Gaming

Final Fantasy XVI review: Reigniting the embers of a waning flame

An elixir for the franchise

Published

June 21, 2023

WARNING:
Potential mild spoilers ahead for Final Fantasy XVI.
Turn away now if you want to venture into Valisthea with fresh eyes.

The mainline Final Fantasy games have had a tumultuous past 10 or so years. Some might even argue that the last mainline game to be widely celebrated and critically acclaimed is Final Fantasy X. And that came out in 2001 — well over 20 years ago. Now comes Final Fantasy XVI, exploding into the scene with a new combat system, more mature themes, and the promise of an epic tale.

Fair or not, one can say that Final Fantasy XVI (FF16) carries the burden of reinstating faith in the franchise. Its predecessor, Final Fantasy XV, rose from development hell unpolished and in disjointed parts (a feature film, an animé, a game, and late DLCs).

Helming the latest installment of the franchise is Naoki Yoshida, more commonly known as Yoshi-P. He leads the Creative Business Unit III (CBU3) of Square Enix — the same unit responsible for breathing new life to Final Fantasy IV. His task this time is to do the same, not for a single game, but for the entire mainline series.

A legendary prologue

Joshua Rosfield, the young Phoenix, Dominant of Fire.

Leading up to its launch, there was plenty of skepticism with everything that has been revealed about FF16. While some of it remains, it has largely been extinguished thanks to the game’s demo and from the ashes rose a burning anticipation.

The FF16 demo featured two key segments: the game’s prologue, revealing key details and setting the stage of the epic story, and one that’s combat-focused to warm naysayers into the new battle system.

The Phoenix rises.

The demo created plenty of buzz online, with many saying they’re buying a PlayStation 5 – the console this game is exclusive for – to see what happens next. That’s how gripping the prologue is. It lit a fire that would only burn brighter as you progress to the game.

Clive Rosfield, the second Dominant of Fire

Final Fantasy XVI is told primarily through the lens of Clive Rosfield. The story is told in three key phases of his life: his teens, late 20s, and early 30s. All of which feature monumental events that not only affect him but the entire realm of Valisthea which is where the story is set.

FF16 is hyper focused in telling the story through the trials and tribulations of Clive. Unlike Final Fantasy games that came before it, you control only Clive throughout the game. While you do meet key characters that join your party, exploration and combat is strictly all the second Dominant of Fire.

Throughout the journey, you’ll see his growth from a steadfast knight, to a battle-worn soldier, and finally a leader with purpose. He isn’t the broody protagonist that most associate with Final Fantasy games. Instead, he is an earnest character, dealing with the cards life has dealt him with a strong will.

Shield of Rosaria, Wyvern, and an Outlaw

Clive Rosfield in action.

The biggest change and one of the most talked about aspects of FF16 is its combat. The game switches from turned-based battles to one that’s heavily action-focused. Combat Director Ryota Suzuki lists the likes of Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon’s Dogma among others. He recently called FF16 his “masterpiece.”

Final Fantasy XVI combat starts off simple enough, but deepens as you add more Eikon abilities. You gain these abilities as you progress through the story.

Basically, you have the melee attack (square), magic attack (triangle), Eikon ability (circle), jump (cross/X), and dodge (R1). Holding R2 changes square and triangle to other Eikon abilities. These range from single enemy attacks to those that deal damage to multiple ones, perfect for crowd control.

The game eases you into the battle system.

Different melee, magic, and jump button presses also result in ground and aerial combos. Yours truly isn’t too adept in FF16 swordsmanship. However, more creative action-game veterans shouldn’t be left wanting as there is plenty of room for experimentation. That’s even more true when you add the Eikon abilities to the mix.

Counters and parrying are especially satisfying. Dodging an attack provides you a generous window to counter either with a melee or a magic attack. Parrying results in the enemy being out of balance and leaving them open to taking heavy damage.

It looks like there’s a lot going on, but combat feels more manageable while you play.

Enemies also have a stagger meter. Landing multiple attacks and magic abilities that the enemy is weak too hastens the stagger meter build-up. Once staggered, the enemy is down and you are free to unleash everything in Clive’s arsenal without fear of retaliation.

“Come to me, Ifrit!”

Perhaps one of the biggest draws of Final Fantasy XVI are its Eikon battles. Eikons or Summons are a staple in Final Fantasy games. Usually, these are larger-than-life figures that aid you in battle. In FF16, they feel grander than ever.

The Eikons are very much tied to the story. They are abilities inherited by a select few in Valisthea. Their wielders are called Dominants and they are primarily treated as weapons of war. Whichever kingdom has one gains leverage over the others.

Shiva clashes against Titan.

The Dominants and their Eikons are as follows:

Joshua Rosfield – Phoenix (Fire)
Clive Rosfield – Ifrit (Fire)
Jill Warrick – Shiva (Ice)
Cidolfus Telamon – Ramuh (Lighting)
Benedikta Harman – Garuda (Wind)
Hugo Kupka – Titan (Earth)
Dion Lesage – Bahamut (Light)
Barnabas Tharmr – Odin (Air)

In the world of Valisthea, there’s supposed to be only one Dominant attuned to an element. Clive being a second Eikon of Fire is an anomaly, and so is his ability to absorb the essence of the other Eikons.

Titan Lost towering over everything.

The Eikon battles are as grand and epic as they are made out to be. Without spoiling anything, all I shall say is that these colossal clashes are what legends are made of. These are the spectacle and set pieces that will set Final Fantasy XVI apart from both the rest of the franchise and potentially other action-focused games.

Journey across Valisthea

Clive’s story will have him traveling across Valisthea. And in these travels he shall meet a varied and colorful cast of characters. In classic Final Fantasy fashion, you will be treated to a fair share of adventures and misadventures.

All of these happen in the beautiful but dying landscapes of Valisthea. As the plot goes, the realm is haunted by what they call the Blight. Any area ravaged by it becomes a desolate wasteland where no magic, let alone life, can survive. This drives the many kingdoms to inevitable conflict, battling for whatever land is left.

Valisthea is breathtaking.

As a narrative-driven game, there isn’t much by way of exploration and traversal in FF16. There are no platforming no puzzles to solve. What it does have is a world teeming with stories. Side quests in Valisthea are mere fetch quests and battles, but ingrained in them are world-building narratives both personal and grand. These tales will have you smirking, squirming, and possibly even shedding tears.

Familiar Final Fantasy figures are present like Nektar the Moogle

Speeding through large areas is much easier through Chocobo riding. This, however, can only be unlocked through a side quest about close to halfway through the game. There’s no complicated platforming. What you’re treated to instead are guided paths with breathtaking views and masterful camera work.

Let the Fire burn

Final Fantasy XVI is a tale both grand and grounded. It succeeds in what its immediate predecessor fell short on in combat. It then raises the stakes by weaving into the story what Summons have been treated as all this time — an ace up a sleeve to turn the tides of battle.

At the center of it all is Clive Rosfield — Shield of Rosaria and the second Dominant of Fire. His story is personal but the consequences have repercussions in the entire realm of Valisthea. It’s a delicate balance that was handled with excruciating care and executed with surgical precision.

Final Fantasy XVI is under a lot of heat. But we wager, it’ll burn through it all with inextinguishable flames.

Final Fantasy XVI is out June 22.
Review copy provided by Sony PlayStation.

Gaming

The next Elder Scrolls game is called Sentinel

And it will be set in Hammerfell.

Published

November 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.

Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.

The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.

Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.

Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.

Gaming

Wild Rift Patch 7.3, celebrates K/DA comeback

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER

Published

November 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.

After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.

To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.

Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins

The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.

The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.

The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.

The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.

Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds

Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.

One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.

Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.

The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.

Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.

Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.

Jungle changes reward efficient farming

Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.

The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.

Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.

These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.

Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.

Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.

Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.

Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster

Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.

Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.

Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.

Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.

These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.

Ranked play and game modes get updates

Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.

The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.

Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.

Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.

Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift

With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.

K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.

Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.

Gaming

Petit Planet launches December 4

HoYoverse’s cozy life sim arrives soon

Published

November 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

HoYoverse will launch Petit Planet, its first cozy galactic life simulation game, on December 4, 2026. The game will be available on PC, iOS, and Android, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release planned for 2027.

The announcement was made during the Petit Planet Pre-Launch Special Program on November 1. HoYoverse also revealed more details about the game’s characters, gameplay features, and launch events.

Build a planet and meet new Neighbors

In Petit Planet, players take on the role of Planet Tenders who travel across the Starsea with Oumuamua, a Starsea Spirit said to listen to people’s wishes.

Each player starts with their own planet, where they plant a Luca Seed that grows into a Luca Arbor. This tree gradually shapes the planet’s landscape, seasons, and ecosystem.

Players will also meet various Neighbors, including Planet Coordinator Mobai and Starsea Racer Elsasani. Getting to know these characters allows players to develop friendships and discover their individual stories.

Beyond their home planets, players can explore scattered Islets across the Starsea. They can also visit the Galactic Bazaar to play games, participate in auctions, and share their creations with others.

Launch events offer free rewards

HoYoverse has prepared several events to celebrate the game’s launch.

Players can enter a pre-registration lucky draw through the official website for a chance to win prizes. Regular gameplay will also offer more than 1,000 clothing and furniture items for free.

The Besties, Made to Match! event rewards players who invite two friends to pre-register. Each participant will receive an exclusive clothing item.

Starting November 1, the Launch a Planet event will let players design their own planets through the official event website. Participants will also have a chance to win surprise grand prizes.

The first Petit Planet Seasonal Creation Event will begin alongside the game’s launch. Selected fan creations can win cash prizes, in-game rewards, and official merchandise.

Players can also visit the game’s official X account after the special program to receive a Moving Guide and join a giveaway featuring a suitcase, gift cards, and an exclusive luggage tag.

Pre-register for Petit Planet

Petit Planet is now available for pre-registration on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Epic Games Store. Players can search for the game on these platforms to pre-register and receive a notification when it launches.

The game arrives globally on December 4, 2026, for PC, iOS, and Android. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2027.