Did Final Fantasy Just Tease the Director of the Next Mainline Game?

During the second day of the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest in Berlin, attendees were treated to an intimate talk session titled “Naoki’s Room.” Hosted by Naoki Yoshida—affectionately known to the community as Yoshi-P, the producer and director of FF14—the event welcomed a particularly high-profile guest: Naoki Hamaguchi, the acclaimed director behind the Final Fantasy VII Remake project. Their conversation ultimately paved the way for some remarkably compelling hints about the franchise’s future.

Yoshi-P’s remarks during the panel strongly imply that Hamaguchi could be poised to helm the next mainline entry in the legendary series. Having already demonstrated his mastery over massive scope and intricate design with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, enthusiasts are understandably eager to see what creative heights he might scale when guiding an entirely original installment from the ground up.

Throughout the discussion, Yoshida heaped praise on Hamaguchi’s exceptional leadership and relentless work ethic. As the session drew to a close, Hamaguchi expressed his gratitude to the packed auditorium, prompting Yoshida to seize the moment. He noted that the two had recently been exchanging thoughts on the unique trials and triumphs of steering the franchise. While joking that he wouldn’t outright pressure Hamaguchi into tackling further remakes, Yoshida pointed out a resounding sentiment echoing across community forums: countless devotees are openly campaigning for Hamaguchi to spearhead Final Fantasy XVII. Before Hamaguchi could finish his tentative reply of, “If I answer…”, Yoshida playfully cut him off with a hearty laugh. Amidst a wave of enthusiastic applause from the crowd, both creators waved goodbye and exited the stage.

“I would like to ask — you don’t have to answer this — but we did talk just a while ago about the tough things and rewarding things about working on the franchise, but I saw a lot of things in the comments, and they were like, ‘Okay, I get it, I get it, Naoki Hamaguchi, I’m not going to ask for a six, eight, or nine remake, but they were comments along the lines of: “I want this guy to make Final Fantasy 17.’ I think that’s probably the highest praise you can get. But you don’t have to answer.”

Yoshida delivered these teases with a knowing smile. Because the remarks occurred in the final moments of the presentation, speculation immediately went into overdrive across social media. Those wishing to experience the full conversation can view the complete livestream archive on the official Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest website, with the “Naoki’s Room” segment spanning from 4:45 to 6:02.

While this lighthearted exchange could very well be a subtle nod toward Hamaguchi taking the reins for the franchise’s next big chapter, time will tell. Although the modern remake trilogy divided some purists, Hamaguchi’s directorial achievements remain universally celebrated. For now, players will simply have to stay tuned for official announcements.

Source: Polygon