The realm of open-world games may appear overcrowded at times, and in 2022 already there have been several open-world titles released includingHorizon Forbidden West,Elden Ring, andGhostwire: Tokyo, to name a few. However, there are always developers looking to reinvent the genre and prove to gamers that there is still plenty of innovation that is possible. One of the upcoming games that plans to do this Luminous Productions’Forspoken, which takes commonIsekai tropesand applies them to a story about a rough-and-tough New Yorker who finds herself mysteriously transported to dangerous fantasy lands. The game has caught the attention of gamers for various reasons, including the protagonist’s penchant for making witty quips and the unique travel methods on offer that allow players to zip across the landscape at stunning speeds.
Forspoken’s trailers and gameplay reveals have let gamers get a glimpse of what they can expect from the upcoming game. However, as soon as gamers feel like they will finally experience Frey Holland’s adventure, the game’s release date keeps getting pushed back.Forspokenhas had a long development history fraught with difficulty, but its delay into 2023 may ultimately be a good thing for Square Enix, and it ensures that the company will have an upcoming year full of headliners.
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Forspoken’s Long Development Story
Luminous Productions is a Square Enix studio formed in 2018, and it is mostly composed of the same team that worked onFinal Fantasy 15. The studio is named after Square Enix’s Luminous Engine, which was used for FinalFantasy 15, and it is being used forForspoken’s development. Consequently, gamers should expect some similarities betweenFinal Fantasy 15andForspoken, althoughForpsokenhas proven itself to have a unique identity. The studio has lofty ambitions, and it plans to expand beyond gaming and create other entertainment content, too.
Forspokenwas first revealed in 2020, but back then it was still calledProject Athia. Since then, plenty of information has been revealed about the game. The team behind it is a very competent one that features more than a few big names, includingUncharted’s Amy Hennig who will serve as a writer andGod of War’s Bear McCreary who will serve as a music composer.Forspokenwill be a narrative-based adventure, and the team has also emphasized ensuring that players have a visually stunning, cinematic experience. Hence, the game will feature ray-tracing and large-scale environments.
Forspokenfollows Frey, a New York girl whose life has been anything but rosy. Her life takes an interesting turn when she is transported to the magical land of Athia, where she discovers she has magical powers. Things are not at peace in Athia because it is being controlled by Tantas, which are dangerous and powerful matriarchs. Frey will have to learn to master her powers and deal with the Tantas if she hopes to find her way hope. Fortunately, she will not be going on her adventure alone, and some companions will help her along, including a talking cuff named Cuff, Johedy the archivist, and a kind woman named Auden.
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Forspokenwas initially scheduled to be released on 11 July 2025, however, it was later pushed back significantly and was given a new release date of 11 October. On Twitter, the developers claimed that they decided to delay the game to give them a little more time to polish it. Things seemed to be going fine, but it was recently announced thatForspokenhas been delayed once again, this time to July 11, 2025. The developers assured gamers that all the game elements are complete, and it is all just a matter of dealing with the final polishing phase. They also revealed that they would be sharing more ofForspokensoon.
While delays can be disappointing, it may be worth it if it results in a more polished game in the end. Although the gameplay shown in trailers is very enticing, some have pointed out thatForspoken’s vast open world does look emptyand unpopulated at times. The extra development time could allow Luminous Productions to make Aitha feel more alive. Furthermore,Forspoken’s delay helps to bolster Square Enix’s line-up of 2023 games, and the company could have an endless line of hits next year.
2023 is looking good for Square Enix
WithForspoken’s delay, it will now be released alongside a fewFinal Fantasygames, which makes it a good year for gamers who are fans of fantasy experiences. The long-awaitedFinal Fantasy 16will focus on the land of Valisthea, which is cursed by the Blight, and the game is slated for a summer 2023 release. Gamers can also look forward toFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthin winter 2023. It serves as the sequel to 2020’sFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.
There are also a few games that have not had confirmed release dates but will possibly release next year. This includesKingdom Hearts 4, which has been in development since 2020. In 2021, an NVIDIA GeForce Now database leak featured a list of several unreleased games, and it includedKingdom Hearts 4with a September 2023 release date, though this has not been confirmed or denied by Square Enix. Gamers could also possibly see Dragon Quest 12 in 2023, asDragon Questcreator Yuji Horii addressed fans in May this year to assure them that the team is still hard at work on the game.
For gamers who were eagerly awaitingForspoken’s release, the delay is likely a huge disappointment. However, the extra time spent in development will result in a superior game, and there are still plenty of great games left to fill up the remainder of 2022. Square Enix benefits from the delay, as it now has an upcoming year stuffed with great releases, including a few from its flagshipFinal Fantasyfranchise.
Forspokenis scheduled to release on 08 July 2025 on PC and PS5.
