FF Creator Aims for FF6 Spiritual Successor

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator of the Final Fantasy series, had previously contemplated retirement. However, he now has a renewed passion to craft a new game that serves as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and stay updated on its development.

The Successor to Final Fantasy 6

Following the triumph of his latest game, Fantasian Neo Dimension, which debuted in 2021, Sakaguchi originally planned for it to be his swan song. In a conversation with The Verge, he expressed that Fantasian was meant to be his final project before hanging up his creative hat. Yet, the allure of game development pulled him back, especially after the joy of working with his exceptional team. This team, instrumental in the success of Fantasian, has inspired Sakaguchi to embark on another journey, aiming to create a game that feels "old yet new" simultaneously. He described this new venture as "part two of my farewell note," a spiritual successor to the iconic Final Fantasy 6.

Development on Sakaguchi's Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi shared insights into his new project, revealing that he penned the script about a year ago. He optimistically stated, "I think I'll be able to reach a good point in about two years." The buzz around a potential sequel intensified when Mistwalker filed a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" in June 2024. While the game will follow the fantasy RPG style synonymous with Sakaguchi's previous works, specifics about the title and further details remain under wraps.

Reuniting with Square Enix for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

The collaboration between Mistwalker and Square Enix brought FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience across PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in December 2024. Initially exclusive to Apple Arcade upon its 2021 release, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the best games on the platform. Reflecting on his return to Square Enix, where he kickstarted his career in 1983, Sakaguchi noted, "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 journey with Square Enix saw him direct the first Final Fantasy in 1987 and continue with the subsequent four mainline titles before transitioning to a producer role for Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11. After departing in 2003 to establish Mistwalker, he created notable titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His latest endeavor, Fantasian, evolved into FANTASIAN Neo Dimension with Square Enix's involvement.

Despite the successful partnership, Sakaguchi remains steadfast in not revisiting Final Fantasy or his past works, stating he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."