Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata recently discussed the storytelling goals of Square Enix's upcoming RPG, citing Naughty Dog's The Last of Us as a source of inspiration.

In an interview with Examiner, Tabata said the studio is aiming to deliver a narrative "where the gameplay and storytelling are really one in the same," noting "it's important that the story progresses through the gameplay in a very unforced way, in a similar way that it was done with The Last of Us."


The director also shared a few details on the story itself, saying "a really big part of the game" centers around the "emotional journey" of Noctis as he "goes from being a young prince in waiting to becoming the king of the country."

In addition to Noctis' growth as a person, Final Fantasy XV will also explore the bond he has with his father. "The car that Noctis and his friends drive through the world is actually the car that he received from his father as a memento," Tabata said. "Through that you sort of see his connection with his father."

Friendship and love will play role in the plot as well, but Tabata was careful to point out that "it's not going to be a love story." That said, the narrative will incorporate "elements of love and romance within the broader story" to convey the growth of Noctis throughout his journey.


Final Fantasy XV is set to release sometime later this year for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and is now playable from start to finish.