Square Enix developers have indicated that remakes of Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 8, or Final Fantasy 9 would likely require four or five separate releases, raising questions about the feasibility of such projects
Square Enix has provided its clearest indication yet that full-scale remakes of Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 8, or Final Fantasy 9 are unlikely to materialise in the near future. During a 75-minute discussion at the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival in Berlin, director-producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida and Final Fantasy 7 Remake series director Naoki Hamaguchi addressed the technical and logistical challenges involved in remaking these classic entries to modern standards.
Remake Ambitions and Practical Limits
The conversation turned to the possibility of remaking other mainline Final Fantasy titles after Hamaguchi cited Final Fantasy 6 as a formative influence on his career. Both developers acknowledged the persistent fan demand for remakes in the style of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, but Yoshida was direct about the scale of the task. He explained that the sheer size and complexity of Final Fantasy 6, as well as Final Fantasy 8 and Final Fantasy 9, would make a single-volume remake unfeasible. Instead, any such project would likely need to be split into four or even five separate instalments to cover the full scope of the originals.
This assessment echoes earlier comments from Final Fantasy 6 director Yoshinori Kitase, who previously estimated that a remake of FF6 on the scale of FF7 Remake could take up to 20 years to complete. Kitase pointed to the depth of content and the large cast of characters as major factors in the projected development time. The technical and creative demands of modernising these games, while preserving their narrative and gameplay breadth, remain a significant barrier.
Development Team Realities
Hamaguchi also highlighted the extraordinary commitment required from development teams working on multi-part remakes. He credited the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy team for their dedication over more than a decade, noting that assembling and retaining such a group is a rare achievement. This level of continuity, he suggested, is not easily replicated for future projects, making it difficult to promise further remakes of similar scale.
Yoshida added that, following their discussion of the challenges, many livestream viewers expressed a desire to see Hamaguchi lead Final Fantasy 17. While this was taken as a compliment, both developers stopped short of confirming any future plans, with Hamaguchi currently focused on the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. For context on how Square Enix is approaching its next major release, see our coverage of the ambitions and structure of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation.
FF7/FF14 Crossover and Ongoing Projects
The discussion also touched on the ongoing collaboration between the Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 14 teams. New FF7-themed content is scheduled for Final Fantasy 14, including the Keybound Brawler mini-game for the Golden Saucer and new character outfits inspired by Barret and Tifa. The crossover raid, Beyond the Lifestream, is planned for version 8.01 of Final Fantasy 14, with a release window set before Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launches in early 2027. These projects demonstrate Square Enix's continued investment in cross-franchise content, even as full-scale remakes remain out of reach for now.
Hamaguchi reflected on his own development journey, recalling his early work on Final Fantasy 12 and the shift from individual programming tasks to leading large teams. He described the most challenging aspect as uniting a diverse group behind a shared vision, while the most rewarding element remains the support of a global fanbase. Both developers expressed hope for further collaboration between their teams in the future.
Why Multi-Part Remakes Are So Complex
The technical and creative demands of remaking a classic RPG go far beyond updating visuals. Modern remakes often involve reimagining entire systems, expanding storylines, and delivering cinematic presentation across dozens of hours of content. Each original game's length, cast size, and narrative complexity multiply the resources required. Splitting a remake into multiple parts, as with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, allows for higher production values but also extends development timelines and increases the risk of team turnover. For players, this means that even if a remake is greenlit, it could be many years before the full experience is available.
Remakes differ from remasters in that they rebuild the game from the ground up, often introducing new mechanics, voice acting, and expanded story content. This process is far more resource-intensive than simply enhancing graphics or improving performance, which is why only a handful of classic RPGs have received the full remake treatment to date.
