Is Final Fantasy Still a Hit? Producer Naoki Yoshida Sheds Light on the Series’ Struggles
Naoki Yoshida, the mastermind behind Final Fantasy XVI and the former savior of Final Fantasy XIV, recently spilled the beans in an interview with Inverse. He’s not afraid to admit that the iconic RPG franchise is currently feeling out‑of‑sync with the fast‑moving gaming world.
Why the Friction?
- “The series has been facing a tough time adapting to industry trends,” Yoshida said.
- “We’re now juggling a huge pile of different requests about where we should take our game design.”
It’s not surprising—the drama behind Final Fantasy XIV was no walk in the park. The MMO first struggled with half‑good gameplay and a sour mood from players and developers alike.
From Fumble to Fandango
Enter Yoshida, aka Yoshi‑P, who turned the tide and flipped the MMO into a star competitor against Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. Let’s just say it was so popular that Square Enix even paused an expansion to keep the server from crashing. Management decisions were a piece of the puzzle, but the successful flip demonstrates just how much this guy can do.
FFXVI Goes Dark
With his newfound confidence, Yoshida decided to give FFXVI a darker vibe than usual – it’s the first mainline entry to receive an M rating. He told Inverse that trying to satisfy every fan’s wish in a single game would be impossible. “The only realistic playbook is to create multiple titles and keep dropping the best we can,” he remarked.
Delayed but Not Forgotten
Initially slated for a 2021 year‑end teaser, FFXVI has slipped to an unspecified Summer 2023 launch. That’s not the end of the road, though. Yoshida emphasized his love for FFXIV and his desire to keep it alive for years to come.
“I want to ensure that people continue to think of Final Fantasy XIV as that fun game that gave them a top‑notch experience, and that it keeps running for decades,” he said.
Takeaway
Scheduled future reveals, such as a spring 2022 event, show the brand still aims to keep fans glued. Yet, Yoshida’s honest assessment underscores the challenge: Final Fantasy might need a new approach, a fresh manuscript, and maybe, just maybe, several books instead of one.
