And so we are now reaching the end of the line for Final Fantasy XV. We have set the stage with the likes of Kingsglaive and Brotherhood, covered the main game itself, and most recently tackled Episode Ardyn. But that was all leading up to this piece, in which we cover the end of XV’s story. This also marks the start of a brand new category here at TaylorTalksEntertainment. We also now do book reviews so let us waste no more time and dive in. This is Final Fantasy XV: Dawn of the Future!
Introduction & Pre-production
Now to explain why Dawn of the Future exists in the form it does we need to take a deeper look at exactly what happened to the second wave of planned DLC for XV. 2018 saw the release of Royal Edition, which had bundled all the content released for XV up to that point and even included a revamped endgame. But Tabata and team weren’t quite done with what they had planned for the game.
Not long after the release of Royal Edition the development team of XV announced not only Episode Ardyn but also three additional DLCs focused around the characters of Aranea dealing with fall of the Niflheim Empire detailed in Chapters 10-13 of the main game. Also, an episode set around the previously deceased Lunafreya set before the start of the final chapter of the main game, and finally the last episode set around Noctis giving us an alternate final chapter as well as the true ending of the game. This project was dubbed Dawn of the Future.
Those who have followed XV’s development cycle and press releases know this didn’t exactly pan out in its intended form as three out the four DLCs were cancelled with Tabata leaving the company shortly thereafter. Publicly we weren’t given much of a reason behind the cancellation of the DLCs. But the shifting priorities of Square Enix likely played a factor in the decision as several high priority projects were in the works for the company. For example, Kingdom Hearts 3, which would be released the following year, as well as the ongoing development of the first installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake project.
That being said the DLCs outside of Episode Ardyn were cancelled and the story they planned to tell would remain untold, in game form that is… However, the XV development team would have a chance to finish telling their story in book form. It is by no means ideal and it is a change in medium regarding how their story is delivered. But I and many others were thankful that the developers got to share the story they wished to tell, in this format at least.
Synopsis & Writing
Our story begins as Episode Ardyn did with the would-be chosen king being forsaken by the gods and in turn forsaking the world in pursuit of his revenge. When the gods would have Ardyn play a pawn he rejects their ploy in an act of defiance. Little did he know he had just laid the foundation for the world of Eos and the people within it to free themselves from the dominion of the gods and charter a new future for the star.
Ardyn: A Savior Lost
Dawn of the Future begins despite being put into production after Episode Ardyn. It still covers the events of the episode as these events of DLC actually form the backbone and foundation of this story. The novel is comprised of four chapters with each relating to a certain character viewpoint and cancelled DLC. I won’t spend much time discussing Episode Ardyn’s part in this story as I already covered it last week but given the medium transfer from Video Game to book it allowed for an expansion of the narrative material in a way that would not have been possible in game form.
Emperor Aldercapt of the Niflheim Empire was a character we saw and heard very little of within the main game and accompanying DLCs, but Ardyn’s section of this story helps illuminate a lot about who the man was and how Ardyn and Verstael contributed to his fall from grace. They also planted the seeds for a critical character in this novel within said section. So, while the material may be somewhat familiar to those that played Episode Ardyn, this section is definitely worth a revisit alone, for what it brings to the overall story.
Aranea: Beginning of the End
The second chapter of Dawn of the Future focuses on Commodore Aranea, supporting character fan favorite, as she navigates the fall of the Empire, an event that we hear of in the main game but never actually got to see. Seeing exactly how the Nifleheim Empire collapsed is quite an experience and offers some payoff to events that happened not only in the main game of XV, but also in the prequel film Kingsglaive. This chapter also serves to reinforce that this was always intended to be included with the game but never got the chance to do so due to the shuttering of XV content support.
This chapter also introduces us to Sol, a key character tied to not only the background of Nifleheim but someone who will also be a critical part of this novel going forward, particularly as we head into Chapter Three. This chapter also gives us a resolution to a recurring antagonist present from the main game of XV in Loqi. After being fought by Noctis and friends a couple of times in the base game he disappears never to be seen again, UNTIL now.
Turns out he was given a super-secret mission involving getting Sol to safety and his last act sees him entrusting not only Sol’s safety but also the future of Nifleheim to Aranea before he makes a valiant last stand against the daemon horde overwhelming the Imperial capital. This chapter also sees the return of the Diamond Weapon from Kingsglaive with Aranea and her band of soldiers being all that stand between it and the destruction of Tenebrae.
Aranea was a character we had several glimpses of across the runtime of XV DLC. But this was the longest period of time we spent with her and the first of us experiencing her as the viewpoint character. This chapter is largely a forgone conclusion as we know Aranea, Biggs, and Wedge would survive the fall of Gralea and go on to help Noctis and company enter the embattled city. But this chapter is more focused on exploring a previously unknown period in the timeline. The fall of the Empire is a very significant event within the story of XV and exploring it is quite a treat. And each corresponding chapter has associated concept art detailed in the book with how they planned to implement these set pieces in gameplay. This chapter would have seen Aranea travelling through various ziplines across Gralea in a matter befitting a Dragoon and taking the fight to the massive Diamond Weapon.
Lunafreya: Choosing Freedom
Chapter Three marks the first time we would be getting an extended look at XV’s world of ruin outside of the Comrades multiplayer expansion. And when the Dawn of the future DLC was announced this particular story very likely had many interested in the setting as well as who the story would be focused around. Choosing Freedom is set after the 10-year gap between Chapter 13 and 14. Set right before Noctis would awaken from his reflection. The protagonists of this story are a grown up Sol and a recently returned from the dead, Princess Lunafreya.
Given how XV’s plot was constantly working in the background even when not on screen and Luna was very much a part of that, a piece of the XV story set around her proved to be eye-catching and many looked forward to what the story had to tell. Luna is brought back from the dead at the behest of the Draconian Bahamut as he evidently has a new calling for her, granted the ability to absorb the starscourge from others and by extent reverse daemonification. Only one other soul in two millennia has been given that power by the gods and it was the very same man who had spurned the gods in seeking his revenge. Believing her new calling is to confront Ardyn; Lunafreya begins her quest alongside Sol to reach the daemon infested Insomnia. But as her journey progresses she begins to question the motives of the Draconian as well as the beliefs that she had held dear since childhood.
This chapter is immensely important only for what it brings to the story as well as the characters within. We were introduced to Sol in the previous chapter but are given a much more extended look at her past the time skip in what could be considered an underexplored setting in the XV universe. As great as Sol is, that pales in comparison for what this chapter does for Lunafreya who, by and large, was underutilized throughout the entire XV saga. This chapter is without question the largest exposure we’ve had to Luna and is instrumental in character growth. Her main game appearances saw her confident in her calling as Oracle yet coming back to life and being forced to question the validity of the gods’ aims for Eos challenges beliefs she’s held dear for her entire life. I could have bought this book just for what it added to Luna’s character and her arc, and the journey she goes on doesn’t disappoint.
Noctis: The Final Glaive
The final chapter has us return to the perspective of Noctis as it actually begins during his reflection inside the crystal where he not only learns what the Draconian intends for him, but also the true depths of Lucis’ history, including how Ardyn fell and the gods’ part in it all. When Noctis finally awakens on Angelgard Island the story quickly shows us that things are not as simple as they were in the main game.
Meeting up with Sol at Galdin Quay, Noctis wastes no time in heading for Insomnia where both Ardyn and Luna await. The mission passed down from Bahamut to Luna was but a ploy to deceive her. His true aim is to enact Teraflare, reducing all life on the star to nothing, with Luna being the pawn Ardyn refused to be. However, Luna has plans of her own and seeks out Ardyn in the hopes of securing his aid against the Draconian and bringing peace to the star once and for all
Pieces for this finale had been planted in the main game and Dawn of the Future seeks to bring about the true ending of the XV story. Our protagonists reject the dominion of the gods in order to bring about a new dawn. Much of the concept art included with the novel promises an epic final encounter between Noctis and friends along with the unlikely aid of Ardyn against the Draconian in a battle for the fate of the star. Everything from Kingsglaive to this story has been building up to this moment. Dawn of the Future is a tale of rejecting providence and the schemes of the gods, but it is also the tale of two brothers torn apart by the ambitions of said gods finding reconciliation and the lost savior finding peace after two millennia of suffering.
Pacing & Extra Content
Dawn of the Future is a 400-page novel with the story itself ending on page 379. Each chapter contributes a pivotal piece of the story being told and despite being planned as separate extensions of the story they come together magnificently with each chapter building upon the previous one until the finale. A concern of mine going into this would be the process of adapting a video game storyline to book form, and the novel wasted no time in putting those fears to rest. This novel finds a nice balance between action, dialogue, introspection of character thoughts, and narration.
Now, while the story ends before page 379, fans of XV will be delighted to find over 20 pages worth of concept art detailing the numerous designs that were to be featured visually. Everything from Aranea crossing rooftops to Luna’s new design, and even event stills depicting the new ending. If you were curious about all the things that ended up being shuttered along with the DLCs, this book will answer all your questions and more. Not all of these ideas went unused though. The final battle of the novel sees Noctis, and company fight Bahamut the Draconian, and players of the Comrades multiplayer expansion will see that XV’s development team implemented a fight with said summon.
Conclusion
Throughout my consumption and reading of this book it truly was a bittersweet feeling that yes, this story was able to be told in some form, but my sympathies remain with Tabata and his team for not being able to share their story in the way that they wanted to. This story is what they wanted the legacy of XV to be and I’m grateful beyond words that it was allowed to exist even in book form. The transition from game to book was as seamless as it could be, and Dawn of the Future is a strong novel that any fan of XV or Final Fantasy should have in their collection! Special thanks to OmgFloofy for collaborating on this article!
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