Hironobu Sakaguchi aims for his next (and possibly last) game to be 'a successor to Final Fantasy VI'.
Bold ambitions.
The arrival of Fantasian to Apple Arcade in 2021 was seen by Hironobu Sakaguchi as the closing chapter of his brilliant career. However, the creator of the famous Final Fantasy series seems unable to distance himself from the world of video games. Fantasian represents a return to his roots, being a role-playing game that incorporates innovative ideas and a captivating universe created from handmade dioramas. In December, Sakaguchi's studio, Mistwalker, released an updated version called Neo Dimension, which expanded the game's availability to more platforms and introduced new features such as voice acting. This project was even published by Square Enix, the company behind Final Fantasy.
Despite Sakaguchi having commented that Fantasian would be his last project before retiring, he has revealed his desire to develop a new game along similar lines, which he hopes will be seen as "a successor to Final Fantasy VI." This video game is especially remembered as the last to feature pixel art before the series transitioned to 3D.
In a recent interview, Sakaguchi discussed the creation of Fantasian, the enduring popularity of turn-based RPGs, and his future plans. When asked whether comparisons to Final Fantasy bothered him, he replied that they didn't really, as his approach to Fantasian was different. His goal was to reconnect with his creativity to develop an authentic RPG, feeling that the comparisons were unnecessary. He considers that with the release of Neo Dimension, the game has reached its full state and hopes that in the future, its legacy can be appreciated.
When mentioning his collaboration with Square Enix, Sakaguchi highlighted the importance of returning to his beginnings in the industry and how this experience was significant. He also referred to the incorporation of voice acting, which he had little experience in before, but trusted the talent of the Square Enix team and director Takuto Nakamura. The voice actor selection process was collaborative, enriching the characters' portrayal.
Regarding the relevance of RPGs today, he commented that while advanced technology games are appealing, there is a fundamental desire among players to immerse themselves in virtual worlds. Games like Fantasian Neo Dimension allow players to explore, providing a sense of achievement in mastering the environment.
Finally, reflecting on his future after finishing Fantasian, Sakaguchi mentioned that although he thought Neo Dimension would be his last work, the experience of working with his team has been so rewarding that he has decided to embark on a new project with them. This new game, which will follow a style similar to his previous works, aims to be a proper continuation of Final Fantasy VI, representing a sort of second part of his farewell to the world of video game development.
