TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 12, 2025 – Shockwaves from the critical and commercial triumph of action-RPG Expedition 33 are reportedly reaching the development halls of Square Enix, potentially leading to a significant overhaul of the combat system for the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XVII, according to sources familiar with the project.
Expedition 33, developed by the relatively new but now red-hot studio Aether Games, launched last month to near-universal acclaim. Critics and players alike have lauded its deep, kinetic combat, which masterfully blends intense real-time action with strategic depth and party synergy. Its unique "Tactical Stamina" system, dynamic environmental interactions, and fluid character-switching mechanic have set a new benchmark, selling over 2 million copies in its first week and dominating streaming platforms.
The success has seemingly caused significant internal reflection within Square Enix, particularly on the Final Fantasy XVII team, which is still in the early stages of development. Sources indicate that key leads and producers have been intensely studying Expedition 33, holding dedicated play sessions and design meetings to dissect its mechanics and player feedback.
"Expedition 33 didn't just do well; it fundamentally shifted player expectations for what an action-RPG can feel like," commented one anonymous developer familiar with the discussions. "The fluidity combined with genuine tactical weight... it's resonated in a way that's impossible to ignore. There's a real sense that sticking purely to the FFXVI blueprint, or even a more traditional ATB system, might feel like a step backwards now."
This internal reassessment comes hot on the heels of recent comments from Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida regarding the franchise's future direction. In a wide-ranging interview discussing the legacy of FFXVI and the path forward, Yoshida emphasized the need for the series to constantly evolve and surprise its audience.
As Yoshida stated just last week: "The Final Fantasy series has always been about challenging conventions and embracing new ideas. What defines the 'next' Final Fantasy isn't set in stone; it's about capturing the spirit of innovation that has always driven us, while delivering an emotionally resonant experience for a new generation of players." Read the full interview with Yoshida discussing the series' future here.
Sources suggest this philosophy is now being actively applied to FFXVII's combat in light of Expedition 33. While early pre-production concepts reportedly leaned towards refining the real-time action foundation established by FFXVI, there's now a strong push to incorporate elements reminiscent of Expedition 33's strengths. Key areas under consideration include:
- Enhanced Party Dynamics: Moving beyond a single dominant protagonist to a system allowing more seamless, meaningful control and interplay between multiple party members mid-combat.
- Environmental Strategy: Integrating destructible environments, interactive terrain, and positioning to a much greater degree than seen in FFXVI.
- Resource Management Depth: Implementing a stamina or resource system with more strategic trade-offs and consequences than simple cooldowns, demanding more deliberate player choices.
- Synergy Mechanics: Developing deeper systems for party member combination attacks and abilities that require active coordination.
The potential shift isn't without controversy. Some veteran developers within Square Enix reportedly advocate for a return to more strategic, turn-based-inspired systems, seeing Expedition 33's success as validation for complexity rather than pure action. Others caution against chasing trends too directly. However, the prevailing sentiment, amplified by Expedition 33's undeniable impact and Yoshida's public stance on evolution, seems to favor a significant re-imagining.
"The goal isn't to clone Expedition 33," clarified another source. "It's about understanding why it worked so well – the feel, the depth, the player agency – and figuring out how to inject that quintessential Final Fantasy magic into it. The XVII team knows the pressure is immense; they need to deliver something that feels both fresh and fundamentally Final Fantasy."
While no final decisions have been made, and Final Fantasy XVII remains years away, the influence of Expedition 33 is undeniable. Its success has thrown down a gauntlet, challenging one of gaming's oldest franchises to once again reinvent itself. Fans eagerly awaiting any news on FFXVII will now be watching with bated breath to see if Square Enix rises to this unexpected challenge, potentially delivering a combat system that blends the lessons of a daring newcomer with the legendary pedigree of Final Fantasy. Will XVII mark a return to deep strategy, a refinement of pure action, or something entirely new born from this unexpected rivalry? The battle for the future of Final Fantasy's combat has just gotten far more interesting.
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