FF Creator Aims to Craft Spiritual Successor to FF6

Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, who once contemplated retirement, has now set his sights on developing a new game intended as a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and get the latest updates on its development.

Final Fantasy Creator To Develop His Final Game Again

The Successor To Final Fantasy 6

Following the success of his latest game, Fantasian Neo Dimension, released in 2021, Hironobu Sakaguchi is now inspired to create a new title inspired by Final Fantasy 6. In an interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi revealed that he initially planned for Fantasian to be his final project before retiring. However, the joy of working with his talented team has reignited his passion, leading him to pursue a new project. This upcoming game, which he hopes will be a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy VI, is described by Sakaguchi as "part two of my farewell note." The goal is to craft something that feels both nostalgic and fresh, blending the old with the new.

Development On Sakaguchi’s Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed he's been actively working on this new project. He mentioned that it has been about a year since he completed the script and anticipates reaching a significant milestone in approximately two years. Additionally, in June 2024, Mistwalker filed a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE," sparking speculation among fans about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While the project remains shrouded in mystery, Sakaguchi has indicated it will maintain the fantasy RPG style of his previous works. No official title or detailed information has been announced yet.

Reuniting With Square Enix For FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker collaborated with Square Enix to bring FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in December 2024. Originally launched on Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the best games on the platform by critics. Sakaguchi expressed his sentiments on working with Square Enix again, saying, "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 joined Square (now Square Enix) in 1983 and directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987, followed by directing the next four mainline titles and producing Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11. After leaving Square Enix in 2003, he founded Mistwalker and developed titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His latest project before Fantasian Neo Dimension was Fantasian in 2021.

Despite this recent collaboration with Square Enix, Sakaguchi remains uninterested in revisiting Final Fantasy or his past projects, stating that he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."