Square Enix has opened a new fan poll asking players what they want from the Final Fantasy franchise, with a deadline of January 9. The move continues a long-running tradition of the publisher soliciting input on the series’ identity and future direction.
Historically, the company has used surveys to gauge momentum for major shifts or reinventions—Final Fantasy 15 was subject to public input in 2017, moogles were a topic of discussion in 2015, and Naoki Yoshida has regularly used surveys to poll Final Fantasy XIV players. The current poll asks fans to weigh in on what they’d like to see more or less of in the flagship series going forward. At the time of writing, details about the next mainline title remain scarce, and Yoshi-P has said the team isn’t yet sure whether the game will be turn-based or not, with Square Enix emphasizing a cinematic experience for future installments.
Players have floated a spectrum of directions, from more traditional turn-based experiences to modern takes that echo strategy RPG roots. The notes mention fan ideas such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Metaphor Refantazio as possible inspirations or directions.
Kazutoyo Maehiro, who directed Final Fantasy Tactics Remake, has commented in a recent interview that if a re-release sold well, it could open the door to a sequel and prove the business viability of the strategy RPG genre.
In the notes, the author of this piece indicates they used the survey’s open field to request more Final Fantasy Tactics-related titles. Fans are invited to submit their own thoughts, with a reminder to keep discourse civil.
At present there is no official roadmap for the next mainline Final Fantasy. The poll closes January 9, and Square Enix continues to test the waters of fan input while references to FF16’s reception show the series’ expanding audience, including reports that the game attracted more younger players in 2024.
Culture and Opinion: The ongoing fan-poll process illustrates how Square Enix sustains dialogue with its audience, balancing nostalgia with experimentation. The outcome may influence not only the direction of the next mainline title but also potential spinoffs or re-releases in the wider Final Fantasy universe.
Near-term uncertainty about FF’s trajectory sits alongside a broader pattern: Square Enix’s habit of testing ideas directly with fans before moving ahead. As the poll wraps up, the industry will watch whether any consensus emerges on turn-based versus cinematic approaches, and whether fan interest in strategy RPGs could quietly tilt future projects in that direction.