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[Edge_Maverick]

Square Enix executive producer and Final Fantasy brand manager Shinji Hashimoto had a lot to share on the series during the Lucca Comics & Games 2016 which recently took place in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.

Here are some highlights on what Hashimoto-san shared at the event:

On Final Fantasy X-3

Hashimoto says Final Fantasy X/X-2’s HD Remaster sold well thanks to all the fans. As far as Final Fantasy X-3 goes, he acknowledges that fans have expectations after having been presented a bit of its plot in the audio drama. However, he says that there’s currently facing a wall that cannot be climbed—with director/character designer Tetsuya Nomura and producer/director Yoshinori Kitase both being occupied, they’re unable to work on Final Fantasy VII Remake, Kingdom Hearts III, and Final Fantasy X-3 all at the same time. Square Enix is focusing more on titles that have been announced for now, so he asks fans to wait a little longer [for anything on Final Fantasy X-3.]

Hashimoto adds that he was reminded just how popular Yuna and Tidus are after seeing plenty of cosplayers at Lucca Comics & Games 2016, and their drama is something that he and the staff would like to continue to cherish.

On Final Fantasy XVI

With Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix was able to fuse a setting that is both a modern and fantasy world in one. When it comes to main-numbered Final Fantasy games, the directors think of everything from scratch with each installment. That said, it doesn’t mean we’ll necessarily see a modern setting for Final Fantasy XVI. Hashimoto says that they haven’t made anything for Final Fantasy XVI yet, but to keep in mind that just because Final Fantasy XV has a certain setting, it doesn’t mean the next one will follow in the same way.

Hashimoto emphasizes the differences we’ve seen in main-numbered Final Fantasy titles by using VII, VIII, IX as examples on how we saw it go from a very steam punk cyber world in Final Fantasy VII and then back to more of a fantasy world in Final Fantasy IX. He says that this is something that directors might do on purpose to change things up for the series.

As far as the battle system goes, this is also something that is decided by the director, so it doesn’t necessarily mean Final Fantasy XVI will be more on the action RPG side as we’ve seen in Final Fantasy XV. Hashimoto says when they start work on a new Final Fantasy, they set the bar to make the ultimate fantasy of the generation with each installment. So if a director feels that a certain battle system would work best in the current generation, that’s the main system they’ll go with.

On Final Fantasy VII Remake

Hashimoto didn’t bring any info to the event, but says they’re working hard on the game and asks fans to please wait a little longer for more. About the rumors online on the game releasing in 2017, he says that the company hasn’t announced anything yet, so those are just rumors for now.

On Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

A release date has yet to be decided, but since it’s the game’s 10th anniversary, he hopes to release it as soon as possible.

Read more at http://www.siliconera.com/2016/11/0...es-final-fantasy-xvi-x-3/#EqcsIl0G25gQIcCz.99

 

[Soulflarz]

And no one asks about the next ff7 game

Hopefully after remake so the series can have closure.

 

[Qvoth]

i'd be surprised if agni's philosophy doesn't become 16

 

[PhazonBlazer]

I'd like for the Agni's Philosophy tech demo to the the inspiration for the next FF.

 

[Nirolak]

Hashimoto says that they haven’t made anything for Final Fantasy XVI yet

I'll pencil it in for 2022.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

Part of me wants Agni's Philosophy to become FFXVI, but I'd also like the fresh air of having the next FF be something entirely new we haven't seen before. Maybe compromise and do it as FFXVII...

 

[Dark Cloud]

Please oh please give us a Final Fantasy IX type of setting! I'm sick and tired of modern FF games or futuristic FF games.

 

[OrionX]

Here come the exploding head gifs...

 

[Zexen]

Obligatory TibusBLITZBALLbomb.gif.

edit: beaten.

PS

 

[Reset]

I don't want an X-3 after the trash that was X-2, unless it was a prequel about Braska's journey.

 

[Gaspard]

Here come the exploding head gifs...

It really would make X-3 worth it.

 

[TheGreatDirector]

I'm surprised Square is considering a X-3. The whole audio drama thing was so absurd that it didn't seem like something they'd viably continue. It'll be interesting to see what they do with it, although I wouldn't mind a prequel involving Jecht and Auron as well.

I'll pencil it in for 2022.

You need to account for the inevitable delay.

 

[Plywood]

Agni pls

 

[inner-G]

If X-3 isn't a prequel of Braska's pilgrimage, Square is dead to me

 

[The Last One]

I'll pencil it in for 2022.

Oh, you believe in Hashimoto.

 

[Fancolors]

Please, no more X. The relationship doesn't need another game.

 

[dragonzdogma]

8 remake

 

[Cathcart]

About the rumors online on the game releasing in 2017, he says

He says you've got to be high as a kite to think that's a possibility. Seriously who are these people.

 

[sensui-tomo]

Please oh please give us a Final Fantasy IX type of setting! I'm sick and tired of modern FF games or futuristic FF games.

There's this game called FFXIV, its really really good.

 

[Loke13]

Please oh please give us a Final Fantasy IX type of setting! I'm sick and tired of modern FF games or futuristic FF games.

What are you talking about neither X,XI,XII, or XIV had a modern or futuristic setting in fact the only thing that fits that description recently is XIII and XV? I swear these type of reactions always confuse me.

 

[Fancolors]

There's this game called FFXIV, its really really good.

Not everyone wants to play a MMO.

 

[sublimit]

If they finally make X-3 i hope its battle system will be more like X rather than X-2.

 

[clem84]

The way he's talking about X-3 sounds like the project has already been green lit but that they simply don't have time to get much work done on it.

I'm happy. FFX was a masterpiece. X-2 had plenty of flaws but the game had it where it counts, in the gameplay department. I'd like to see a continuation of Tidus and Yuna's story in X-3, if that's even possible. I don't quite remember how X-2 ends in regards to Tidus, it's been a while since I played the game, but it would be cool if they built a story and game around them. Oh... Please bring back the sphere grid, just deeper and better, and longer to complete.

 

[LordKasual]

FFX-3

Spira, yes. Luminous Studio Engine, hell yes. Yuna and Tidus? Please god no, they are over with.


Braska. Jecht. Auron. OR use the same world and give us new characters. Stop beating the dead horse.

 

[AlexFlame116]

I hope Hashimoto also knows that with the growing expectations that fans had after the HD Remasters of X and X-2, that he also knows about the complete shock and horror that the fans had of X-2.5 or whatever the after story is called.

 

[Irishonion]

Always love the please wait a little while longer. Haha

 

[orthodoxy1095]

Please no more X games. You already screwed everything up with that relationship.

 

[Rising_Hei]

Not everyone wants to play a MMO.

And it's not even that good...

 

[Exentryk]

Hashimoto says that they haven’t made anything for Final Fantasy XVI yet

Uh-oh!

 

[.JayZii]

Hashimoto says that they haven’t made anything for Final Fantasy XVI yet

My heart.

 

[mortal]

I do not want to see Agni become FFXVI. I want to finally see something completely new and unfamiliar in every way.

Nice tech demo though.

 

[sora87]

OP's avatar is great.

Tbh they should just drop everything else and get Kingdom Hearts 3 out, worry about all the other stuff later.

 

[RPGam3r]

If X-3 isn't a prequel of Braska's pilgrimage, Square is dead to me

I would consider it a huge waste to not focus Tidus and Yuna.

 

[Chamber]

I'll pencil it in for 2022.

I see you're feeling optimistic.

 

[Vitanimus]

And it's not even that good...

Please don't trigger Kagari.

 

[OrionX]

Uh-oh!

My heart.

Lies!! Mediking told us it's well underway.

 

[Ray Down]

8 remake

We don't need more crap in FF.

 

[Akainu]

Lets hope that wall gets larger.

 

[random25]

X-3? Please no.

Just focus on a new FF.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ give agni for FFXVI

 

[Trago]

I think it would be nice to go back to a turn-based battle system for Final Fantasy XVI, but of course many will claim that it wont sell. Hell, they're probably right.

 

[MrDenny]

Didn't toriyama announce he was working on a game a few years back. It hasn't been announced, maybe it's X-3.

 

[NoctisVsStar]

Mediking will deliver

 

[kennyamr]

and I still consider FFX as my least favorite one...
Hope they don't go back to that story.
I really never liked the setting, world design, characters, or the story.
They should rather focus on new main games in my opinion.

 

[harutrix]

I'd love a remake for 6 and 8 as well, but I know I would rather have SE spend time and resources into developing a new game instead.

It kind of sucks knowing that FF16 is probably only in its conceptual stages atm. That means I'm going to be 30+ before I get to experience a new mainline FF (after playing XV of course).

 

[sublimit]

I would consider it a huge waste to not focus Tidus and Yuna.

Yup there is no way Yuna and Tidus will not be in it one way or the other.Maybe they will not be the focus of the game this time but they will definitely appear.

 

[Trago]

And for goodness sake, don't use anything from Agni's Philosophy in Final Fantasy XVI. I'd like a nice new clean slate to get excited for.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

I actually do want X-3 really badly, but please focus on XVI first. X-3 can wait for a 20th anniversary or something. The audio drama and the direction X-2 took don't give off a very good impression of how Spira would be revisited, but at the same time I do think that it's very possible to write a good sequel to X-2. Just as long as the game has a good team behind it and doesn't treat it as a spinoff.

 

[Andrew Evenstar]

We don't need an X-3, just like we didn't need Lightning Returns.

Focus on a remake of VI and XVI.

Port tactics to steam please.

 

[Aters]

FFX-3 might be the shittest thing the series has yet to see.