'Final Fantasy XV' news: Free retro-inspired spinoff to be released next month; Gladiolus DLC standalone price revealed

Square Enix is releasing a new retro-inspired spinoff for "Final Fantasy XV" next month.

According to reports, a new beat-em-up game will be released as a spinoff for Square Enix's latest RPG. "A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV" will be released on March 1, and it will be free for everyone to download on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The game was originally part of the preorder-exclusive bonuses that Square Enix offered for the "Final Fantasy XV" launch in November.

Set 30 years before the events of "Final Fantasy XV," "A King's Tale" centers on an alternate world and has a retro vibe to it. Although the game is in an old setting, the combat will reportedly be fast-paced and will have modern gaming influences. The game can be accessed by everyone for free, not just players who own "Final Fantasy XV."

Meanwhile, Square Enix has recently revealed new details for the open-world game's upcoming character DLC. "Episode Gladiolus" officially hits the shelves on March 28, and as indicated on the official "Final Fantasy 15" website, non-season pass holders can purchase the content on its own for $4.99. Other character episodes will also be sold individually, with pricing and further details to be announced at a later date.

Centered on an all-new storyline, Episode Gladiolus kicks off with the events after the crew's encounter with Ravus. Gladio decides to quit the group to train with Cor and become a more powerful fighter. He embarks on a journey to face new challenges and along the way, he must go up against larger-than-life monsters.

In other news, Square Enix released a PS4 Pro patch for the game earlier this week. The update now allows players to take more pictures using Prompto's camera and listen to music while riding Chocobos. In addition, it offers a huge display improvement with an increased frame rate mode.