Saudi Arabia To Ban Final Fantasy XVI Video Game

Square Enix was unwilling to make the required changes by the country

According to the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, Saudi Arabia has banned the release of Square Enix's Final Fantasy XVI in the country as of Wednesday. The government's Ministry of Media did not explain the ban but stated that Square Enix was “unwilling to make the required changes.” The ESRB rated the game as "Mature" due to its violent and sexually suggestive content.

This is common, as Saudi Arabia frequently restricts games that do not meet their media standards. The game is being developed by Square Enix's Creative Business Unit III division, with Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida and director Hiroshi Takai at the helm.

Final Fantasy XVI is an upcoming role-playing video game developed by Square Enix. It is the sixteenth main installment in the Final Fantasy series, which has been highly acclaimed for its engaging storylines, characters, and gameplay. The game is set in a new world with new characters and promises to offer an exciting and immersive gaming experience. Final Fantasy XVI is scheduled to be released on June 22, 2023, for PlayStation 5, and it will be a console exclusive until December 31, 2024.