[1][2] Some cut content and backstory elements were made into the prequel film Kingsglaive, and the original net animation (ONA) Brotherhood, part of the multimedia "Final Fantasy XV Universe".
[8] The project's later director Hajime Tabata called Ardyn an unusual antagonist within the Final Fantasy series as he actively helps Noctis through his quest, even though it ultimately serves his desire for revenge.
Both Tabata and scenario writer Saori Itamuro called Ardyn a character driven by hatred of the Lucian royal line, with everything in his life serving his quest for revenge and his wish to torment Noctis.
[11][12] According to its lead staff, the DLC's aim was to show more emotion in Ardyn, while his gameplay featured greater freedom of movement than the main game and a focus on his dark powers.
[21] In ancient times he was Ardyn Lucis Caelum, a healer who was granted the ability to absorb the Starscourge, a magical plague which threatens Eos with eternal night and turns people into monstrous Daemons.
His growing infection grants him immortality and turns his brother Somnus and Eos's magical Crystal against him, an event compounded by the accidental murder of his lover Aera Mirus Fleuret.
These events are revealed as part of a plan by the divine Astrals to purge Eos of the Starscourge, using Ardyn as the Scarscourge's vessel to be destroyed by the prophesied True King.
[22][23][24] In the present day, he orchestrates the events that lead to Niflheim's invasion of Insomnia, and guides Somnus's descendent Noctis Lucis Caelum in forming Covenants with the Astrals so he can kill him once he becomes the True King.
[38] He was released as a recruitable character for Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, featuring abilities based on his actions in the main game and a special attack with a CGI sequence.
[41] Outside the Final Fantasy series, Ardyn made a cameo appearance in a crossover with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017),[42] and featured as a character skin in a collaboration with Minecraft in 2018.
[45][46] Philip Kollar from Wired in his review of Kingsglaive described Ardyn as a "particularly dandy-looking envoy from Niflheim who bears more than a passing resemblance to Tom Baker's Doctor Who".
[47] Joe Anderstron from Digital Spy had mixed feelings with regards to his role in Final Fantasy XV based on what Kingslave foreshadowed, but found him interesting.
[49] Michael Cunningham of RPGamer commented that Ardyn stood out from the rest of the supporting cast due to his mysterious characterization, developing into a "creepy" villain as the story progressed.
[50] Salvatore Pane, writing for Paste Magazine, said Ardyn killing Lunafreya had a major impact in the narrative due the amount of grief the characters−specifically Noctis−suffer as a result for the first time in the entire game.
[53] Destructoid stated that while Ardyn was kept as a mysterious and interesting villain in Final Fantasy XV, the DLC managed to properly explore his past through both narrative and gameplay.
[57] Anime News Network's James Beckett called Ardyn's dedicated chapter the worst part of the book, with its events failing to make the character a compelling antagonist.