It may be hard to imagine, but after nearly a decade of waiting, fans will finally be able to get their hands on Final Fantasy XV. It's not often that a game takes a decade to develop, and it's even more uncommon to see a game take that long and actually see a release. Thankfully, with Final Fantasy XV, that's not the case.
Now, as an incentive for players to try out the previously Japan-only Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, Square Enix has confirmed that the demo for Final Fantasy XV, titled Episode Duscae, will be available for download at launch. Fans already knew that Type-0 HD purchases would net them access to the demo, but following rumors that the demo would be delayed - in typical Final Fantasy XV fashion - Square Enix confirmed that the two would ship together.
That's not all - Square Enix has also released a new teaser for the demo alongside the Type-0 HD launch trailer:
For a video that closes out another game's trailer, the new Final Fantasy XV tease is actually pretty great. In it, fans can see previously announced features - for instance, the stealth mechanics and the game's new version of the recurring character Cid. That being said, it's one of the best looks players have gotten of the game's open world - previous demos showed almost nothing but forest. Here, we have caves, ruins, open fields and a small roadside pit stop. There might not be much in the way of story, but with a trailer like this, it's not really necessary.
Composer Nobuo Uematsu's impact on the trailer cannot be understated, either. The legendary composer has worked on nearly all of the core Final Fantasy games, and his score here is phenomenal. For many, Uematsu's music has shaped their favorite experiences with the series, and it's fantastic to see him back in action for Final Fantasy XV. There's an air of familiarity with the score here, and despite the wildly varying gameplay on display, it all feels right at home with that music playing in the background.
Episode Duscae will be the first real chance that fans will have to play the game - ultimately, it could spell doom for the game if it doesn't live up to expectations, or it could push the games to levels of hype previously unseen. Releasing a demo like this is a huge risk for Square Enix - let's hope it pays off.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae are set for release on March 17.
