Final Fantasy XVI Team Recommends Japanese Players to Play with English Dub Because of No Japanese Lip Sync

During the latest Final Fantasy XVI pre-launch stream comprising the following staff, the team addressed feedback only applicable to the game’s Japanese audience or those who simply prefer the Japanese dub:

• Producer – Naoki Yoshida
• Director – Hiroshi Takai
• Creative Director – Kazutoyo Maehiro
• Localization Director – Michael-Christopher Koji Fox
• Art Director – Hiroshi Minagawa
• Combat Director – Ryota Suzuki
• Composer – Soken Masayoshi
• Cinematic Manager – Takeo Suzuki

Despite the broadcast being in Japanese, various notes were still provided with English subtitles, making life a bit easier for me. Regardless, a section of the stream regarded feedback the team received following the demo, and one specific part was about the Japanese lip sync.

The Japanese audience critiqued the title’s lack of proper lip sync for their language since Final Fantasy XVI’s development utilized the English dub at its core. The staff replied that they could not make it work since the facial movements are based on facial capture data with those who performed the English dub.

Unfortunately, AI tools would not work adequately, so the team has recommended Japanese players try the game with the English dub since the lip sync is outfitted for that language.

This is a pretty wild scenario since, for Japanese games, it’s usually vice versa. How the tables have turned.

UPDATE: As a slight update, Yoshida stated that he recommends Japanese players experience the game with English voices on a second playthrough. Thanks to FFinformer in our comments for letting us know and making us check Yoshida’s exact wording accompanying the text on stream.

Our team’s Ryuji provided the following translation:

“Now, moving on…ah, yes. English voices! Do try playing with English voices on a second playthrough, perhaps. I have a feeling that you can really appreciate the realism conveyed by the English voices.”

You can view the full broadcast housing this information below:

Final Fantasy XVI is set to be a more action-heavy entry than its predecessors, with a Devil May Cry V designer even taking the helm. Throughout the title, players will control the protagonist, Clive, as he confronts various Dominants, humans who have been cursed with the power to become Eikons.

Clive is the “First Shield of Rosaria,” sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, who’s the Dominant of Phoenix. However, following a certain tragedy, Clive swears revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit.

The producer, Naoki Yoshida, describes this game as akin to his experience with the first Final Fantasy, as “playing the lead in an epic motion picture.” The reasoning for this title’s action-oriented approach and more classical fantasy setting was to “appeal to as wide a range of gamers as possible.” Moreover, “there will be a “comprehensive support system in place for players who aren’t too confident with action games.”

In case you missed it, check out our preview.

You can download the official Final Fantasy XVI demo now.