Square Enix Plans More New Games Over Remakes, Kitase Says

Key Points:

• Yoshinori Kitase, longtime Final Fantasy producer and director, revealed that Square Enix plans to focus more on new game titles while still occasionally investing in remakes, as seen with the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
• Kitase highlighted that Final Fantasy’s unique appeal lies in its well-developed characters and the blend of European and Japanese cultural influences, which have helped create a distinctive global fanbase.
• Square Enix is interested in returning to film and TV adaptations of Final Fantasy, especially following the expanded storytelling seen in the Final Fantasy VII Remake.
• Kitase expressed admiration for games inspired by Final Fantasy, like Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, emphasizing a creative cycle of mutual inspiration among creators, and confirmed Star Wars influenced character names and concepts in his games.
• While Kitase feels deeply attached to Final Fantasy VII, he currently prefers to focus on new projects rather than remakes, though a Final Fantasy VI remake remains a popular fan request; he is also interested in exploring battle-focused games that appeal to newer generations without sacrificing narrative depth.