Yoshi P Says Final Fantasy VI, VIII and IX Remakes Could Need 5 Games as Fans Push Hamaguchi Toward Final Fantasy XVII

Square Enix may be preparing to conclude its most ambitious remake project with Final Fantasy VII Revelation, but Naoki Yoshida believes applying the same production model to other classic entries could create an even larger development challenge.

Speaking during Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin, Yoshida addressed continued requests for modern remakes of Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy IX. While he understood the enthusiasm, the producer warned that recreating these games with the scale, cinematic presentation, and expanded storytelling of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy could require as many as 4 or 5 separate releases. The Berlin event took place across July 25 and July 26, 2026.

"Of course I understand the feelings of the players, but you gotta think about it. Look at Final Fantasy VI, it’s such an incredibly huge game. The scale is just immense. And the same applies for other titles like Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX. If we did remake those other titles, we’d probably have to release them in 4 installments or even 5 installments."
— Quote by: Naoki Yoshida

The comments were shared by Genki on X and reflect the reality facing modern Final Fantasy development. Final Fantasy VI includes a large ensemble cast and a story that dramatically restructures its world, while Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX feature multiple continents, extensive supporting characters, cinematic sequences, and numerous optional locations. Expanding every major chapter with the production standards used for Cloud’s modern journey could turn each project into a decade long commitment.

The Final Fantasy VII project required 3 complete games to reinterpret an original title released on a single PlayStation disc. Remake focused almost entirely on Midgar, Rebirth expanded the adventure into multiple open regions, and Final Fantasy VII Revelation will complete the trilogy in Spring 2027 across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Although the trilogy has required almost 10 years to complete, Square Enix has benefited from stable development leadership, shared technology, and strong staff continuity between the 3 games. Director Naoki Hamaguchi said that most of the Rebirth team continued directly into Revelation, allowing the studio to expand existing systems instead of rebuilding its development pipeline for every release.

The conversation then shifted from remaking past games to creating the next numbered entry. Yoshida told Hamaguchi that live comments were asking for the Final Fantasy VII Remake director to lead Final Fantasy XVII.

"I saw a lot of things in the comments. They were like, okay, I get it. I am not going to ask for a VI, VIII, or IX remake. But there were comments along the lines of, I want this guy to make Final Fantasy XVII. So I think that’s probably the highest praise you can get. You don’t have to answer."
— Quote by: Naoki Yoshida

The exchange was shared through another Genki post, but it should not be treated as confirmation that Final Fantasy XVII is officially in development or that Hamaguchi has been selected as director. Square Enix has not announced the game, its creative leadership, its platforms, or its development status. Yoshida was acknowledging fan enthusiasm rather than revealing a formal project.

Hamaguchi could nevertheless become a compelling candidate once Revelation is complete. His team has demonstrated an ability to combine strategic commands with real time combat, preserve recognizable Final Fantasy traditions, manage large cinematic stories, and deliver increasingly expansive games through an iterative production model. The more important question is whether Square Enix wants its next mainline entry to build on that hybrid structure or pursue another major reinvention after the action focused direction of Final Fantasy XVI.

Yoshida’s warning shows why a full Final Fantasy VII style remake should not automatically become the standard for every classic entry. Final Fantasy VI, VIII, and IX deserve careful modernization, but dividing each one across 5 games could require more than a decade of development while placing enormous pressure on players to remain invested.

Square Enix could instead explore more focused approaches, including high quality single game remakes, modernized turn based combat, enhanced world design, and carefully expanded character stories without rebuilding every original location into a massive cinematic chapter.

The Final Fantasy XVII comment is more interesting as an endorsement of Hamaguchi than as an actual announcement. Revelation will determine whether his team can successfully conclude a decade long trilogy. Should it deliver, Hamaguchi would have one of the strongest portfolios inside Square Enix for guiding Final Fantasy into its next generation.

Would you play a Final Fantasy VI, VIII, or IX remake divided across 5 games, or should Square Enix keep each remake within a single release?