Final Fantasy XVI wonāt be available for sale in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, apparently because Square Enix wonāt āmake the necessary modifications.ā
For most of the world, Final Fantasy XVI will finally get its launch in June ā but not in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the game has been blocked from sale.
We know this because Saudi Arabiaās media authority put out a statement on its Twitter account ā one handily translated by Resetera.
āFor #FinalFantastXIV fans, we would like to clarify that it has not been released in the Kingdom,ā the tweet reads, ādue to the publisherās unwillingness to make the necessary modifications.ā
ŁŁ ŲŲØŁ ŁŲ¹ŲØŲ© #FinalFantasyXIVŲ ŁŁŲÆ Ų§ŁŲŖŁŲ¶ŁŲ ŲØŲ£ŁŁŲ§ ŁŁ ŲŖŁŲ³Ų ŲØŲ§ŁŁ Ł ŁŁŲ©Ų ŁŲ°ŁŁ ŲØŲ³ŲØŲØ Ų¹ŲÆŁ Ų±ŲŗŲØŲ© Ų§ŁŁŲ§Ų“Ų± ŲØŲ„Ų¬Ų±Ų§Ų” Ų§ŁŲŖŲ¹ŲÆŁŁŲ§ŲŖ Ų§ŁŁŲ§Ų²Ł Ų©.
Ų§ŁŁŁŲ¦Ų© Ų§ŁŲ¹Ų§Ł Ų© ŁŁŲ„Ų¹ŁŲ§Ł #Ų§ŁŁ Ų±Ų¦Ł_ŁŲ§ŁŁ Ų³Ł ŁŲ¹ #ŲŖŲµŁŁŁ_Ų§ŁŲ£ŁŲ¹Ų§ŲØ pic.twitter.com/5OuWZJGEvX
— Ų§ŁŲŖŲµŁŁŁ Ų§ŁŲ¹Ł Ų±Ł ŁŁŲ£ŁŲ¹Ų§ŲØ Ų§ŁŲ„ŁŁŲŖŲ±ŁŁŁŲ© (@VGAR_SA) May 3, 2023
Weāve known for some time that Final Fantasy XVI is going for a darker, more sombre tone, but it isnāt remotely clear what, exactly, the kingdomās media authority has taken exception to.
As pointed out by Kotaku, though, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) does provide an insight into some of FFXVIās saucier moments. The gameās rated M for āBlood and gore, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, violence.ā
Meanwhile, the rating summary describes all sorts of gore and mayhem, including blood-spatter effects, throat-slitting, and assorted impalements. Meanwhile, āThe game contains some sexual material,ā the summary adds:
āā¦a character caressing and straddling a man in bed; references to prostitution—sexual moaning sounds in a brothel; dialogue such as, āIād be happy to show you…provided I can afford itā and ā…thank you for your service. My chamber is just upstairs.ā Some characters are depicted with partially exposed breasts and buttocks.ā
All of which sounds amazing, obviously. Whatever it was that had Saudi Arabiaās media authority clutching its pearls, Square Enix clearly isnāt backing down.
Final Fantasy XVI is out on 22 June 2023 for PlayStation 5.
Read more: Final Fantasy XVI | Logical evolution, or follower of action RPG trends?
