• Sakaguchi returning to Square

    Japanese gaming site, Nishibun has reported that former Square Executive Vice President, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man who was responsible for bringing to the world such great video game series as Final Fantasy and Chrono, is about to return to the company. No official title has been given, but it’s rumored that he will return to produce three more games before he officially retires from the gaming industry.

    The biggest (and only confirmed) game on that list is the next game in the Chrono series. Neither name nor storyline has been revealed, just that it will tie up all the loose ends from the first two games. Will Magus finally reunite with his long lost sister? Will Crono finally speak?

    “We will tie up elements from both games,” an unnamed source told Nishibun. “You can expect to see both Crono and Serge united to fight the ultimate force. It’s all really going to be exciting, but I can’t say anymore on it than that.”

    As for the other two, one of them may be Final Fantasy XVII. The unnamed source hinted that it may not only be Sakaguchi’s last game, but the last game for the series as well. “Final Fantasy has had an epic run. Square Enix is always interested in improving upon what we already have, as we’ve done with most of the early games of the series,” the source noted. “Final Fantasy Type-0 HD has proven very popular with gamers in the West. Along with the popularity of the HD remakes of Final Fantasy X/X-2, which featured Japanese-exclusive content, there may be room for other rereleases with bonus content not available before.”

    The nameless source also broached other franchises owned by Square Enix that the company wants to do more with. “We also have a large library of games from all of our recent acquisitions. Tomb Raider, Hitman, and many of the Enix franchises need focus right now. It’s what the market demands.”

    Currently, Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy XVI are in different stages of development. Recently a demo for Final Fantasy XV, called Episode Duscae, was released as part of the first print versions of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. No word yet on Final Fantasy XV’s release, but things look hopeful that it’s going to be soon based on the epic demo.

    Finally, the source went into a bit of detail regarding the other game Sakaguchi will produce. “He’s not sure right now what he wants it to be,” he said, “Yosuke Matsuda has suggested he remake Radical Dreamers, as a way to complete the whole Chrono thing. We feel the original would make nice downloadable content, as it was OK, but doesn’t really fit the modern gaming fan’s needs to be sold on its own.”

    But here’s the kicker. The source discloses that Sakaguchi wants to go in a much different direction. “He said he’d consider it, but he’s more interested in working with Shigeru Miyamoto, who may be on his last days as a game developer as well,” the source revealed. “He didn’t get a chance to do so with the first Mario RPG, but would like to for a sequel. They’ve been in private discussions, and it would seem both parties [Sakaguchi and Miyamoto] are willing.”

    The only roadblock, the source stated, is Square Enix and Nintendo. “There’s still a bit of bad blood between the two companies. Nintendo is still hurt over Square ‘abandoning’ their consoles so long ago, and Square Enix is still frustrated with Nintendo’s policies and hardware,” he continued. “It would take a lot of encouragement from the producers to get the ball rolling on that one.”

    While it’s wonderful that Sakaguchi’s back in the fold and is anxious to work with Miyamoto on another Mario RPG game, it’s extremely bittersweet that we may be seeing the end of two of our favorite franchises, Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Hopefully, Square Enix will reconsider (especially if Final Fantasy XV does well), and will continue to make games for these series that we all truly love.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Sakaguchi returning to Square started by Colonel Angus View original post
    Comments 39 Comments
    1. Leigh's Avatar
      Leigh -
      I smell something, and the last time I smelt it, I'd fallen in something in rural Wales.
    1. Dante WolfWood's Avatar
      Dante WolfWood -
      (SPOILER)You son of a bitch.
    1. DMKA's Avatar
      DMKA -
      As far as Sakaguchi returning to SE? Yay!

      As far as Final Fantasy ending? HAH! The only way SE would do that is if FFXV turned out to be a complete commercial failure.

      Also, I must have missed the memo that FFXVI was confirmed to be in development.
    1. chionos's Avatar
      chionos -
      I think you're two days early, bro.
    1. metagloria's Avatar
      metagloria -
      Quote Originally Posted by chionos View Post
      I think you're two days early, bro.
      This seems about right to me. My eyes were bugging out as I read, but after a while I was like "This is too good – and too much all at once – to be true."
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      Starting aprils fools too early is cheating and does not in any way count. Doing false starts only makes you a simple, filthy liar, nothing more.
    1. VeloZer0's Avatar
      VeloZer0 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Colonel Angus View Post
      The biggest (and only confirmed) game on that list is the next game in the Chrono series. ..., just that it will tie up all the loose ends from the first two games.
    1. black orb's Avatar
      black orb -
      >>> Mistquarenix..
    1. Depression Moon's Avatar
      Depression Moon -
      This is crazy. It's also sad to hear that he plans on retiring soon. Is there a link to this source btw? I tried googling, but came up short.
    1. Rostum's Avatar
      Rostum -
      Quote Originally Posted by Depression Moon View Post
      This is crazy. It's also sad to hear that he plans on retiring soon. Is there a link to this source btw? I tried googling, but came up short.
      Here you go!
    1. Elpizo's Avatar
      Elpizo -
      It's march 31, guys.
    1. Leigh's Avatar
      Leigh -
      Yeah, but that's hipsters April fools. Ya know, to be different and shiz.
    1. FFIX Choco Boy's Avatar
      FFIX Choco Boy -
      Quote Originally Posted by Leigh View Post
      Yeah, but that's hipsters April fools. Ya know, to be different and shiz.
      That way, they can say they did it "Before it was fool."
    1. McLovin''s Avatar
      McLovin' -
      You goddamn magnificent bastard. Had me think my 5 am get up was an exceptional one.
    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      Doesn't count. Liars gonna lie. Not funny. Not even clever. This is not an april's fools, it is simply some liar lying about something. Their house should be set on fire. Preferrably with them inside it and the doors locked.

      Making people fall for an april's fool joke is impressive partially because you are managing to trick someone even when they are prepared for it. Doing it on any other day is idiotic and makes me want to seriously punch people in their faces.

      Where do you even draw the line. Should people start april's foolsing february too? what about january? You know, smurf it, I'm going to april's fools people in may the year before. I'm really excited to see how many people I can fool! It will be so epic. I'm gonna post it on youtube and have the entire world laugh at how gullible they are.
    1. Sephiroth's Avatar
      Sephiroth -
      Way to ruin my birthday tomorrow with this joke. I thought for a moment it was real.
    1. Spooniest's Avatar
      Spooniest -
      Yeah right!

      You cannot fool me
    1. Lawr's Avatar
      Lawr -
      Quote Originally Posted by Mirage View Post
      Doesn't count. Liars gonna lie. Not funny. Not even clever. This is not an april's fools, it is simply some liar lying about something. Their house should be set on fire. Preferrably with them inside it and the doors locked.

      Making people fall for an april's fool joke is impressive partially because you are managing to trick someone even when they are prepared for it. Doing it on any other day is idiotic and makes me want to seriously punch people in their faces.

      Where do you even draw the line. Should people start april's foolsing february too? what about january? You know, smurf it, I'm going to april's fools people in may the year before. I'm really excited to see how many people I can fool! It will be so epic. I'm gonna post it on youtube and have the entire world laugh at how gullible they are.
      Awww man!

    1. Mirage's Avatar
      Mirage -
      Quiet, you.

      I'm just trying to stop a stupid trend before it gets out of hand.
    1. Kalevala's Avatar
      Kalevala -
      I hate you.
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