Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' trilogy, knows that attracting the attention of young gamers is the biggest challenge currently facing the series. The Final Fantasy series began in the late 1980s. As with its long history, the age range of fans who enjoy the game is also higher than that of other franchises. Younger generations who are not familiar with the series may feel a barrier to entry when they see the large Roman numerals in the title. This is because it is easy to misunderstand that the story continues without knowing that most titles are independent stories. Moreover, the time it takes for a new work to come out is too long. This may also be the cause of the Final Fantasy series losing interest from the public.
Director Hamaguchi Nintenderos, he opened up about the difficult task of expanding the franchise to new user bases while providing satisfying depth to existing fans.
He said, "We are constantly thinking about what new experiences we can provide in the future. Now that the Final Fantasy VII Remake project is nearing completion, we want to meet the expectations of fans who want the world and characters to be treated in more depth. At the same time, we are also thinking deeply about how we can expand the possibilities of the entire Final Fantasy franchise for the next generation."
He added, "As game creators, if there is a demand for a new and original experience that is completely different from what we have done so far, we are willing to accept the challenge."
Matt Piscatella, senior director of market research firm Circana, said earlier this year that 70% of 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' players are in their 30s or older. Final Fantasy continues to be a huge success among this age group. However, as time passes, existing fans may naturally become distant from the game, so attracting younger users is most important for Square Enix.
'Final Fantasy 15', 'Final Fantasy 16', and the 7-part remake trilogy were meaningful attempts that reflected these concerns. This is because they moved away from the existing turn-based battle and actively embraced the real-time battle preferred by the new generation. In particular, episode 16 sought drastic changes by claiming to be adult-rated. But unfortunately, it did not lead to the overwhelming commercial results that Square Enix had hoped.
It is still unclear what Final Fantasy will do after the Remake Trilogy is completed. It is highly likely that 'Final Fantasy 17' is currently in development, but it is difficult to estimate when it will be released to the world. It is also unknown what new elements will be introduced to attract the interest of users who have never encountered this series.
Last March, Naoki Yoshida, director of 'Final Fantasy 14', nicknamed 'Yoshi P' by fans, also shared similar concerns. He acknowledged that the excessively long development period across the Final Fantasy series makes it difficult for new users and younger generations to enter.
Director Yoshida mentioned this issue in a video interview promoting the spin-off work 'Dissidia Duelum Final Fantasy'. He diagnosed that as the gap between official numbered titles being released has become too long, it has become difficult for young people to feel a connection to the Final Fantasy franchise.
Yoshi P said, "I am now 53 years old, and I have been enjoying Final Fantasy in real time since the first game. However, for the younger generation who grew up naturally exposed to action-oriented battles and online fighting games, the recently released series may have been somewhat unfamiliar and difficult to approach."
He added, "Unfortunately, the release cycle for new games has become too long. As a result, today's young gamers have not had the opportunity to become deeply immersed in the series itself like old fans did in the past."
Yoshi P, who is also the producer of the 16th film, said in 2024, "Now is the time for the younger generation of creators to lead the future of franchises, including Final Fantasy 17." However, as Square Enix is currently focusing its efforts on completing the final three parts of Final Fantasy VII Remake, there has been no new news about the next official numbering title.
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