Famed for directing and producing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and Final Fantasy XVI, Naoki Yoshida has expressed his intent to pass “Final Fantasy XVII” to the next generation.
Yoshida, otherwise known as “Yoshi-P,” during a speech at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, said that Square Enix does not have any plans set for the next mainline Final Fantasy title just yet. However, when that time comes, he said that he won’t be the one directing it.
Highlighting the projects he has worked on for Square Enix, Yoshida has expressed his desire to pass the baton to the new generation, instead of letting them continue all the work.
I think in some ways it would be good to look to the future and bring in a younger generation, with more youthful sensibilities, to make a new Final Fantasy with challenges that suit today’s world.
True enough, never has there been a franchise so longstanding and transformative as the Final Fantasy as we look into the series throughout the years. From sticking to its turn-based roots to turning its more recent iterations into something of a hybrid with other gameplay designs, Final Fantasy is an IP that embraces change to remain relevant.
Whether bringing the new generation into the fore would mean reinventing the wheel or paying tribute to the classical style that brought life to many Final Fantasy titles will remain to be seen. But if it is any indication, it is that the future of gaming will inevitably fall into the hands of those who are the young game makers of today.
