The anticipation of Final Fantasy fans and gamers worldwide for the release of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XVI is at an all-time high. Not only do its trailers effortlessly generate millions of views, but it also is almost always among the most-anticipated release lists. This is also proven true by the countless fan theories already swirling around the net about the game. It’s as if the closer its release date, the more and wilder the Final Fantasy XVI theories become.
In this article, we aim to highlight the top Final Fantasy XVI theories ahead of its release. Take note that some of them may be our own theories. Consider this a spoiler warning as well, in case any of them actually comes true in the game. With that out of the way, let us begin.
Joshua Dies; Sparking Clive’s Revenge Arc
It has already been confirmed that FFXVI will have a time skip feature. Players will most likely begin the game controlling a much younger Clive Rosfield. It is highly speculated that our main protagonist will undergo a traumatic experience that will change him significantly. Something so heavy that he becomes more brooding, serious, and perhaps darker when he grows up.
And what’s more traumatic than actually seeing his beloved younger brother die? We can already picture Joshua dying in the arms of Clive, thus, awakening his vengeful persona.
Clive And Joshua Aren’t True Brothers
Supplementing the previous entry is this other popular fan theory. Many actually think that Clive and Joshua aren’t related by blood. Many speculate that the two share a father but not a mother. This is the source of tension between the two, and perhaps a bit of jealousy as well.
Maybe everyone sees Joshua on a higher plane than Clive. It is not that hard to imagine one brother getting envious of the other because of the treatment of their parents or the admiration of their people.
This drama and conflict are often seen in medieval/fantasy epics, such as Game of Thrones. We can easily see it happening here as well. Nonetheless, the two will overcome this and become closer, directly leading to the previous entry.
Clive Will Become Power-Hungry; Becomes the Final Villain

Trailers see Clive wielding the power of several ‘Eikons’ at once. In fact, switching Eikons to customize Clive’s battle style in combat is one of the game’s most enticing features. At the latter parts of FFXVI, we believe Clive will have up to 6 Eikons in his arsenal.
This will make him the most powerful being in all of Valisthea, but also arguably the most terrifying. We believe Clive will be corrupted by this overwhelming power and could even be the game’s surprise final villain.Â
We imagine the main focus to switch to another prominent character looking to correct Clive’s wrongs and put an end to his terror. Perhaps Joshua himself, if he doesn’t truly die early in the story.
Final Fantasy games love power-hungry characters, and we believe FFXVI will be no different. FFXVI prides itself as the most revolutionary entrant in the franchise. What could be more series-shaking than actually making the supposed main protagonist the game’s true final villain?
So, are you excited for the game just as we are? Do you have your own Final Fantasy XVI theories in mind? Let us know through the comment section below!