As reported by IGN (opens in new tab), Final Fantasy 16 for PC will have to wait another six months, according to an ad shared by PlayStation's official Twitter account (opens in new tab) Part of the sizzle reel introducing FF16 to "Final Fantasy 16 will launch in summer 2023; PS5 exclusive for 6 months."

I think this is a pretty clear statement, but the waters are somewhat muddied by the exciting new console frontier of timed exclusives we've explored in recent years. Deathloop, for example, was a "PlayStation exclusive" that was only available on PlayStation and PC in 2021, with the Xbox version coming out a year later. In other words, the exclusivity period is six months, but there is no certainty that the PC version will be released six months after the PS5 launch. We contacted Square Enix and will update this article as soon as we receive a clear answer.

Unless we hear more from Square Enix, the only way to know what the timing of the port will be is to refer to the recent history of the PC version of the main Final Fantasy game. Namely, there was an 18-month gap between the console versions of Final Fantasy 15 (excluding Xbox) and the PC version, and a similar delay between the PS4 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the PC version of Epic Game Store.

Given that, a six-month delay not only seems plausible, it also seems like an improvement over the wait we endured in the past. However, I still feel bad. Square Enix is getting better at supporting the PC as a platform, putting out stable releases with more robust graphics menus, and releasing more games like "NieR Replicant," "Stranger of Paradise," or the upcoming "Crisis Core Reunion," as well as simultaneous releases of lesser-known games such as "Reunion.

Such timed delays bother me, as they are a sticking point to an earlier era of console competition and porting woes, something that PC Final Fantasy fans should be a little wary of for not buying the PS5, as Final I don't think Fantasy Fever is at a pitch that would encourage the purchase of a PS5 as it otherwise would not have happened.

Now I am starting to sound like a console war theorist, which is the worst thing that can come out of this situation. If you're looking for more information about the next Final Fantasy, check out our guide to everything we know so far about FF16 (opens in a new tab).