Final Fantasy XV launched back in November of 2016, and since then it’s become an interesting beast indeed. The game went through development hell for years, eventually transforming into the game we know, the story of Noctis Lucis Calem and his buddies. Square Enix has since expanded the game repeatedly with crossover content with various games as well as a whole stable of DLC episodes which added new scenarios to the main story.
The original set of DLC comprised Episodes Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto, alongside a variety of bonus in-game items. The game was then further expanded with the COMRADES update which allowed players to create custom characters and take them through an online version of the game. The publisher originally announced that another set of DLC, focusing on minor characters and expanding the backstory of the antagonist and protagonist. That plan fell through in November as the team was refocused on other efforts after the departure of director Hajime Tabata.
Warning to all, spoilers for Final Fantasy XV lie ahead.
Ardyn is the main antagonist of the game, ultimately ending the game by doing battle with Noctis after the long journey he has undertaken with his best friends. The story told along the way is one of growth and comradery, and it ends in a really bitter sweet way. One of the defining characteristics of the game in my opinion was the way in which it handled various characters. The individual backstories of the major characters are something that Square Enix sought to focus on with the various DLC episodes, and now the final update to the game will focus on Ardyn, as the other ones focusing on Noctis, Lunafreya, and Aranea had been cancelled.
Square Enix also released an anime-based prologue for this new DLC episode.
Final Fantasy XV is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. If you’d like to play the game, with all of the previous content included, you can check out the Royal Edition of the game.
