Yoshi-P Acknowledges Younger Gamers Find It Tough to 'Connect' With Final Fantasy Due to Lengthy Development Cycles

Naoki Yoshida, the director of Final Fantasy 14 and affectionately known as Yoshi-P, has acknowledged that the extended development cycles across the Final Fantasy series are making it increasingly challenging for new players and younger generations to engage with the franchise. In a video interview promoting the spinoff Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, Yoshida reflected on how the long gaps between mainline releases might hinder younger audiences from forming a connection with the series.

Yoshida, who is 53 and has been playing since Final Fantasy 1, noted, "For younger generations — those who grew up with action-based combat and online competitive play as the norm — the recent entries may have been harder to engage with. Part of this is simply because, I'm sorry to say, the release intervals for new titles have gotten longer, so some players haven't really had the chance to connect with the series the way older fans did."

He has a point. Consider Final Fantasy 7 Remake: originally one game, it has been split into three parts, with the first released in 2020, the second in 2024, and no release date yet for Part 3. This means at least six years will pass between Part 1 and Part 3, a period during which players' tastes, incomes, and free time can change significantly.

Similarly, Final Fantasy 15 launched in 2016, followed by Final Fantasy 16 in 2023, with no news on a potential Final Fantasy 17. In 2024, Yoshida, who produced Final Fantasy 16, suggested it might be time for a younger generation to lead the franchise and helm Final Fantasy 17. However, Square Enix is currently focused on delivering Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, so details on a sequel remain scarce.

On that note, director Naoki Hamaguchi recently shared insights into what to expect from the third instalment, hinting at its release "not too far in the future." He mentioned new gameplay mechanics and locations, some of which haven't been seen in the remake series yet. Hamaguchi also teased that the "core game experience is almost complete," with the team now refining and polishing the title. Additionally, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Queen's Blood card game will make a "powered-up" return in the final chapter of Square Enix's remake trilogy.