Square Enix has recently revealed that the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake is 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 main Final Fantasy franchise. 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 of Remake, few video game franchises could compare to Final 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 like Final Fantasy 6 and the original Final Fantasy 7 pushing the boundaries of graphics, music, and storytelling throughout the medium. And while the expectations for Remake were towering, the title delivered and Square Enix effectively doubled its annual earnings over the last fiscal year.
Such bounties can be mixed blessings however, and Remake‘s stellar success may prove to be a double-edged buster sword for the franchise as a whole. Remake’s clever additions to Final Fantasy 7’s core story have 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 for Final Fantasy 16 will 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 facing Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2, including the Modern Warfare problem of cross-generational platform progression.
In many respects, the safest move Square Enix can make would be to continue riding high on Remake‘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-unsurprising rumor that Final Fantasy 16 will 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 ways Final Fantasy 16 can succeed in the face of Remake‘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 are a few obvious tweaks Remake can make for a better player-experience which would also translate handsomely to Final Fantasy 16. Ultimately though, trying to re-skin Remake‘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, or falling back on feature wish lists based on past titles, Final Fantasy would 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.
If Final Fantasy 16 features gameplay that diverges from the Kingdom Hearts-influenced, action-oriented model of Final Fantasy 15 and Remake, it could simultaneously court new players who found recent installments unappealing as well as devoted fans. And even if 16 flops, Remake will be there to save the day. It wouldn’t be the first time Square Enix took that kind of risk, either. Shortly after the original Final Fantasy 7 launched, Square Enix unleashed another title bearing the Final Fantasy name 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 for Final Fantasy 16. Tetsuya Nomura’s creations are iconic, and his influence on Remake was essential for capturing the spirit of the original. In response to eager Final Fantasy 7 fans, Nomura stated he hopes to produce the next installment of Remake quickly. As such, his attention should remain devoted to that series and the Kingdom Hearts franchise, leaving the director’s chair open for fresh talent to bring new ideas to the table.
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 the Final Fantasy franchise has been completely subsumed by the Final Fantasy 7 Remake project. 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 of Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal, Atlus could easily take Square Enix‘s lunch money with the next main-series Persona title. An innovative, direct sequel to the Persona 5 story line could 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 private Twitter account appearing to be a placeholder for Final Fantasy 16 has 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 of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is any indication, however, good things are well worth waiting for.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now for PlayStation 4. Final Fantasy 16 has yet to be announced.
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