"Final Fantasy Creator Aims for FF6 Spiritual Successor"

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator behind the Final Fantasy series, has reversed his plans to retire and is now eager to develop a new game inspired by the iconic Final Fantasy 6. Dive into the details of his upcoming project and the latest developments surrounding it.

The Successor to Final Fantasy 6

Following the success of his recent title, Fantasian Neo Dimension, released in 2021, Hironobu Sakaguchi is set to embark on a new journey. Initially, he had considered Fantasian to be his final project before retirement. However, in a recent interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi revealed his desire to craft a game that he hopes will serve as "a successor to Final Fantasy VI."

Despite contemplating retirement, Sakaguchi found the collaborative spirit of the Fantasian team irresistible, prompting him to continue working with them. He aims to "create something old but new at the same time," describing this new endeavor as "part two of my farewell note."

Development on Sakaguchi's Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi confirmed his ongoing work on a new project, stating, "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," fueling speculation among fans about a potential sequel.

Sakaguchi has indicated that his latest project will follow the style of his previous fantasy RPGs, though no official title or detailed information has been announced yet.

Reuniting with Square Enix for FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker collaborated with Square Enix to bring FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience across PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch, launching in December 2024. Originally released exclusively on Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian has been hailed as one of the best games on the platform by critics and reviewers alike.

Reflecting on his renewed partnership with Square Enix, where he began his career in 1983, 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 directed the first five mainline Final Fantasy titles and produced Final Fantasy 6 through 11 before leaving Square in 2003 to establish Mistwalker. His subsequent projects under Mistwalker include Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story, culminating in Fantasian in 2021 and its enhanced version, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, in 2024.

Despite this collaboration, Sakaguchi maintains no interest in revisiting Final Fantasy or his previous works, preferring to focus on new creative endeavors as a consumer rather than a creator.