Speculation surrounding the future leadership of the Final Fantasy series has turned towards Naoki Hamaguchi, the current director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. During a recent Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest in Berlin, Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida publicly lauded Hamaguchi's contributions, even noting that fan comments often express a desire for Hamaguchi to direct the next mainline installment, Final Fantasy XVII.
Yoshida highlighted the expansive nature of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project and the team's efficiency in delivering new titles. He indicated that seeing comments like "I want this guy to make Final Fantasy XVII" was significant praise for his colleague. Yoshida quickly intervened when Hamaguchi seemed poised to respond to questions about his future projects, humorously suggesting his colleague did not need to answer.
Following a period of varied reception for recent mainline Final Fantasy titles such as XIII, XV, and XVI, some players are looking for a more consistent direction for the franchise. The Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, under Hamaguchi's direction, has been recognized for successfully blending turn-based and real-time combat mechanics with a balance between open-world exploration and traditional linear RPG progression. Given that the final part of the trilogy, Revelation, is slated for an early 2027 release, any potential Final Fantasy XVII led by Hamaguchi would likely not arrive until 2030 or later, considering Square Enix's typical development cycles for new entries.
Yoshida also addressed fan desires for remakes of other Final Fantasy titles in a similar vein to the VII Remake. He cautioned that adapting other beloved games in the series could result in even more installments, potentially four or five parts, which might not align with a practical release strategy.