Hironobu Sakaguchi Talks About Fantasian Neo Dimension
Hironobu Sakaguchi needs no introduction. Known as the father of the Final Fantasy series, he has shaped one of the most beloved JRPG franchises in history. With the upcoming release of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, which reunites Sakaguchi-san with Square Enix, he expressed his excitement about returning to his former studio and developing games for Nintendo consoles.
In a recent interview with Famitsu, shared via My Nintendo News and Genki, Sakaguchi and Final Fantasy XIV and XVI producer Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) discussed the expanded re-release of the Apple Arcade title. During the conversation, Sakaguchi reminisced about his time at Square and creating games for Nintendo platforms.
Yoshi-P’s Creative Studio III is assisting in bringing the title to consoles, and Sakaguchi eagerly anticipates its release on various platforms:
“I’m really happy that Fantasian will be available to many people again. By the way, Square Enix is my hometown, but I also think of Nintendo as my hometown… So I’m really happy that it will be released on Nintendo Switch. Of course, I’m also happy that it will be released on other hardware.”
Describing both Square Enix and Nintendo as his “hometown” is a touching way for Sakaguchi to reflect on his past Final Fantasy projects. The initial six Final Fantasy games debuted on Nintendo consoles, and even Sakaguchi’s first Nintendo-published game was the scrolling shooter King’s Knight in 1986. This laid the foundation for his journey with Square, leading to the groundbreaking release of Final Fantasy in 1987.
It’s no surprise that Sakaguchi views Nintendo as a significant part of his career, as it was the platform that propelled him and Square into the spotlight. Although Square transitioned to the PlayStation in the late ’90s, Sakaguchi’s legacy with the NES and SNES remains unparalleled.
The creator of Final Fantasy also shared with Famitsu, saying, “…rather than ‘I want it to be a hit,’ I’m just happy that [Fantasian Neo Dimension is] being released (laughs). I’m really happy just to be able to send my child out into the world again.” This marks Mistwalker’s first multiplatform release since its establishment.
Established in 2004 after departing from Square, Mistwalker is best known for titles like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, exclusive turn-based RPGs for the Xbox 360 (now available on Series S | X through backward compatibility). Over the years, the studio has developed several games for Nintendo consoles like ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat, Blue Dragon Plus, Away: Shuffle Dungeon, and Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow for the DS, along with The Last Story for Wii.
Since 2011, Mistwalker has focused exclusively on mobile game development, making the upcoming multiplatform release of Fantasian a significant event for Sakaguchi. This reunion with Nintendo holds special significance as it marks a return to the platform where his career began.
Fantasian Neo Dimension is set to launch in Winter 2024, and fans can anticipate a concrete release date soon. The game will feature nods to Final Fantasy music, honoring the producer’s extensive history with the franchise, although the soundtrack will predominantly comprise modern Final Fantasy tracks.
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