Last Fantasy Creator Considers Sq. Enix & Nintendo His “Hometown”

Hironobu Sakaguchi wants no introduction. As the daddy of the Last Fantasy franchise, he is the thoughts behind one of the crucial profitable and widespread JRPG collection of all time. With FANTASIAN Neo Dimension reuniting Sakaguchi-san with Sq. Enix, he is spoken about how returning to his former studio — and to Nintendo consoles — appears like coming residence.

In an interview with Famitsu (shared by way of My Nintendo Information and Genki), Sakaguchi and Artistic Studio III and Last Fantasy XIV and XVI producer Naoki Yoshida (often called Yoshi-P) sat down to debate the upcoming expanded rerelease of the Apple Arcade title. And within the chat, Sakaguchi received a little bit reminiscent about his time with Sq. and creating video games for Nintendo consoles.

Yoshi-P’s Artistic Studio III helps convey the title to consoles, and Sakaguchi is worked up to see it land on different platforms:

“I am actually pleased that Fantasian can be accessible to many individuals once more. By the way in which, Sq. Enix is ​​my hometown, however I additionally consider Nintendo as my hometown… So I am actually pleased that will probably be launched on Nintendo Swap. In fact, I am additionally pleased that will probably be launched on different {hardware}.”

Calling each Sq. Enix and Nintendo his “hometown” is a really candy method of reminiscing on previous Last Fantasy titles. the primary six Last Fantasy video games have been initially launched on Nintendo consoles, however Sakaguchi’s first Nintendo-published recreation was the scrolling shooter King’s Knight, launched in 1986. From then, he and Sq. went on to publish a wide range of video games earlier than releasing Last Fantasy in 1987. The remainder, in fact, is historical past.

So it is smart that Sakaguchi sees Nintendo as a “residence” of kinds — that is the console that basically propelled him and Sq.’s identify into the limelight. In fact, Sq. moved to the PlayStation within the late ’90s, however Sakaguchi’s legacy on the NES and SNES is unimpeached.

The Last Fantasy creator additionally instructed Famitsu “…slightly than “I would like it to be a success,” I am simply pleased that [Fantasian Neo Dimension is] being launched (laughs). I am actually pleased simply to have the ability to ship my baby out into the world once more.” That is the primary multiplatform launch for his studio, Mistwalker, since its formation.

Sakaguchi fashioned Mistwalker again in 2004 after leaving Sq.. The developer’s most well-known titles are most likely Blue Dragon and Misplaced Odyssey, two turn-based RPGs unique to Xbox 360 (accessible on Collection S | X because of backwards compatibility, no less than). However the studio has made plenty of video games for Nintendo consoles over time: ASH: Archaic Sealed Warmth, Blue Dragon Plus, Away: Shuffle Dungeon, and Blue Dragon: Woke up Shadow for the DS, and The Final Story for Wii.

Since 2011, nonetheless, Mistwalker has been completely engaged on cellular titles, so Fantasian’s big multiplatform launch is an enormous deal for Sakaguchi. Notably (it appears) as a result of it reunites him with Nintendo, the {hardware} that gave him his begin.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is because of launch in Winter 2024, so hopefully we’ll get a extra concrete launch date quickly. You’ll hearken to Last Fantasy music in-game too, as a pleasant little nod to the producer’s historical past — although it is principally trendy Last Fantasy music.

Tell us whether or not you are pleased to see Sakaguchi again on the Swap within the feedback.