Naoki Yoshida Teases More Final Fantasy Remakes on the Horizon

Don’t hold your breath for more remakes on the scale of Final Fantasy 7 in Square Enix’s iconic RPG series anytime soon. That’s the sentiment from Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida. During the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest in Berlin, he suggested that similar large-scale projects could take even longer than the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, which is quite a statement.

The Berlin Fan Fest weekend primarily focused on unveiling details about Final Fantasy 14’s upcoming expansion, Evercold. However, during the Naoki’s Room event on July 26, Yoshida took a moment to discuss the broader series alongside special guest Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. The conversation naturally drifted to the demand for more remakes. “I understand the feelings of the players, but you have to think about it,” Yoshida conveyed through a translator. “Look at Final Fantasy 6. It’s such an incredibly huge game. The scale is just immense.” He believes that this scale translates to even more work for any developer tackling such a project. “If we did remake those other titles,” Yoshida continued, “we’d probably end up having to release them in four or maybe even five installments.”

This outlook doesn’t inspire much optimism for fans. If the third installment of the remake trilogy, Revelation, hits in Spring 2027 as planned, that would mean the entire development process spans over a decade. Yoshida points to Final Fantasy 6 as a prime example, likely due to its vastness, featuring over a dozen party members and a dramatically changing game world. If players expect a modern version of the game to mirror the remake trilogy’s look and feel, the undertaking may not be practical.

That said, Square Enix could potentially streamline the development of future remakes. The trilogy expands on the original with added story and gameplay elements, with mixed results. A more straightforward remake of older titles, like Final Fantasy 8 and 9, could thrive with just a graphical upgrade and quality-of-life improvements. Additionally, pixel-art classics like Final Fantasy 6 might skip a realistic remake altogether, opting instead for Square Enix’s HD-2D engine, which is set to be used in the upcoming Final Fantasy Resonance. This approach could make the project less daunting and allow for a single release. While the remake trilogy has been an intriguing venture, Yoshida raises valid points about the challenges of replicating that success.