Update []: After his update in December last year, Hironobu Sakaguchi appears to have now shared some more details about his next project during an interview with The Verge (thanks for the heads up, Push Square).
When asked about what's ahead, Sakaguchi reiterated how he's working on a "new project" with the "same team" that worked on FANTASIAN Neo Dimension.
He also noted how it will apparently have a connection to Final Fantasy VI and is expected to follow a "similar style" to his previous works. And to add this to this, it will be "part two" of his farewell:
Hironobu Sakaguchi: "I’m currently working on a new project with the same team that worked on Fantasian Neo Dimension. It’s generally going to follow a similar style to my previous works, and it’ll be something that can be a successor to Final Fantasy VI in a good way — our goal is to create something old but new at the same time. It’ll be part two of my farewell note."
You can see what else the Final Fantasy creator had to say recently in the original article below:
Original Story: Following the recent release of Fantasian Neo Dimension for Switch, the Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi is now focused on his future.
In the same Famitsu interview with Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, Sakaguchi revealed how he won’t be calling time on his career any time soon. Instead, he provided an update about his “new project”, which is believed to be a new “dark fantasy” title from Mistwalker.
It will reportedly involve him reuniting with the famous composer Nobuo Uematsu and the script for this project is already complete, but it could still be a while away. Here’s exactly what Sakaguchi had to say to Famitsu (via GamesRadar):
Hironobu Sakaguchi: "There are many things that I can't talk about, but I'm working on a new project. I can't tell you what exactly I'm working on, but it's been about a year since I wrote the script, so I'm in a situation where I think I'll be able to get to a good point in about two years."
Once again, this is the same interview where Yuji Horii said he’s “never thought about retirement”. You can read more in our previous story here on Nintendo Life:
Will you be checking out this next project from the Final Fantasy creator? Have you tried out Fantasian Neo Dimension yet? Let us know in the comments.
[source famitsu.com, via gamesradar.com]
Comments 21
Hopefully it's something that is both fun to look at and play this time. But at the least I'm always down for another Nobuo release.
I will check the age rating first.
I expect ESRB E10+ or Teen / CERO B / PEGI 12 with moderate violence level and milder contents.
Not looking forward to it. No offense, but JRPG writing can range from bad to mediocre. I don't know why that is either. I think because so many of them lack a professional editor.
Just the ones I've played over the years feels like a mess of words put on screen. Bloated, cluttered, and at times poor structure. However, I will give credit that many JRPG's have cool ideas.
He’s working on something for Square Enix first, which will most definitely be FF17 and that’s going to break the internet like never before 🤞
@Frailbay30 Most video game writing is bad. Like even God of War Ragnarok had terrible writing. I think video game developers just need to get professional writers. I don’t play video games for their writing quality.
Calling it now: pretty man with amnesia.
That’s exciting. Hope it can at least keep pace with Fantasian and lost odyssey.
Love to hear it, looking forward to seeing/hearing more of it whenever they're ready to share more!
I've been playing Fantasian, and I'm enjoying it. An amnesia plot is rather clichéd but aside from that, the characters are fun and likable.
I especially enjoy the storybook scenes where it's just an illustration with soft narration. The one in the forest with Kina teaching Leo how to attune himself to nature was really sweet and relaxing.
And so far the plot is not too esoteric or complicated to follow - we've got an amnesiac boy who everyone seems to recognise, and he's journeying around just to try and jog his memory, pretty much. I'm sure it'll get a bit more complicated later on, but I'm glad it starts simple.
And the idea of "mechteria", an infestation of machines that spreads like a disease, is really bizarre, and I am interested in what's going on regarding that.
I enjoy the game so far. And as an RPG, its writing is doing its job really well, so no complaints here! I think people online can tend to be really harsh on RPG writing.
@roboshort I feel like game writing has enough constraints and challenges and pitfalls that "getting professional writers" with no experience with games doesn't actually result in better-written games. Getting them to do some world-building and then using that as a selling point is ... probably about the best that's ever gone?
@CoastersPaul I don't agree at all.
It's true that you can't just hire a writer and then throw them into a programming field. But that's why people are capable of collaborating on different areas of expertise within the same project. It's natural for different teams to bounce ideas off of each other and continue iterating together.
It's absolutely true that the video game industry at large lacks good writing on average, especially in an era where narrative is drawing a larger focus. Professional writers definitely need to be hired by the largest studios moving forward.
Final Fantasy 6: For Good ?
(Cue from Wicked: For Good)
Looking forward to seeing what this new project is even more than I already was - speaking of Final Fantasy VI, when I can I really should finally start that series and so eventually play that game myself (at last got a discounted physical copy from my usual retailer thanks to it getting a wide retail release, now it's just a matter of me finding the time for it)!
I've now finished Fantasian - I really really liked it overall. The best aspect of the game was the boss design for sure. They can get really challenging, especially during the second half of the game.
This was such a comfy little RPG world to play around in, and I really like the characters too. I'll keep an eye out for any follow-up games because Fantasian was a delight.
Last Odyssey was the last really good game from Sakaguchi-San and Uematsu-San, that I consider to be on a similar level as a Final Fantasy game. I watched gameplay of Fantasian and thought, that it feels very middling, with unmemorable music. It would be great, if his new project will be awesome, but I will not get my hopes up. If I want classics and Nostalgia, it is all in the past.
@PinderSchloss Too good to be true, but that is one of the quickest ways S-E could make me interested in that franchise again.
XVI was not bad but it wasn't what I was looking for, I already have plenty of other quality fantasy action games.
FFXVII with Sakaguchi in the captain's chair would get my pre-order without hesitation.
Wait wait wait...
If Sakaguchi 'won’t be calling time on his career any time soon', then why is he calling his new game part of his 'farewell note'?
Is he?? Or isn't he??
@Frailbay30
"No offense, but western RPG writing can range from bad to mediocre."
Fixed that for you buddy
I'm hoping he decides to remaster The Last Story someday, and what does he mean "My farewell" is he retiring after the next project?
@Frailbay30 I can definitely see where you're coming from, and on the whole, I tend to agree. When compared to any other narrative medium, the best videogames have to offer usually fall very short of what the best in other areas have to offer.
There are exceptions of course, and speaking about Sakaguchi in particular, the author who penned the short stories present in Lost Odyssey were truly amazingly well-written and touching, but that really is the exception and not the rule.
Well, he certainly knows exactly what to say to make me excited.
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