"Final Fantasy Creator Aims to Craft FF6 Spiritual Successor"

Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who previously contemplated retirement, has now set his sights on developing a new game inspired by the beloved Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and the latest updates on its development.

Final Fantasy Creator To Develop His Final Game Again

The Successor To Final Fantasy 6

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the mastermind behind the Final Fantasy series, is eager to craft a new game inspired by Final Fantasy 6, following the success of his latest title, Fantasian Neo Dimension, which debuted in 2021. In a candid interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi revealed that he initially intended Fantasian to be his swan song before retiring. However, the joy of working with an exceptional team has reignited his passion, leading him to embark on a new project. He aims to create "a successor to Final Fantasy VI," blending the old with the new to craft "part two of my farewell note."

Development On Sakaguchi’s Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed his involvement in a new project, stating, "It's been about a year since I wrote the script, so I'm in a situation where I think I'll be able to get to a good point in about two years." The filing of a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" by Mistwalker in June 2024 has sparked speculation about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While details remain scarce, Sakaguchi has hinted that the new project will echo the fantasy RPG style of his previous works. No official title or further information has been announced yet.

Reuniting With Square Enix For FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker's collaboration with Square Enix brought FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in December 2024. Originally launched exclusively on Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the platform's top games. Reflecting on this partnership, Sakaguchi remarked, "It’s the place where I started my career, so coming full circle through the game I envisioned to be my final work was definitely a fascinating experience."

Sakaguchi's journey began at Square (now Square Enix) in 1983, where he directed the inaugural Final Fantasy game in 1987 and the subsequent four mainline titles. He later served as producer for Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11 before departing in 2003 to establish Mistwalker. Under his new studio, he developed notable titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His most recent endeavor, Fantasian, evolved into FANTASIAN Neo Dimension with Square Enix's collaboration in 2024.

Despite this recent partnership, Sakaguchi remains uninterested in revisiting Final Fantasy or his past projects, expressing a shift from creator to consumer.