Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, initially planned to retire after completing Fantasian. However, the overwhelmingly positive experience of working on Fantasian Neo Dimension has inspired him to create another game, aiming to craft a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy VI.
Final Fantasy Creator to Develop His Final Game (Again)
A Spiritual Successor to Final Fantasy VI
Following the success of Fantasian Neo Dimension, released in 2021, Sakaguchi revealed in an interview with The Verge his desire to create a new game. He initially intended Fantasian to be his final project before retirement, but the collaborative spirit and enjoyment of working with his team led him to pursue another venture. This new game, he hopes, will serve as a worthy successor to Final Fantasy VI. He aims to create something both familiar and innovative, describing it as "part two of my farewell note."
Development of Sakaguchi's Latest Project
In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed the project's existence, stating that approximately one year after completing the script, he anticipates reaching a significant milestone within the next two years. The June 2024 trademark filing for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" by Mistwalker fueled fan speculation about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While details remain scarce, Sakaguchi confirmed the new project will maintain a similar style to his previous fantasy RPGs.
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. Initially released exclusively for Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian garnered significant critical acclaim. Sakaguchi reflected on the collaboration with Square Enix, stating, "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 career began at Square (now Square Enix) in 1983. He directed the first four mainline Final Fantasy titles and served as producer for Final Fantasy VI through Final Fantasy XI. After leaving Square Enix in 2003, he founded Mistwalker, developing titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His most recent project before this new endeavor was Fantasian (2021), later enhanced as FANTASIAN Neo Dimension (2024) in collaboration with Square Enix.
Despite this renewed partnership, Sakaguchi maintains no interest in revisiting the Final Fantasy franchise or his previous works, stating that he has transitioned from creator to consumer.
