“In my plan book for Final Fantasy XV, I wrote it down as an ‘open-world-style Final Fantasy,” shares Tabata. “The world seamlessly expands, but unlike your common open-world RPGs, it’s not a game that lets you go anywhere and advance through the story like that.”
4Gamer notes that, judging by what they’re hearing, the game will basically allow you to freely walk around the world, but fundamentally, will have you travel along with the story, so players will more or less have similar experiences of progress.
“That’s right. It’s not a game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,for example, where you could go where you please and pick up quests,” says Tabata. “The destination will always be indicated, and that’s where you’ll head with your allies, and grow together.”
Tabata adds that while the game will allow you to explore, “once you arrive at an area of interest and start advancing through the story, in a sense, it’s closer to Red Dead Redemption."
http://www.siliconera.com/2014/09/22...3Bo0ZxfZ2gQ.99
Tabata also confirmed that Final Fantasy XV will feature a
multi-region open world, similar to that of The Witcher 3. He explained
that you’ll get to travel seamlessly across any two areas on the world map as long as they are physically connected. However, you will encounter loading times on occasions where the story requires you to head out to a distant, unconnected region on the world map. Not all of the buildings or structures in Final Fantasy’s towns can be entered, though Tabata assured that there will be plenty of buildings to explore.
...