Square Enix Confirms 2016 Release Date for 'Final Fantasy XV' (VIDEO)

Square Enix recently announced the release date for "Final Fantasy XV," saying it will be sometime in 2016.

"Final Fantasy XV" game director, Hajime Tabata, confirmed in an interview with GameSpot that the 15th installment of the "Final Fantasy" role-playing video game series will be released in 2016.

After a dearth of announcements on the game at the GamesCom 2015 in Cologne, Germany this week, Tabata admitted it may have left fans disappointed at the lengthy development process. The last title was released in 2010.

According to Tabata, Square Enix already has a final release date in mind, including a complete schedule leading up to the game's launch, which the Japanese game developer plans to announce at a future date.

Prior to GamesCom 2015, Square Enix released a brief teaser reveal showing a 15-year-old backstory to the upcoming game's main story, featuring a very young Noctis in his father, King Regis' arms. The teaser also revealed a young Lunafreya under attack from a knight wearing armor.

It also showed what it announced to be as "new, never-before-seen" gameplay footage at the event, which turned out to be a surprise encounter and ensuing battle with a toxic-breathed, multi-tentacled Malboro, which Noctis and his companions have a difficult time defeating.

"Final Fantasy XV" will focus on the story of the Noctis, Crown Prince of Lucis, who is exiled from his home after an invasion by the Niflheim empire in the middle of peace negotiations between their two kingdoms.

On the run with his friends, Noctis journeys towards the goal of taking back his empire and wresting control of his kingdom's previous crystal from the Niflheims.

"Final Fantasy XV" will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when it is released next year.