A recent study revealed that the average age of a Final Fantasy fan is 42, reflecting a significant challenge the franchise has faced over the years. As December 18 marks the 38th anniversary of Final Fantasy, the series has established itself as one of the longest-running JRPG franchises, as well as one of the enduring names in video gaming history. With a legacy that spans five decades, Final Fantasy has cultivated a mature fan base compared to most other video game franchises. This finding, based on a survey conducted by GEM Partners involving 180,000 respondents in Japan, sheds light on the demographic trends within the fan community.
The study presents two key interpretations. Firstly, the average age of 42 signals that Final Fantasy has successfully managed to retain its long-time fans, a trend seen in other legacy JRPGs like Dragon Quest. On the flip side, the data indicates that the franchise struggles to attract new players. Despite efforts such as mobile spin-offs and re-releases aimed at drawing a wider audience, the fan base remains predominantly older.
This challenge is reflected in the historical sales figures. Final Fantasy 14, originally released in 2010 and relaunched later, is the best-selling title with around 24 million sales, while the iconic Final Fantasy 7 from 1997 holds the record for single-player games at approximately 15 million. However, recent reports indicate that newer titles, including FF7 Rebirth and FF16, have struggled to meet sales expectations. While an apparent plateau in outreach might seem typical for long-standing franchises, Square Enix may wish to counter this trend and attract a younger demographic.
As the average age of gamers in the U.S. is estimated at 35, the company might aim to decrease the average fan age to better align with the overall gaming population and counter the rising costs of AAA game development.