Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy series, has addressed the backlash he received after sharing an unofficial AI-generated video imagining a Final Fantasy 6 remake. On May 18, Sakaguchi retweeted the video on X (formerly Twitter) with the comment, "What is this?! It's amazing!" The mock trailer features the main cast and villain Kefka in modern graphics, showcasing iconic moments like the opera scene, Terra's Esper transformation, and Sabin suplexing a train, with gameplay-style visuals reminiscent of recent RPGs like the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy.
While the video sparked nostalgia and hopes for a full 3D remake of the SNES classic, many criticized Sakaguchi for praising it. One user asked, "Are you really praising something that was made without permission using generative AI?" Others pointed out potential copyright infringement, noting the unauthorized use of FF6's logo and Terra's theme. Even Akitoshi Kawazu, creator of the SaGa series and a former Square colleague who worked with Sakaguchi on early Final Fantasy titles, weighed in, suggesting that a shocked "What is this?!" would have been a more appropriate reaction. Kawazu also mentioned his recent encounter with an American tourist who loved FF6 and Sabin, adding, "I do think that 6 would be suitable for a remake."
In a follow-up tweet, Sakaguchi expressed surprise at the reaction: "Whoa, what a big reaction." He explained that he "intuitively reacted to the potential" shown in the AI video, acknowledging that while AI content isn't ready for direct use, he sees potential for interesting future developments. "After all, I'm the sort of person who has been propelled through the last 40 years' work and private life solely by exciting things," he said, noting his history of pursuing new ideas and technology, which is evident in the Final Fantasy series' lasting influence.
Sakaguchi's tweet also included a concept illustration for the Grand Staff magic research facility from his studio Mistwalker's debut game, Lost Odyssey (2008), with the creator adding that he "played around" with animating it, implying the use of generative AI. While many commenters understood his excitement for new technology, others felt that as an influential industry figure, he should have acknowledged the copyright infringement issues that make AI a controversial topic.
Sakaguchi was a major creative force behind Final Fantasy from FF1 to FF10, including the film The Spirits Within. After leaving Square, he founded Mistwalker. Replaying FF6 actually inspired him to create his latest game, Fantasian: Neo Dimension. It remains to be seen if Square Enix will revisit FF6, but reactions to the AI video show significant fan interest in a full 3D remake. However, in 2024, FF6 director Yoshinori Kitase said a remake like Final Fantasy 7's could take around 20 years, noting that the game's depth and content would require twice the development time of FF7 Remake.
