View source for Software:Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire

{{short description|2017 massively multiplayer online strategy game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire
| image = Final Fantasy XV A New Empire.png
| developer = Epic Action
| publisher = [[Company:MZ|MZ]]
| platforms = [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Software:IOS|iOS]], [[Software:IPadOS|iPadOS]]
| released = June 29, 2017
| series = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy|Final Fantasy]]'' 
| genre = [[Software:Strategy video game|Strategy]]
| modes = [[Software:Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire''''' is a [[Finance:Freemium|freemium]] [[Massively multiplayer online game|massively multiplayer online]] strategy game developed by Epic Action and published by [[Company:MZ|MZ]]. 

The game is based on the 2016 [[Software:Action role-playing game|action role-playing game]] ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XV|Final Fantasy XV]]'', and features its characters and soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161107006256/en/Machine-Zone-Square-Enix-Announce-Partnership-Develop|title=Machine Zone and Square Enix Announce Partnership to Develop FINAL FANTASY XV Mobile MMO Game|website=www.businesswire.com|date=November 7, 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718075055/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161107006256/en/Machine-Zone-Square-Enix-Announce-Partnership-Develop|archive-date=July 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The game's marketing campaign featured American model Alexis Ren. As of January 2019, game received more than 51 million downloads and has grossed more than {{US$|518 million|long=no}}.<ref name="Jan2019" />

== Gameplay ==
The game plays as a [[Software:Strategy video game|strategy video game]] with [[Software:City-building game|city-building]] elements.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.primagames.com/games/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire/tips/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-guide-build-big-empire|title=Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire Guide - Build a Big Empire|work=Prima Games|access-date=2017-09-28|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110025602/https://www.primagames.com/games/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire/tips/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-guide-build-big-empire|archive-date=November 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Players build a base and upgrade their structures by mining resources. They train armies to defend against attacking players and can set wall defenses. The game employs a guild system as its social component. Upon joining a guild, players can accumulate Loyalty that is used to purchase special items. Guild members can help each other complete building projects to upgrade their structures faster. Guilds also have their own quests, or timed progress bars, that reward players further. As a [[Finance:Free-to-play|free-to-play]] title, the game contains in-app purchases.

==Development and release==
''Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire'' was developed by [[Company:Machine Zone|MZ]] through a subsidiary company called Epic Action LLC.<ref name=gematsu>{{Cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2017/03/machine-zone-final-fantasy-xv-mobile-game-revealed-final-fantasy-xv-new-empire|title=Machine Zone's Final Fantasy XV mobile game revealed to be Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire|date=March 31, 2018|website=Gematsu|access-date=2017-07-19|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216154542/https://gematsu.com/2017/03/machine-zone-final-fantasy-xv-mobile-game-revealed-final-fantasy-xv-new-empire|archive-date=December 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Square Enix provided a "crash course" on art direction for the game to developers from MZ.<ref name="verge"/> Reviewers have remarked on the similarity of ''A New Empire'' to ''[[Software:Game of War: Fire Age|Game of War]]'', another game developed by MZ, with some calling it "[[Software:Video game clone|a blatant clone]]" of the latter.<ref name="androidpolice"/><ref name="androidauthority"/>

''Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire'' was released worldwide on June 28, 2017.<ref name="verge">{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=Final Fantasy XV's mobile strategy spinoff launches today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/28/15873900/final-fantasy-15-a-new-empire-iphone-android-release |website=The Verge |date=June 28, 2017 |access-date=8 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204121519/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/28/15873900/final-fantasy-15-a-new-empire-iphone-android-release |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The game's marketing campaign featured American model Alexis Ren.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/66484/mz-recruits-influencer-and-model-alexis-ren-as-the-face-of-final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-ad-campaign/|title=MZ recruits influencer and model Alexis Ren as the face of Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire ad campaign|last1=Chapple|first1=Craig|date=August 25, 2017|work=pocketgamer.biz|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902045330/http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/66484/mz-recruits-influencer-and-model-alexis-ren-as-the-face-of-final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-ad-campaign/|archive-date=September 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.maxim.com/women/alexis-ren-mobile-game-ad-2017-8|title=Alexis Ren Joins Kate Upton As Latest Super Hottie to Promote Mobile Video Game|last1=Friederich|first1=Brandon|date=August 28, 2017|work=Maxim|access-date=September 2, 2017|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902055156/https://www.maxim.com/women/alexis-ren-mobile-game-ad-2017-8|archive-date=September 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Overall, the app elicited a variety of responses from reviewers that critiqued the game's use of the ''Final Fantasy XV'' franchise, the base-building gameplay, and the marketing of purchasable add-ons. Jennifer Allen of Gamezebo criticized the gameplay as "soullessly exploitative" and "repetitive to the extreme".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2017/07/07/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-review-yet-another-game-war/|title=Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire Review - Yet Another Game of War|date=2017-07-07|website=Gamezebo|access-date=2017-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713215716/http://www.gamezebo.com/2017/07/07/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-review-yet-another-game-war/|archive-date=July 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Ryan Whitwam of Android Police called the game "pay to win junk", calling it a "generic city builder with on-the-rails combat dressed up like a ''Final Fantasy'' title".<ref name="androidpolice">{{cite web|url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/06/29/final-fantasy-xv-mobile-spin-off-new-empire-pay-win-junk/|title=Final Fantasy XV mobile spin-off 'A New Empire' is more pay-to-win junk|last=Whitwam|first=Ryan|date=June 29, 2017|publisher=Android Police|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904105444/http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/06/29/final-fantasy-xv-mobile-spin-off-new-empire-pay-win-junk/|archive-date=September 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, critics expressed frustration over the game's tutorial, as it focused primarily on the mechanics to build a base and detracted from other core gameplay elements.

Other media outlets viewed the game's interpretation of the ''Final Fantasy'' universe to be poor, at the expense of MZ better reaching its intended audience. Edgar Cervantes of Android Authority offered: "We must take into consideration that this was probably an attempt to expand from the usual" in order to appeal to "casual mobile gamers".<ref name="androidauthority">{{Cite news|url=http://www.androidauthority.com/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-mobile-mmorpg-hoping-783622/|title=Is Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire the mobile MMORPG we were hoping for?|date=2017-06-28|work=Android Authority|access-date=2017-09-28|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063301/http://www.androidauthority.com/final-fantasy-xv-new-empire-mobile-mmorpg-hoping-783622/|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Similarly, Polygon's Allegra Frank compared the differences in App Store ratings between ''Final Fantasy'' fans and ''[[Software:Mobile Strike|Mobile Strike]]'' players: "There's little in common between ''A New Empire'' and the game it's based on. That's fine, in theory; they're on vastly different platforms, and MZ and Square Enix are clear about ''A New Empire''{{'s}} difference from the standard ''Final Fantasy XV''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/29/15889192/final-fantasy-15-a-new-empire-ios-android-impressions-it-sucks|title=There's a new Final Fantasy 15 mobile game, and it's bad|last=Frank|first=Allegra|date=2017-06-29|website=Polygon|access-date=2017-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629203344/https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/29/15889192/final-fantasy-15-a-new-empire-ios-android-impressions-it-sucks|archive-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Downloads and revenue===
By October 2017, the game received more than 20 million downloads and was the 14th top-grossing game on the American App Store.<ref>{{cite news |title=MZ's Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire surpasses 20 million downloads |url=http://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/66823/final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-20m-downloads/ |work=Pocket Gamer |date=October 19, 2017}}</ref> In its first year, by June 2018, the game received more than 45 million downloads on the App Store and [[Software:Google Play|Google Play]]. The United States accounts for 32% of the game's downloads, while Japan accounts for 5% of its downloads.<ref name="pocketgamer">{{cite news |title=MZ's Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire rakes in $380m in one year |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/68731/mzs-final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-rakes-in-380m-in-one-year/ |work=Pocket Gamer |date=August 8, 2018 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817060057/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/68731/mzs-final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-rakes-in-380m-in-one-year/ |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

By January 2018 it was the month's ninth highest-grossing game on the Google Play Store, where it grossed {{US$|14.27 million|long=no}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leading mobile gaming app titles in the Google Play Store worldwide as of January 2018, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars) |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/690150/leading-mobile-games-google-play-world-revenue/ |website=[[Company:Statista|Statista]] |access-date=June 11, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612220258/https://www.statista.com/statistics/690150/leading-mobile-games-google-play-world-revenue/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In one year, by June, the game had grossed more than {{US$|380 million|long=no}}. The United States accounted for {{US$|138 million|long=no}} of the game's revenue, while Japan accounted for {{US$|116 million|long=no}} of its revenue.<ref name="pocketgamer"/> As of November 2018, the game has grossed more than {{US$|485 million|long=no}} worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire Revenue Broke $1 Million Per Day Last Month |url=https://sensortower.com/blog/final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-revenue-november-2018 |work=Sensor Tower |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403121446/https://sensortower.com/blog/final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-revenue-november-2018 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> By January 2019, total downloads reached 51 million and the game has grossed more than $518 million in revenue.<ref name="Jan2019">{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Randy |title=Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire Made $375 Million in 2018 |url=https://sensortower.com/blog/final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-revenue-2018 |access-date=24 April 2020 |work=Sensor Tower |date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511234208/https://sensortower.com/blog/final-fantasy-xv-a-new-empire-revenue-2018 |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==


[[Category:Android (operating system) games]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]

{{Sourceattribution|Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire}}