Final Fantasy XV News and Release Date: Major Announcement at Gamescom on August 5

Jul 30, 2015 09:38 PM EDT

Japanese video game publisher Square Enix has announced a major announcement in next week's Gamescom about its biggest global franchise, Final Fantasy XV, one of the most highly-anticipated video games in the market. Gamescom runs August 5-9 in Cologne, Germany.

In a Twitter post, Square Enix said that its next Active Time Report will occur on August. It said in its post, "Next week we'll be streaming Final Fantasy XV ATR 7 on August 5th, 18:00" or 9 AM PDT / 12 Noon EDT. The live stream event can also be seen on Twitch.

During its Gamescom presentation, Square Enix will be featuring "new, never-before-seen" gameplay footage during the Final Fantasy XV event, said Gamespot.

Ahead of the Gamescom, Square Enix executives are still tight-lipped about details of the release of Final Fantasy XV. But rumors are spreading the game will be released sometime in 2016 and will be available in PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms.

Meanwhile, Square Enix CEO of the Americas and Europe Phil Rogers said that the company's director Hajime Tabata wants Final Fantasy XV to embrace Western gamers culture.

He told Examiner.com, "I mean Final Fantasy 15 has been a really great project for us and when you talk to Tabata-san, he really wants to embrace the Western gamers. He knows how important they are and the feedback he's soliciting is from fan events and group discussions."

To realize this vision, Rogers said Tabata has immersed himself from gathering feedbacks from fans of Final Fantasy as well as logging into forums and exchanging emails to anybody who wants to share their ideas about improving the game. Tabata has also brought in more people into the studio to get more feedback, he said.

"It's amazing when people come to [the] office and talk to him and he's really listening. The demo we put out and retuned based on feedback is really important for us. Again, we take our IP very [seriously], we want to build its value," Rogers said.

"It's wonderful when we can announce things like Final Fantasy 7 and when you get the biggest round of applause in the show, it's really humbling. It's the humbling moment when you know it's coming and you can hear people around you anticipating it, that's when you know you've listened and you're doing something very right," Rogers added.

Square Enix has announces its official Gamescom schedule in a press release published in German language:

Wednesday, August 5

  • 9:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with HoneyballLP
  • 11:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with HoneyballLP
  • 1:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with HoneyballLP
  • 4:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show
  • 6:00 p.m. - Active Time Report Final Fantasy XV Live Stream (Twitch)

Thursday, August 6

  • 9:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gregor of RocketbeansTV
  • 11:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gregor of RocketbeansTV
  • 2:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gregor of RocketbeansTV
  • 3:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Q&A with the Development Team
  • 4:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gregor of RocketbeansTV

Friday, August 7

  • 9:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show
  • 11:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gronkh
  • 2:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Gronkh
  • 3:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Q&A with the Development Team
  • 3:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Cosplay Show
  • 5:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show
  • 7:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show

Saturday, August 8

  • 9:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Nino of NinotakuTV
  • 11:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Nino of NinotakuTV
  • 2:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Nino of NinotakuTV
  • 3:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Q&A with the Development Team
  • 3:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Cosplay Show
  • 4:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Nino of NinotakuTV
  • 6:00 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show

Sunday, August 9

  • 9:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Chris & Sep of PietSmiet
  • 11:30 a.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Chris & Sep of PietSmiet
  • 1:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Jay & Hardi of PietSmiet
  • 2:30 p.m. - Final Fantasy XV Stage Show with Jay & Hardi of PietSmiet