Ultimate Fantasy VII Revelation continues to be months away, however a distinguished voice within the Ultimate Fantasy universe is already teasing what’s subsequent for writer Sq. Enix after the sport releases subsequent 12 months.
I spoke completely with Yoshinori Kitase, who serves as producer of the Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, director of the unique Ultimate Fantasy VII (together with Ultimate Fantasy VI, VIII, X, and Chrono Set off), and model supervisor of the Ultimate Fantasy franchise at Sq. Enix, on the Lucca Comics & Video games Pageant 2026.
We spoke at size about Kitase’s decades-long involvement within the Ultimate Fantasy franchise, and why he’s prepared to show the web page. In the course of the dialog, Kitase shared plans about what’s subsequent for Sq. Enix, if he’s nonetheless interested by movie diversifications, and which Ultimate Fantasy sport followers inside and outdoors the corporate wish to remake subsequent.
Sq. Enix Will Seemingly Spend money on New Titles Shifting Ahead
IGN: I wish to after all discuss Ultimate Fantasy, but in addition Sq. Enix typically. Sq. Enix may be very well-known for each new IP and likewise remakes. How do you steadiness that as an organization? Are they each equally essential to the corporate at this second and likewise shifting ahead?
Yoshinori Kitase: I believe that primarily we usually tend to put money into new titles and new video games, however on the identical time, for instance, this time with the [Final Fantasy VII] remake, there was me and different creators who labored on the unique sport, which we had actually robust emotions in the direction of. And we actually needed to create one thing new associated to the outdated sport to permit new customers to play and to know the enchantment of this sport as a lot because the outdated customers who play the outdated sport. So there is perhaps completely different instances like this one the place the corporate is keen to put money into remaking outdated initiatives and different kinds of video games prefer it occurred this time.
The One High quality That Makes Ultimate Fantasy Particular
IGN: Talking of Ultimate Fantasy, you’ve got labored on quite a lot of Ultimate Fantasy video games. Is there one high quality that you just assume that makes Ultimate Fantasy particular or in style?
Yoshinori Kitase: I believe that the principle factor could be the characters who’re a part of the sport and the way in which they’re developed all through the sport. So if I’ve to take only one factor that makes the sport particular, I’d say [it is] the characters of the sport and the way in which they’re developed.
Additionally, another factor I believe could be the truth that, initially, the aesthetic of the sport was actually influenced by European tradition. After which because the time glided by, the sport took increasingly more issues from the Japanese tradition, as a result of the opposite creators engaged on the sport and I, we grew up in Japan after all, so we have been in touch with comics and anime and Japanese comics. And that began having a primary position within the improvement of the sport.
So I believe due to the unique affect from European tradition after which the influences from Japanese tradition, it helped create one thing which is exclusive in its style. And I believe that is perhaps one thing that is actually appreciated by the followers all around the world.
Sq. Enix Desires to Return to the World of Movie
IGN: Ultimate Fantasy and different Sq. Enix titles have been tailored in numerous codecs: motion pictures for instance. Is that one thing that’s nonetheless essential to the corporate and is that one thing that the corporate might be trying to do sooner or later?
Yoshinori Kitase: Given the truth that we created this sport, the remake of Ultimate Fantasy VII, which explored the world of Ultimate Fantasy VII far more than the unique model, I believe that it will be good to have sooner or later video games or TV sequence impressed by the story of Ultimate Fantasy. And I do not see why that shouldn’t be a risk sooner or later.
Kitase’s Response to Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
IGN: Talking of issues which have been impressed by Ultimate Fantasy, a latest extremely popular sport was Clair Obscure: Expedition 33. I am questioning when you have any opinions about turn-based fight in RPGs. Has Sq. Enix thought of that? What’s your opinion on huge video games like which might be impressed by your work?
Yoshinori Kitase: To be sincere, I do know the sport. I spoke with the creators and I am really very completely satisfied about the truth that they’ve been so impressed by Ultimate Fantasy and so they created a brand new sport from that. And in addition, I used to be impressed by motion pictures and specifically by Star Wars after I was younger.
So I took inspiration from many issues I used to be interested by after I was youthful and I used that inspiration to create my video games. So I believe it is stunning that there is this type of cycle the place we encourage one another and we take issues from one another’s video games. I believe it is one thing stunning and it ought to be like that.
Two Star Wars Inspirations for Ultimate Fantasy Confirmed
IGN: Because you have been such a fan of Star Wars, is there a selected scene or character or theme from that universe that instantly impressed one thing, whether or not it’s in Ultimate Fantasy or any of your different works?
Yoshinori Kitase: I believe I like Star Wars a lot that I used to be afraid of utilizing something associated to [it] as a result of I used to be nervous that it grew to become one thing simply precisely an identical to Star Wars. So I do not assume there’s one thing from the film that I used instantly as an inspiration for my video games.
IGN: So it was extra simply being a normal fan and absorbing these tales?
Yoshinori Kitase: Really, one thing that I used as an inspiration inside the sport was the identify of a personality in Ultimate Fantasy VI. I wasn’t positive in regards to the identify I used to be going to make use of for these characters. And I ended up utilizing the names of characters from Star Wars, [Biggs and Wedge].
I ended up utilizing [those names] as an homage to Star Wars. Another that got here to my thoughts is from Ultimate Fantasy X, the place I needed to create [Blitzball] for the sport contained in the fantasy setting. And I used an concept from Star Wars Episode 1 the place there’s this [pod] race and the actual fact of utilizing sport inside a fantasy context, I took this concept instantly from Star Wars.
Kitase’s Favourite Ultimate Fantasy Recreation
IGN: This can be an inconceivable query. However of all of the Ultimate Fantasy initiatives that you just’ve labored on, do you’ve got one that’s your favourite? Do you’ve got one that you just look again on and are most happy with?
Yoshinori Kitase: It is a very tough query, however I believe really it is perhaps Ultimate Fantasy VII simply because the identical factor: every episode adjustments each time. However on this case, I’ve been dealing with these video games ever because the authentic got here out in 1997. Up till in the present day, it has been 30 years and I have been engaged on the identical characters, on the identical storyline. So I believe this is perhaps the one I really feel extra connected to.
Does Kitase Wish to Remake One other Ultimate Fantasy Recreation?
IGN: Clearly, the Ultimate Fantasy VII remake has been an enormous challenge spanning many, a few years. For those who had a clean test; when you had no challenges or restrictions to reimagine one other basic Sq. Enix sport in the way in which that you’ve got finished with Ultimate Fantasy VII, do you’ve got one in thoughts?
Yoshinori Kitase: It is a very tough query as a result of if I say, “I’ll remake this sport, in 5 seconds all of the world goes to attend for the remake of this sport.” So it’s totally tough.
I used to be very fulfilled by the event of the Ultimate Fantasy VII remake. And in the intervening time I want to create new video games, however I don’t have any explicit feeling in the direction of any form of remake for some time. So I don’t assume I’ll work on one other remake anytime quickly. However inside the corporate and likewise among the many Ultimate Fantasy followers, there’s been many individuals asking for a remake of Ultimate Fantasy VI, so who is aware of?
What Kind of Recreation Kitase Desires to Make Subsequent
IGN: Are there any varieties of tales that you just haven’t gotten to work on but that you just’re interested by exploring in your subsequent chapter?
Yoshinori Kitase: The brand new generations are very keen on battle video games, not a lot centered on the story, however on the battle motion. Possibly sooner or later I want to try to discover that sort [of game] with out dropping the traits of a Ultimate Fantasy story. Possibly attempting to create one thing extra targeted on that. That is perhaps a brand new problem because the new technology appears to be very interested by this type of sport.
Michael is International Head of Partnerships at IGNE, the place he leads all third occasion partnerships throughout video games and leisure studios, together with for tentpole occasions lilke IGN Reside, San Diego Comedian Con, gamescom, and IGN Fan Fest. He is spent 20 years working within the video games and leisure trade, and his adventures have taken him in all places from the Oscars to Japan to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Observe him on Bluesky @MichaelPeyton