Is there co-op in Final Fantasy XVI?

The Final Fantasy games are one of the oldest and most well-known JRPG series, and each entry provides an enjoyable single-player experience. Each Final Fantasy entry changes the formula, which I enjoy because it always gives me something new to enjoy. One thing that has never been done in a mainline Final Fantasy game is co-op, so I was curious if FFXVI would break this tradition.

Does Final Fantasy XVI have multiplayer?

The answer is no—there is no multiplayer or co-op in Final Fantasy XVI. Final Fantasy XVI is a single-player experience and therefore does not support multiplayer of any kind. You cannot play with friends or other players through online or local co-op. This also means there are no cross-play features in Final Fantasy XVI either. This is confirmed by the official listing on the PlayStation store.

Related: Is there a Final Fantasy 16 demo?

On the one hand, many players enjoy playing with a friend, but keeping Final Fantasy XVI single-player allows Square Enix to focus on crafting a thrilling and engaging story. As a result, you can fully enjoy the story and gameplay without having to worry about another player getting in the way or getting ahead of you.

Players will find one change in Final Fantasy XVI's single-player experience: they cannot control their party. Instead, they will solely control Clive while their party members act independently. Many Final Fantasy fans are used to turn-based combat or the more recent real-time action combat, but Final Fantasy XVI will have a new take on combat.

Now you can play with another person if you take turns and hand the controller off during different segments. While this is not true multiplayer, it is a way to play with friends. I prefer to experience the action and story first-hand but look forward to discussing the narrative of FFXVI.

For more information on Final Fantasy XVI, check out Will Final Fantasy 16 be on Game Pass? and Naoki Yoshida says FFXVI isn’t a JRPG, doesn’t like that term on Pro Game Guides.