Square Enix has recently revealed that the sequel toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeis in active development, and while little is known about the next part of Cloud’s saga, much less has been said of the next installment in the mainFinal Fantasyfranchise. The prior installment in the main franchise,Final Fantasy 15,dropped on consoles in 2016 after a decade of development—a far cry from the series' annual release schedule in its PlayStation-to-PlayStation 2-era heyday. But given the challenges of satisfying fans' titanic expectations, these long gaps may become the new normal, not without good reasons.
Even before the tremendous success ofRemake, few video game franchises could compare toFinal Fantasy’s legacy and reputation. The storied series is not only the face of Japanese role-playing games around the world, but a major force in the video game industry as a whole, with console-defining installments likeFinal Fantasy 6and the originalFinal Fantasy 7pushing the boundaries of graphics, music, and storytelling throughout the medium. And while the expectations forRemakewere towering, the title delivered andSquare Enix effectively doubled its annual earnings over the last fiscal year.
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The Steep Price of Success
Such bounties can be mixed blessings however, andRemake’s stellar success may prove to be a double-edged buster sword for the franchise as a whole.Remake’s clever additions toFinal Fantasy 7’score storyhave led to intense speculation about the follow-up, leaving fans clamoring to know what is in store for Cloud and company. As a result, anything less than a spellbinding announcement forFinal Fantasy 16will likely register as weak tea compared to a property that fans are already deeply intensely invested in.
There are also budgetary constraints to consider on Square Enix’s part. Stretching resources across two tent-poles, while also maintaining and expanding the series' latest MMORPG offering,Final Fantasy XIV, could be detrimental to the development of all titles involved. This is especially true given the logistical challenges facingFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2, including theModern Warfareproblem of cross-generational platform progression.
Answering Risk with Innovation
In many respects, the safest move Square Enix can make would be to continue riding high onRemake’s success. And that may already be the case, seeing how the only information available about the inevitable, hitherto unannounced next entry in the main franchise is the plausible-yet-unsurprisingrumor thatFinal Fantasy 16will be a PlayStation 5 timed-exclusive. But if Square Enix focuses its efforts entirely on a loving stroll down Nostalgia Lane, it could spark a disappointing trend for a series that distinguished itself by introducing bold new worlds and fresh mechanics with each main-series installment.
Despite those difficulties, there are waysFinal Fantasy 16can succeed in the face ofRemake’s fierce-but-friendly competition. No matter when the title ends up releasing, players will rightly expect it to surpass the titles that have come before it. There area few obvious tweaksRemakecan make for a better player-experiencewhich would also translate handsomely toFinal Fantasy 16.Ultimately though, trying to re-skinRemake’s engine and system with a fresh world would be a losing play. Square Enix simply cannot afford to be that conservative with what comes next for the main franchise.
Rather than providing a polished version of what came before, orfalling back on feature wish lists based on past titles,Final Fantasywould tremendously benefit from something wholly unique. Producing a compelling, completely original world (and associated magic and battle systems) is a colossal undertaking, but it promises the greatest potential for victory—and may also mitigate the risks associated with developing two titles simultaneously.
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Tactics for Moving Forward
IfFinal Fantasy 16features gameplay that diverges from theKingdom Hearts-influenced, action-oriented model ofFinal Fantasy 15andRemake,it could simultaneously court new players who found recent installments unappealing as well as devoted fans. And even if16flops,Remakewill be there to save the day. It wouldn’t be the first time Square Enixtook that kind of risk, either. Shortly after the originalFinal Fantasy 7launched, Square Enix unleashed another title bearing theFinal Fantasyname with radically different mechanics. That series,Final Fantasy Tactics,deserves its own proper revival (rather than a Twitch-based gambling game), but in the meantime, it serves as an excellent example of how Square Enix could get creative.
Another important move would be to put a different director and character designer in the driver’s seat forFinal Fantasy 16. Tetsuya Nomura’s creations are iconic, and his influence onRemakewas essential for capturing the spirit of the original. In response to eagerFinal Fantasy 7fans,Nomura stated he hopes to produce the next installment of Remake quickly. As such, his attention should remain devoted to that series and theKingdom Heartsfranchise, leaving the director’s chair open for fresh talent to bring new ideas to the table.
The Wrong Move
There are countless ways things could go wrong, but some pitfalls are more obvious than others. The worst mistake Square Enix could make would be to ignore the elephant in the room and pretend that theFinal Fantasyfranchise has been completely subsumed by theFinal Fantasy 7Remakeproject. Players who were never taken with that particular title will lose interest, assume the company has run out of ideas, and turn their attention elsewhere. Given the tremendous success ofPersona 5andPersona 5 Royal, Atlus could easily take Square Enix’slunch money with the next main-seriesPersonatitle.An innovative, direct sequel to thePersona 5story linecould provide compelling competition as well.
Fortunately, despite Square Enix’s radio silence, it does not appear the company will let its flagship franchise languish entirely. A privateTwitter account appearing to be a placeholder forFinal Fantasy 16has surfaced, suggesting that development may be in progress behind the scenes. Given the lack of updates however, it will likely be a long time before the world gets a glimpse at what is next for the world’s best-known JRPG franchise. If the long development cycle and eventual success ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeis any indication, however, good things are well worth waiting for.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeis available now for PlayStation 4.Final Fantasy 16has yet to be announced.
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