Hironobu Sakaguchi, the storied developer and "Father of Final Fantasy," has no interest in returning to work on the series he helped make a household name. He also does not want to know how games in the franchise are made now, feeling that it would impact his enjoyment of playing future entries.
Speaking to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier (thanks, GameSpot), Sakaguchi explained that he views himself as a consumer now and that knowing how the sausage is made would affect the joy he takes in playing one entry specifically: "If I take on the Final Fantasy brand again, I don’t know if I’ll be able to genuinely enjoy Final Fantasy XIV as much."
Following his growing dissatisfaction with Square Enix (and the financial turmoil that resulted from the CGI film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within), Sakaguchi founded the studio Mistwalker in 2004. The developer found success with titles like Lost Odyssey and The Last Story on Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, respectively. Still, Sakaguchi isn't interested in porting these older games to modern platforms. Originally an Apple Arcade title, his most recent game, Fantasian, is coming to PS5 and PS4 later this year as Fantasian: Neo Dimension.
Is this truly the end of an era, or has the writing been on the wall for quite a while now? Are you surprised to see how seriously Sakaguchi takes his Final Fantasy XIV? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source bloomberg.com, via gamespot.com]
Comments 18
Played Lost Odyssey recently. Definitely felt like one of his final (haha) passion projects.
I think there’s merit to letting certain stuff end and allowing new blood and new ideas to flourish. His approach is pretty awesome and I hope he enjoys a healthy life both as a gamer and as a grandparent.
My comment may be irrelevant but this article took me to more than two decades back when Enix didn't want to merge with Square for a period of time due to the financial stuff happened and my hopes of Sony to acquire Square back then after successful relationship between the two in the PS1 era. Sigh... it never happened
Didn't we know this back on the PS3? It's not like he left square on super friendly terms, enough that I think it's crazy that they're publishing mistwalkers game at all now.
That's fun that he plays xiv now though. The only ff that reflects his own vision for the franchise since he left. Coincidence? 🤔
Kind of a shame he has no interest in bringing Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon to modern systems.
I think those games deserve a second chance - they did “Final Fantasy” better than Final Fantasy during that particular console generation (I wasn’t a particular fan of FF XIII).
Good thing I can still play both on Xbox, though!
14 is crazy overrated IMO and to have one of the head people responsible for putting Final Fantasy on the map say he doesn’t want to ruin his enjoyment of 14 by developing another game is so upsetting to me- I always thought he had one more FF in him But, live your best life sir.
He left Square over 2 decades ago and the last Final Fantasy he directed released 30 years ago. Why would anyone think he'd ever work on the series again? That chapter has been closed for a long time now.
I am not surprised but it was a pipe dream of mine to see him return for one chapter, it would have been cool. It’s pretty neat he still lays and enjoys the series and he is way less conservative and mind-caged than some FF fans.
Sad that Lost Odyssey is not being considered for modern platforms…Blue dragon, no thank you 🫶🏻😅
We still have hope since this fantasian port is happening because of yoshi-p we need to get insiders to start whispering to yoshi to get Sakaguchi to agree to ports of his older titles they would have so much reach now on newer platforms
There's no reason for him to go back to FF. Right now he's 61 years, a grandfather, and as a game developer he already acomplished most if not everything in his career.
So, he pretty much wants to relax and enjoyed his freedom far from corporate stuff or any tight schedule.
I mean... he has been off if for quite some time. I think FF10 was the last one he still participated on but left during development.
Now it would be lovely if he helmed a new entry in the Chrono series. Maybe a tribute to Akira Toryama.
Also, i must confess he is younger than i thought. To think he was still in his 30's when he left squeenix and he had already helped make 10 mainline titles and some spin off's.
I loved The Last Story. Such a brilliant game and a shame it seems to be locked onto Wii forever.
@Nem Sakaguchi was only worked as an executive producer for FF X. He didn't involved with the development at all because he was busy making FF The Spirits Within. And Sakaguchi last FF was X-2 before he left SE and founded Mistwalker.
@PuppetMaster I want to forget X-2 existed, thanks. 😆
@Nem Great battle and job system though.
@Ainu20 The whole game was a filler act to re-enact the perfect ending of FFX.
I really can't put it on the same level.
@Nem Sure, the game as a whole is pretty damn silly. But still, that part of it was excellent.
Let the man rest. He has more than earned it.
I can understand why he doesn't wanna go back to the FF franchise, but not wanting to atleast try bringing Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon to modern consoles is a letdown imo.
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