Gamescom 2016: What to Expect From Square Enix

Gameplay and Disappointment from Final Fantasy XV

It was recently announced that after the nearly 10 year wait and the set in stone release date from the Final Fantasy XV event, that the game will actually be delayed once more, this time until late November. This has reasonably led to a bit of an uproar, but many who have been waiting ever since the game was called Final Fantasy Versus XIII are content knowing that it’s still releasing this year.

This is still Square Enix’s biggest upcoming game, and they’re sure to realize that. For that reason, although the game was yet again been delayed, it will be one of their biggest showings. Whether it’s new gameplay, new details, or yet another demo (hopefully better than that Titan battle one), something is sure to pop up.

Increasing the chances of this is that the company is undoubtedly aware of the negative attention they’re getting for the delay. What better way to assuage fears than to show a new reason to be hyped and patient?

Don’t Expect any Kingdom Hearts III

Okay, so we aren’t saying that this is an impossible occurrence. It’s 100% possible for Square Enix to drop some Kingdom Hearts III news to get everyone excited and forgetting about any recent delays. It doesn’t even have to be a lot of news. Simply mentioning a single new world or revealing a character will get the hype train rolling at full steam again.

However, the chances of Square Enix actually doing this are pretty slim. They tend to like to keep things in order, and they’ve made it clear that Kingdom Hearts isn’t coming out just yet. There’s a higher probability of this game rearing its head around Tokyo Game Show or perhaps even a later event.

We all want news on Kingdom Hearts, so we don’t blame you for hoping for something to pop up this week, but it’s better to temper that excitement. The week may not be completely devoid of any news about the Square Enix/Disney crossover, though. Kingdom Hearts 2.8 is due out later this year, so there’s at least that to look forward to. 

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided at Gamescom

Another big game that is right on the horizon for Square Enix is Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. While it isn’t a JRPG which is what the company’s fans are foaming at the mouth for, it’s still an entry in a well respected series that is highly anticipated. It’s been several years since we’ve had a chance to step into the augmented shoes of Adam Jensen, and a lot of sci-fi fans are chomping at the bit.

Mankind Divided actually releases a couple of days after Gamescom ends, making this event the perfect last minute push to get attention from gamers everywhere. Expect to see some new gameplay, get a little more info, and maybe find out about some cool features right before the game hits store shelves. 

All of the Other Final Fantasies

World of Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, and more will be present at Gamescom this year. While they may not erase the memory of the recent delay that is still heavy in the hearts of fans around the world, it’s something to be excited about.

Final Fantasy is getting a lot of attention thanks to all of the spin-offs and remasters, and some of them look very intriguing. World of Final Fantasy, with its cutesy art style, and new take on combat. Then there’s the return of FFXII all dolled up for the current generation. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll even get a glimpse of the FFVII Remake. But you may not want to hold your breath for that one. 

Lara Croft at Gamescom

One more hero who will have a whole new cycle of hype revolve around her is Lara Croft. Last year saw the release of Rise of the Tomb Raider exclusively on Xbox, followed by a PC release a few months later. PS4 users were left out in the cold for some time, but now Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is on its way.

While Sony fans are riding pretty high on upcoming exclusives, Square Enix may still feel the need to further work their way into the PS4 playerbase’s good graces. There was a lot of backlash when Rise of the Tomb Raider was first revealed to be a timed exclusive, so they’ll want to make sure that fans are back on board. That means awesome gameplay videos, new features, and just talking about the game a lot leading up to its releases. With Gamescom being a fan event, it’s a great opportunity to remind players that the one game from last year is finally coming to their platform of choice.