big plot moment. I got The Blades of Chaos part in GOW 2018 ruined for me that way. Really frustrating!
I only wanted to know what the Trophies are and now I know.
1. It’s out in a week.
2. If you want to avoid spoilers, use some self control.
Game leaks to me have always seemed like indirect publicity stunts. Even for something like Last of Us 2. Sure the situations are real, but it indirectly creates conversation & buzz. In my opinion, its impossible to spoil a video game as its all about gameplay experience & immersion.
@CRASH64 when you already know what the end boss fight is going to be in advance due to a spoiler then it can be immersion breaking and diminish the gameplay experience because you don’t get the “holy cow this is incredible” while playing in sequence for the first time. You’re anticipating it the whole time, so it’s less thrilling when the moment occurrence, and you’d otherwise be surprised.
@kcarnes9051 you can be right, but im different i guess. Knowing the final battle (with or without context) is very different from actually playing through the game, experiencing the story on screen & actually beating the final boss. Like who is the final boss? Sephiroth as a dragon with a rotating yin yang belly? If its not that, ill be alright.
@dschons Is that really a thing? I’ve received games early and played them on Xbox.
@dschons you can play early with discs with Xbox , also with digital if you switch regions on the Xbox ,eg new Zealand
@CRASH64 the way you phrased it—as your opinion that games can’t be spoiled—came across as if you were applying it generally to other people’s experiences, as well, not just your own. So in other words, it’s impossible to spoil a game for you in your opinion.
Seriously, roll on the next generation and the end of physical.
@kyleforrester87 yes it happened to me with resi4 and bayonetta 3, really really anoying, and it also depends on what you consider a spoiler
Just give me the game early! Problem solved.
@kcarnes9051 absolutely. I would never be condescending. I just feel if i said it, its obviously my personal opinion & not factual.
this must be another side effect of social media and reason it should be outlawed. People used to watch films and read books and play games weeks, months, years after release without panicking over being spoiled. Kinda wish I had seen spoilers before playing ff7 and ending up with no healer in the shrine of ancients 😂
Thankfully I managed to avoid all of those leaks. Still much appreciated for sharing the team's warning!
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