Renowned Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has returned to work with Square Enix after a long hiatus, expressing his intention to focus on creating games that he, as a player, truly enjoys.
In an enlightening interview with Bloomberg, Sakaguchi shared that he has no plans to revisit his older Final Fantasy titles, as he wants to avoid any potential negative impact on his current favorite, Final Fantasy XIV. He mentioned, “If I return to the Final Fantasy franchise, it may affect my enjoyment of Final Fantasy XIV.”
Initially starting as research for an event, Sakaguchi soon found himself deeply immersed in the world of Final Fantasy XIV. He admitted, “It all began out of courtesy, but now I find myself almost living in Final Fantasy XIV.” This sentiment resonates with many fans of the game.
While his approach may seem unconventional, Sakaguchi explained that he now prefers to approach game design from a consumer’s perspective rather than that of a creator. He remains actively engaged with new Final Fantasy titles, even proclaiming Final Fantasy XV as his favorite game of 2016 in a recent interview with 4Gamer. His influence in the Final Fantasy community is evident, with his admiration for Final Fantasy XVI’s adventurous spirit noted in a statement from 2023.
This interview precedes the launch of Fantasian Neo Dimension, an upgraded version of his RPG Fantasian, initially exclusive to Apple Arcade in 2021. Neo Dimension, a collaborative effort between Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker and Square Enix, is set to release later this year on various platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
The unexpected collaboration between Sakaguchi and Square Enix marks a significant reunion after several years apart. While Sakaguchi established his roots in game development at Square Enix, contributing to titles like Dragon Quest before creating the iconic Final Fantasy series and remaining until Final Fantasy X-2, he eventually founded Mistwalker, the studio behind acclaimed games such as Lost Odyssey and Terra Battle.
