Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis

Episode Ignis is a downloadable extra episode for Final Fantasy XV. It takes place at the same time as chapter 9 of the main game and follows Ignis Scientia as he battles through the city of Altissia to find and protect Prince Noctis.

It released on December 13, 2017, and is available for purchase via the PlayStation Network store and the Xbox Live marketplace. The episode is also included in the game's Season Pass.

Gameplay
The player takes control of Ignis, who uses "spelldaggers" that can be imbued with fire, ice and lightning elements. He has a unique ability named "Total Clarity", whose effect depends on which element Ignis has currently chosen. In the first chapter of the episode, Ignis has a hook arm he can use to "warp", similar to Noctis in the main game.

Ignis has access to two Techniques he does not have in the main game: High Jump, which acts similar to Aranea's Dragoon Dive at the cost of one tech bar; and Overclock, which increases the damage dealt by normal attacks for a short time based on one of three elements at the cost of two tech bars.

Ravus briefly joins Ignis as a guest party member. He has a Technique known as Last Rites, which costs one tech bar, in which he empowers his artificial arm with electricity and releases a Thunder-elemental AOE attack.

Characters

 * Ignis Scientia
 * Ravus Nox Fleuret
 * Ardyn Izunia
 * Noctis Lucis Caelum
 * Prompto Argentum
 * Gladiolus Amicitia
 * Lunafreya Nox Fleuret
 * Caligo Ulldor
 * Regis Lucis Caelum
 * Pryna
 * Camelia Claustra
 * Weskham Armaugh

Story
As the city of Altissia is being devastated by the rampaging Titan and Niflheim forces in the wake of Leviathan's Revelation, Ignis worries for the safety of Prince Noctis. Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto are on evacuation duty as Leviathan is known for her wrath, but Ignis becomes separated from the others. He makes his way toward the Altar of the Tidemother, but is pursued by Brigadier General Caligo Ulldor and defeats his MA. Afterward he teams up with Ravus Nox Fleuret, Lunafreya's empire-serving brother. Ravus has given up his allegiance to the empire, but only teams up with Ignis as a means to get to Lunafreya, emphasizing this doesn't mean he supports Noctis.

Once they get to the altar, Ignis finds Lunafreya's dog Pryna dying. Pryna is a Messenger of the gods who delivers a vision of Noctis fulfilling the prophecy of the True King to Ignis, who learns Noctis must die to save the world.

Ignis and Ravus find Noctis unconscious and Lunafreya dying. Ravus flies into a rage, blaming Noctis for his sister's death, but Ignis quells him. Ravus mourns how Lunafreya never got to live a normal life, and how even in death her spirit will not rest until the prophecy is fulfilled. Ardyn disguised as Gladiolus arrives, but Ravus blows his cover and protects Noctis and Ignis from him. The Ring of the Lucii falls from Noctis's unconscious grasp, and Ignis takes it. The ring is the divine heirloom of the Lucian monarchy that only lends its power to the rightful ring-bearer.

After Ardyn blasts Ravus away with his magic, he asks Ignis to either join him or be killed. If Ignis refuses to join Ardyn, he puts on the Ring of the Lucii and unexpectedly and temporarily gains the power of kings, but at the cost of his vision. Ignis defeats Ardyn, gains Ravus's respect, and his eyesight is permanently damaged, sustaining a huge scar across the left side of his face. When Noctis awakes days after his battle with Leviathan, he finds Ignis watching over him.

Knowing Noctis's fate from the vision he had seen, Ignis asks Noctis to stop the journey. Noctis refuses, saying giving up would make all the sacrifices others had made for him meaningless. Ignis accepts Noctis's answer, and promises to always support him.

Verse 2
If Ignis decides to follow Ardyn after facing him in Altissia, the latter takes him to Zegnautus Keep where the empire has imprisoned the Crystal. Lunafreya's voice guides Ignis to the Crystal, telling him how only the True King fulfilling the prophecy can save the world.

When Ignis finds the Crystal, he is apprehended by Ardyn, who reveals he lured Ignis there as bait for Noctis, whom he wants to inherit the Crystal's power. Ardyn reveals his true identity as Ardyn Lucis Caelum, who in ancient times was to become the king of Lucis, but considers the title stolen from him by his brother, the Founder King. His soul rendered immortal by the Starscourge that now inhabits his very soul, Ardyn has lived for two millennia, awaiting the time he can get his revenge on the Crystal that had discarded him. Ignis knows Noctis will die if Ardyn's plan succeeds, and declares that the world means nothing to him if it means losing his friend.

Ignis puts on the Ring of the Lucii and gains its power for the price of his own life. He defeats Ardyn who yet returns, as he is immortal. Ignis doesn't lose his vision, as he sacrificed his life as the blood price instead. The dying Ignis is found by Noctis, Gladiolus and Prompto, who had been brought to the Keep by Ravus. In this version of the events, the train ride through Niflheim never happens, and Prompto is never captured.

Noctis grieves how incapable he is to protect those close to him, and asks for the Crystal's power to save Ignis. He takes the ring and walks into the Crystal, and while he sleeps in its core for ten years, the others return to Lucis. Ignis meets with their various friends and they scout the royal tombs while awaiting for Noctis's return.

When Noctis returns Ignis is there to welcome him back. They head to Insomnia where Ravus bequeaths Noctis the Sword of the Father, and joins them in facing Ardyn in the throne room. They appear to have succeeded in killing Ardyn, as light returns to the world. Yet, Noctis doesn't die, continuing to rule Lucis from the Citadel where Ignis goes to see him. Whether this means the prophecy of the True King has been fulfilled, or if Ardyn's immortal soul still lingers and the Starscourge can yet return, is unknown.

Music
Yasunori Mitsuda, known for his work on Square Enix titles Chrono Trigger and Xenogears, is the special guest composer for Episode Ignis, and has composed three tracks for the soundtrack: "Theme of Episode Ignis", "Ravus' Theme" and "A United Front". The tracks were performed by the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.

The team started thinking on who to hire as composer for Episode Ignis in March 2017, Mitsuda topping the shortlist. When writing Ignis's theme, it was suggested to use a single instrument to represent him. Mitsuda composed the violin solo and used it for the main melody. Mitsuda was afraid it would be lost in the loud background, but came to think it fits the game in how it represents the quiet feelings Ignis tries to hide and how he carries himself in battle.

The rest of the music was composed by Tadayoshi Mikano.

Development
When the development team decided on whether Episode Prompto or Episode Ignis would be the second of the episodes to be released following Episode Gladiolus, the team ultimately chose to save Ignis's tale for last due to its impact in the main story of Final Fantasy XV, and as such had a longer development time and polish compared to the other DLC episodes.