First Final Fantasy 16 expansion stealth dropped during The Game Awards

Final Fantasy 16 fans were pleasantly surprised by The Game Awards, as the PS5 exclusive had its first expansion stealth-dropped during the show. Now, players can take part in the first expansion pack, Echoes of the Fallen, while also getting some extra goodies if they get the Expansion Pass.

According to The PlayStation Blog, Echoes of the Fallen takes place before the final battle, with Clive already teaming with his brother Joshua. Mysterious dark crystals are making their way toward the game’s black market and it’s up to Clive’s party to unravel this story.

Naturally, there’s a lot of content here that Final Fantasy 16 fans will want to take part in, like new weapons and an increased level cap. Players who want to experience more of the game’s combat will have a whole new challenge ahead of them, which is what fans want from an expansion.

Users who purchase the Expansion Pass can also get a couple of neat bonuses, including Cloud’s iconic Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7. Purchasing the pass also unlocks a chiptune version of the song “Away,” which can be played in the background for fun.

Echoes of the Fallen is only the first Final Fantasy 16 expansion, with the second one, called The Rising Tide, coming out in Spring 2024. The Rising Tide should be an exciting expansion for fans since this has Clive taking on the Eikon Leviathan, something fans have been waiting for.

Thus far, the DLC has been received positively by fans, which is a nice turnaround when compared to the game’s reaction earlier this year. Long-time fans of the franchise were debating if this entry was delivering a “true” Final Fantasy experience, which led to a lot of pretentious arguments. At the end of the day, 16 is a new installment that tried different things and we’re sure people will hate 17 whenever that comes out.

Read More: Final Fantasy 16 review - Lights, Camera, Eikons

Final Fantasy 16 is available now on the PlayStation 5, with plans for a PC port confirmed by Square Enix.