For its part, FFXVI will not be a “traditional” open-world game but will take inspiration from existing titles that are.
An IGN interview with Producer Naoki Yoshida, who’s heading the project at Square Enix, revealed that FFXVI won’t be an open-world game.
The previous mainline Final Fantasy title, FFXV, was also touted as an open-world game, giving the party license to range over its maps and uncover quests and challenges.
Grand Theft Auto, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are all examples of open-world titles.