FF Creator Aims to Craft FF6's Spiritual Successor

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator behind the Final Fantasy series, had once contemplated retirement. However, his passion for game development has reignited, and he now aims to craft a new game that will serve as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his latest project and stay updated on its development progress.

The Successor to Final Fantasy 6

Following the success of his recent game, Fantasian Neo Dimension, which was initially released in 2021, Hironobu Sakaguchi has expressed a renewed desire to create a game inspired by Final Fantasy 6. In a candid interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi revealed that he had intended Fantasian to be his final project before retiring. Yet, the joy of working with his talented team has compelled him to embark on another journey. He aims to develop a game that he hopes will be "a successor to Final Fantasy VI."

Despite his initial retirement plans, Sakaguchi found the collaboration with his team on Fantasian so fulfilling that he couldn't bear to part ways. This led to the decision to continue working with the same team on a new project. Their objective is to "create something old but new at the same time." Sakaguchi describes this upcoming game as "part two of my farewell note."

Development on Sakaguchi’s Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed that he is actively working on a new project. He mentioned that it has been about a year since he completed the script, and he anticipates reaching a significant milestone within the next two years. Additionally, in June 2024, Mistwalker filed a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE," sparking speculation among fans that a sequel to Fantasian might be on the horizon.

Sakaguchi has indicated that this new project will adhere to the style of his previous works, primarily focusing on fantasy RPGs. However, there has been no official announcement regarding the game's title or further details about the project.

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, with the release occurring in December 2024. Originally launched in 2021 exclusively on Apple Arcade, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the best games on the platform by numerous review and critic sites. Reflecting on his partnership with Square Enix, 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 joined Square, now known as Square Enix, in 1983. He directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987 and the subsequent four mainline titles, later serving as the producer for Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11. In 2003, he left the company to establish his own studio, Mistwalker, where he developed titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His most recent project before FANTASIAN Neo Dimension was Fantasian in 2021.

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