Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's New Endeavor

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the visionary behind the iconic Final Fantasy series, had once contemplated retirement. However, the success and joy he found in his recent project, Fantasian Neo Dimension, have reignited his passion for game development. Sakaguchi now aims to create a new game that he hopes will serve as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and the latest developments in his creative journey.

The Successor to Final Fantasy 6

Following the acclaim of Fantasian Neo Dimension, initially released in 2021, Sakaguchi expressed in an interview with The Verge that he had intended Fantasian to be his swan song. Yet, the camaraderie and creativity of the team he worked with inspired him to embark on another project. "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. His new goal is to "create something old but new at the same time," envisioning this new game as "part two of my farewell note," aiming to capture the essence of Final Fantasy 6.

Development on Sakaguchi's Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed his ongoing work on a new project. "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," he stated. The filing of a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE" by Mistwalker in June 2024 has sparked speculation among fans about a potential sequel to Fantasian. While the project remains shrouded in mystery, Sakaguchi has hinted that it will adhere to the fantasy RPG style of his previous works, without revealing the official title or further details.

Reuniting with Square Enix for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker's collaboration with Square Enix brought FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch in December 2024. Originally launched in 2021 as an Apple Arcade exclusive, Fantasian earned high praise and was considered one of the best games on the platform. Reflecting on the partnership, 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's journey began at Square in 1983, where he directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987 and went on to direct the next four mainline titles. He later served as a producer for Final Fantasy 6 through Final Fantasy 11 before departing in 2003 to establish Mistwalker. At his new studio, he crafted titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. His most recent project, Fantasian, was enhanced and re-released as FANTASIAN Neo Dimension in 2024. Despite this collaboration, Sakaguchi has no plans to revisit his earlier works, stating, "I have switched to a consumer rather than a creator."