During a panel at Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest in Berlin, Final Fantasy producer and director Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P, made comments that have led many to believe Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, may be tapped to direct the next mainline Final Fantasy title. Hamaguchi was a special guest on the "Naoki's Room" talk session.
Yoshida spoke highly of Hamaguchi's work ethic and capabilities, referencing his work on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. As the panel drew to a close, Yoshida mentioned that he and Hamaguchi had discussed the challenges and rewards of working on the franchise. He then pointed out that many fans have expressed a desire to see Hamaguchi direct Final Fantasy 17, adding that it was likely the highest praise one could receive. Yoshida cut off Hamaguchi mid-response with a laugh, leaving the audience to speculate.
This exchange, particularly Yoshida's suggestive smirk and the timing of the remarks at the end of the panel, has ignited fan discussion about Hamaguchi's potential future role. While not all long-time fans were won over by the recent remake titles, Hamaguchi's direction has generally been met with acclaim. Developers have yet to make any official announcements regarding the director for the next mainline Final Fantasy game, but fans are now closely watching for further news.