FF6 Spiritual Successor in the Works by Final Fantasy Creator

Hironobu Sakaguchi, the visionary creator behind the iconic Final Fantasy series, had once contemplated retirement. However, the success of his latest project, Fantasian Neo Dimension, has reignited his passion for game development. Sakaguchi now aims to craft a new game that he hopes will serve as a spiritual successor to the beloved Final Fantasy VI. Dive deeper into his plans and the latest updates on this exciting new venture.

Final Fantasy Creator To Develop His Final Game Again

The Successor To Final Fantasy 6

Following the triumph of Fantasian Neo Dimension, which debuted in 2021, Hironobu Sakaguchi is now setting his sights on a new project inspired by Final Fantasy VI. In an interview with The Verge, Sakaguchi mentioned that he had initially intended Fantasian to mark his final endeavor before stepping away from the industry. Yet, the joy of collaborating with an exceptional team on Fantasian led him to reconsider. He expressed a desire to continue working with the same talented group, stating, "the fantastic team that was assembled to complete this project was so enjoyable to work with that I found it hard to part ways." Their collective goal is to "create something old but new at the same time," and Sakaguchi views this upcoming game as "part two of my farewell note."

Development On Sakaguchi’s Latest Project

In a 2024 interview with Famitsu, Sakaguchi revealed that he has been actively developing a new project for about a year. He shared that the script has been in progress, and he anticipates reaching a significant milestone within the next two years. Additionally, in June 2024, Mistwalker filed a trademark for "FANTASIAN DARK AGE," sparking speculation among fans about a potential sequel to Fantasian. Sakaguchi confirmed that his new project will continue his tradition of crafting fantasy RPGs, though no official details regarding the title or specifics have been released yet.

Reuniting With Square Enix For FANTASIAN Neo Dimension

Mistwalker and Square Enix joined forces to bring FANTASIAN Neo Dimension to a broader audience, releasing it on 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 platform's top games. Reflecting on his collaboration with Square Enix, where he began 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."

Throughout his tenure at Square, later known as Square Enix, Sakaguchi directed the first Final Fantasy game in 1987 and the subsequent four mainline titles, before transitioning to the role of producer for Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy XI. After leaving the company in 2003, he established Mistwalker and developed notable titles such as Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and The Last Story. Despite the recent partnership with Square Enix, Sakaguchi remains focused on new creations rather than revisiting his past works, stating he has "switched to a consumer rather than a creator."