Final Fantasy Visionary Unveils Ambitious Plan

Final Fantasy's visionary creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, initially planned to retire after Fantasian, but a renewed passion and the joy of collaborating with his exceptional team have spurred him to create another game. This new project, inspired by the beloved Final Fantasy VI, aims to be its spiritual successor.

A Spiritual Successor to a Classic

Sakaguchi, in an interview with The Verge, revealed his intention to craft a game reminiscent of Final Fantasy VI. While Fantasian was intended as his swan song, the positive experience working with his team led to this unexpected sequel. He describes the new endeavor as "part two of my farewell note," suggesting a blend of nostalgia and innovation.

Development Update and Speculation

In a 2024 Famitsu interview, Sakaguchi confirmed the project's development, estimating approximately two more years until completion. A Mistwalker trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" fueled fan speculation of a direct sequel, though Sakaguchi hasn't officially confirmed this. The game will likely maintain the fantasy RPG style of his previous works.

A Reunion with Square Enix

The recent collaboration with Square Enix for the multi-platform release of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension (December 2024) marked a full circle for Sakaguchi, returning to his roots after founding Mistwalker in 2003. He expressed the fascinating experience of working with Square Enix again, but reiterated his lack of interest in revisiting the Final Fantasy franchise or his past works.

Sakaguchi's journey, from his early days at Square to his current independent endeavors, continues to captivate fans. While details about his new project remain scarce, the anticipation for this spiritual successor to Final Fantasy VI is undeniably high.