Final Fantasy Creator Plans a “Farewell” Game, Aiming for a Spiritual Successor to a Beloved Series Entry

Renowned Final Fantasy mastermind, Hironobu Sakaguchi, has revealed that he has at least one more game up his sleeve, and it seems poised to draw inspiration from a fan-favorite installment in the series.

Sakaguchi, a titan among game developers, boasts an impressive portfolio of iconic titles, thanks in large part to being the brain behind Final Fantasy. Lately, he’s been channeling his creative energies at his own company, Mistwalker. His most recent project, Fantasian, just saw a console re-release last month. Intriguingly, Sakaguchi isn’t closing the book on game development just yet. In a recent conversation with The Verge, he shared insights about Fantasian and discussed his collaborative relationship with Square Enix. However, what truly caught our attention were his remarks about his next venture.

Reflecting on his experience with the talented Fantasian team, Sakaguchi mentioned, “I was leaning towards making Fantasian Neo Dimension my swan song. Yet, the incredible team that came together for this project made it hard to walk away. Humans are a greedy bunch, aren’t we? That’s why I’m diving into a new project with this same team. It will echo the style of my earlier works and serve as a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy 6. We’re aiming to create something timeless, a blend of nostalgia and novelty. Consider it part two of my farewell message.”

While there’s a tinge of sadness in the idea of this being his farewell, the prospect of a project inspired by Final Fantasy 6 is undeniably thrilling. Though many entries in the Final Fantasy franchise are cherished by fans, the sixth installment holds a special place, partly because it was the last before the leap to 3D graphics and partly due to its compelling, emotionally charged narrative. We may have to wait a bit for Sakaguchi’s new creation, so in the meantime, why not revisit Final Fantasy 6 or explore the delights of Fantasian Neo Dimension?