Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator of Final Fantasy, once contemplated retirement but has now set his sights on crafting a new game that he hopes will serve as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and the latest developments surrounding it.
The Successor to Final Fantasy 6
Following the success of his most recent game, Fantasian Neo Dimension, which debuted in 2021, Sakaguchi expressed in an interview with The Verge his initial intention for Fantasian to be his final project before retiring. However, the joy of working with the talented team on Fantasian reignited his passion, leading him to embark on a new venture. "I want to create something that feels both old and new," Sakaguchi remarked, describing the new game as "part two of my farewell note" and a homage to Final Fantasy 6.
Development on Sakaguchi’s Latest Project
In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed he is actively working on this new project, having completed the script about a year ago. He anticipates reaching a significant milestone in the next two years. The filing of a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" by Mistwalker in June 2024 has sparked speculation among fans about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While details remain sparse, Sakaguchi hinted that the new game will echo the fantasy RPG style of his previous works.
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. Initially exclusive to Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the platform's top titles. Reflecting on this partnership, Sakaguchi noted, "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 first Final Fantasy game in 1987 and led the series through its next four mainline titles. After serving as producer for Final Fantasy 6 to Final Fantasy 11, he left Square in 2003 to establish Mistwalker. Under his new studio, he developed notable titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. Despite the recent collaboration with Square Enix, Sakaguchi remains focused on new creations rather than revisiting his past works, stating he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."
