Summary
Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the legendaryFinal Fantasyseries, has just provided an exciting update regarding his next major video game project. Sakaguchi joined what is now known as Square Enix in 1983, working as a game designer on such titles asThe Death TrapandKing’s Knightbefore directing the originalFinal Fantasyin 1987. The JRPG was a major success, spawning a blockbuster franchise that continues to this day.
Sakaguchi would continue to direct the next four mainlineFinal Fantasygames, then serve as a producer forFinal Fantasy 6all the way untilFinal Fantasy 11. He also worked as an executive producer for numerousFinal Fantasyspin-offs until he left the company in 2003 to form his own studio, Mistwalker. Under this new studio, Sakaguchi developedBlue Dragonalongside thelateDragon Ballcreator Akira Toriyamaand worked on other hits likeLost OdysseyandThe Last Story. His most recent project was the 2021 mobile RPGFantasian, and he would announce work on yet another new game a couple of years later.
In a recent interview withFamitsu(viaGamesRadar), Sakaguchi hinted at his next project now thatthe updatedFantasian: Neo Dimensionhas been released on consoles and PC. He says that he can’t share much about this mysterious new game, but he wrote the script a year ago and thinks he will “get to a good point” in about two years.
Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Next Game Script is Already Done
This unknown project is believed to be a dark fantasy game that Sakaguchi is reportedly making alongside Nobuo Uematsu, the famed composer behind many of theFinal Fantasytitles Sakaguchi helped create.Sakaguchi previously spoke about his next game, stating that it is being developed by most of the same team that worked onFantasian. Around this time, Mistwalker filed a patent for the potential titleFantasian: Dark Edge, leaving some fans to speculate that this new project is actually a sequel to Mistwalker’s mobile RPG.
Before announcing his next project, Sakaguchi reportedly considered retiring from video game development, but he later changed his mind and now considers game development more of a pleasure than a job. Fans probably shouldn’t expect tosee him return toFinal Fantasyanytime soonthough, as he stated that he has no intention of going back to the highly influential franchise he helped create so many years ago - even if he continues to enjoy recent entries likeFinal Fantasy 16.
