Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator behind the Final Fantasy series, had once considered hanging up his game design hat for good. However, inspired by the success of his latest project, Fantasian Neo Dimension, released in 2021, Sakaguchi has decided to embark on a new journey. In a recent interview with The Verge, he expressed his desire to create a game that he hopes will serve as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy 6.
Final Fantasy Creator To Develop His Final Game Again
The Successor To Final Fantasy 6
After the successful launch of Fantasian Neo Dimension, Sakaguchi initially planned for it to be his swan song in the gaming world. Yet, the joy of collaborating with his talented team reignited his passion for game development. "The fantastic team that was assembled to complete this project was so enjoyable to work with that I found it hard to part ways," Sakaguchi shared. This newfound enthusiasm has led him to decide on a new project, aiming to "create something old but new at the same time." He refers to this upcoming game as "part two of my farewell note," hinting at a poignant closure to his illustrious career.
Development On Sakaguchi’s Latest Project
In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi revealed that he has been working on this new project for about a year now. He mentioned, "It's been about a year since I wrote the script, so I'm in a situation where I think I'll be able to get to a good point in about two years." Additionally, in June 2024, Mistwalker filed a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE," sparking speculation among fans about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While Sakaguchi has kept details under wraps, he confirmed that the project will follow the fantasy RPG style of his previous works. No official title or further information has been disclosed yet.
Reuniting With Square Enix For FANTASIAN Neo Dimension
In a nostalgic move, Sakaguchi and his studio, Mistwalker, partnered with Square Enix to release FANTASIAN Neo Dimension on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch, in December 2024. Originally exclusive to Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian was acclaimed as one of the best games on the platform. Reflecting on this collaboration, 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 began in 1983, where he directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987 and went on to helm the next four mainline titles, eventually serving as producer for Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11. He departed from the company in 2003 to establish Mistwalker, where he developed titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. Despite the recent partnership, Sakaguchi remains firm on not revisiting his past works, stating he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."
