Final Fantasy 16: Valisteia and her environment

Square Enix sheds light on the vastness of Valistea’s environment in Final Fantasy 16.

Inspired by medieval Europe, Valistea is the world of Final Fantasy 16. It is the land of the Mother Crystals, huge crystal mountains that infuse the surrounding lands with aether. Great peoples grew up around each of these crystals and eventually established an uneasy peace with them, until the Black Plague began to encroach on the lands. Valistea is divided into two main continents: the Ash Continent in the east and the Storm Continent in the west. This fictional world is geographically and culturally isolated from the rest of the Earth.

Introducing a closer look at the world of Valistea in Final Fantasy XVI. #FF16 pic.twitter.com/ezqxe35Co1

— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) March 25, 2023

Peoples of Valistea:

• Archduchy of Rosalia (ruled by the Emissary of the Phoenix, Primal Fire): A country made up of several small provinces and located in the center-west of Valistea. In these troubled times, when the threat of the Black Scourge hangs over the world, the archduchy is going through a dark period in its history. Rosalia draws her ethereal resources from her Dragonbreath mother crystal, which towers over a volcanic island off the coast.
• Sacred Empire of Sangbrek (ruled by the Emissary of Bahamut, the Primal Light): A nation whose capital Oriflamme is built around the Crystal Mother of Shefdrak, positioning itself as the most religious nation in the world. Enjoying a comfortable standard of living thanks to the benefits of the aether of his Mother Crystal, Sangbrek advocates the worship of a single god, and his ruler receives the title of Saint.
• Kingdom of Valoed (ruled by Odin’s Emissary, Primal Darkness): Sole ruler on an isolated continent, the country dominates the eastern continent of the Gray Elevation. Having struggled since ancient times with the so-called barbarian tribes, especially the orcs, the country has gained a certain amount of stability thanks to its current king, who is said to have managed to pacify the region and put an end to centuries of struggle. Holders of the Mother Crystal of Echinedrak, the Valedua enjoy great influence among other nations due to their impressive military power.
• Republic of Dalmecia: It is governed by a council made up of representatives from its five provinces. His Mother Crystal, Fangdrak, merges with the high mountain peaks to form a natural bastion for the earth. Access to this vast source of aether gave him control over almost the entire southern part of Valistea. An emissary of Titan, Earth’s Firstborn, sits on the council of Dalmecia as an advisor, giving him a special role.
• Iron Kingdom: The seat of a Christian faith that worships the crystal itself. The Iron Kingdom is an archipelago located in the western part of Valistea, not far from the continent of Vert Ponan. With control of the Dragon Breath Mother Crystal, he disputes his ethereal resources with his Rosalian neighbor. Its inhabitants, nicknamed the Rustbloods, speak their own language and have little contact with the mainland. They regard the Emissaries as hateful creatures and execute those born in their territory.
• Crystal Dominion: This self-contained territory lies in the center of Valistea and harbors the largest known Crystal Mother, Kodrak. Due to its exceptionally strategic position, this small country has been at the center of many armed conflicts throughout its history. These disputes eventually led to a non-aggression pact based on the principle of an equitable distribution of Kodrak’s ether revenues among each country. Officially, it now has the status of a dominion and is therefore not a sovereign state per se; representatives from each of the other countries sit on its council. It also has the peculiarity of being the only country not to accept an emissary.

Presentation of Final Fantasy 16 at PAX East 2023

Relive the presentation of Final Fantasy 16 at PAX East 2023 with producer Naoki Yoshida and translator Michael-Christopher Koji Fox.

Final Fantasy 16 will be released exclusively on PS5 on June 22nd.