Journalist Cendre Parish confronts Yoshida on the issue of diversity in the game.
The development team final fantasy 16 is criticized for its lack of representation of diversity in the game.
Naoki Yoshida, the producer of FFXVI, recently gave an interview to IGN. Asked about the presence of colorful characters in the upcoming episode, Yoshida explained that FFXVI’s design concept focused on medieval Europe, incorporating the historical, cultural, political, and anthropological norms of that period. This response provoked strong reactions from people of color, who felt excluded.
An answer that annoys fans of color.
The Verge reporter Cendre Parish disagreed with Yoshida’s response. She said that as a Final Fantasy fan and as a black person, she too had a problem with that response. Parish even had the opportunity to chat with Yoshida and the senior FFXVI development team. She asked if Yoshida had a chance to hear fan feedback on the color, and if he had anything to say to fans who might be disappointed with this lack of representation. However, Yoshida’s response did not convince Parish.
Yoshida noted how the “over-incorporation” of ethnic diversity would violate the narrative boundaries they had set for themselves. He also pointed out how the “excessive inclusion” of people of color would “violate narrative boundaries” and in his response he touched on the different peoples and cultures the development team was able to include in FFXVI.
Fans can’t wait to see how Final Fantasy XVI handles diversity, while remembering that the series has featured characters of color before, like Barret Wallace in FF7 from 1997. Whether that criticism will affect sales remains to be seen. . and the reception of Final Fantasy XVI when it’s slated for release later this year.