Final Fantasy Creator Can't Stop, Won't Stop; Hopes to Create FF6's Spiritual Successor

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, initially planned to retire after Fantasian, but he's now embarking on a new project inspired by Final Fantasy VI. Read on to discover more about this exciting new endeavor and its development.

Final Fantasy Creator Returns for One Last Game

A Spiritual Successor to Final Fantasy VI

Following the success of Fantasian Neo Dimension (initially released in 2021), Hironobu Sakaguchi has announced his intention to create a game inspired by Final Fantasy VI. In an interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi stated that he "intended Fantasian to be my final project before I retired." However, the positive experience of working with his team on Fantasian has inspired him to create another game, aiming for a project that will serve as "a successor to Final Fantasy VI." He credits the enjoyable collaborative atmosphere of the Fantasian team for this change of heart, stating that "the fantastic team...was so enjoyable to work with that I found it hard to part ways." This new project will reunite the same team, aiming to create "something old but new at the same time," and acting as "part two of my farewell note."

Development Update on Sakaguchi's New Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed the project's progress. He revealed that "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 June 2024 trademark filing for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" by Mistwalker fueled speculation of a Fantasian sequel, although this remains unconfirmed. Sakaguchi confirmed the new project will maintain a similar style to his previous fantasy RPGs. No official title or further details have been released.

Reuniting with Square Enix for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker partnered with Square Enix to bring FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in December 2024. Originally released exclusively for Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian garnered significant critical acclaim, often cited as one of the best Apple Arcade games. Reflecting on the collaboration, Sakaguchi shared, "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 history with Square (now Square Enix) spans back to 1983. He directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987, and subsequent mainline titles, before serving as producer for Final Fantasy VI through Final Fantasy XI. After leaving the company in 2003, he founded Mistwalker, overseeing titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. Fantasian, released in 2021, marked his most recent project before the enhanced FANTASIAN Neo Dimension in 2024.

Despite the recent Square Enix partnership, Sakaguchi maintains no interest in revisiting Final Fantasy or past works, stating that he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."