Square Enix May Favor New Games Over More Remakes, Kitase Says

Yoshinori Kitase, producer of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, says Square Enix is more likely to invest in new titles and games than continue making remakes as its main focus. In an interview with IGN, Kitase said he wants to create new games after completing the long-running Final Fantasy VII project. He does not currently have a particular remake in mind and does not expect to work on another remake anytime soon. His comments are not a formal company roadmap and do not amount to a cancellation of any remake plans. Kitase stressed that special projects can still justify investment. He used Final Fantasy VII as an example, explaining that creators who worked on the original had a strong personal connection to it and wanted to build something new from the old game for both longtime fans and new players. He also acknowledged that many people inside Square Enix and among fans have asked for a Final Fantasy VI remake, but he made no commitment that one is in development.

Kitase wants to move beyond a long remake cycle

Kitase directed the original Final Fantasy VII, produces the remake trilogy and serves in a brand-management role for the Final Fantasy franchise. IGN interviewed him at the 2026 Lucca Comics & Games Festival and asked how Square Enix balances new intellectual property with remakes. Kitase said the company is generally more likely to invest in new titles, while allowing for exceptions when the creative case is strong. He said he felt fulfilled by the Final Fantasy VII Remake project and would like to create new games in the next stage of his career. Kitase also discussed the kinds of experiences he might want to explore. He said younger players appear especially interested in games centered on combat and action rather than story alone. He may want to experiment with a more battle-focused experience while retaining the storytelling identity associated with Final Fantasy. That is a statement about his creative interests, not an announcement of a specific project. Kitase did not name a new game, provide a release window or say that Square Enix had approved a new franchise. The distinction matters because the headline could otherwise be read as a binding corporate decision to stop remakes.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation is scheduled to conclude the trilogy

Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy VII Revelation will be the third and final entry in the remake series. The company plans to release it in spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The trilogy began with Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020, followed by Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in 2024. The final installment will continue the expanded retelling of the 1997 original. The project has occupied a major place in the franchise for years and required substantial development resources. Destructoid noted that the gaps between mainline Final Fantasy releases have been long, while the remake trilogy has kept the brand focused on one of its best-known stories. Kitase’s comments have therefore prompted questions about what Square Enix will do after the third game is released: shift resources toward new projects or continue revisiting its back catalog. The company has not said that it will abandon remakes. Kitase’s own comments leave room for projects where original creators have a strong reason to revisit a classic and where the new version can offer more than a straightforward reproduction.

Final Fantasy Resonance shows how an older IP can be reworked

Square Enix’s choices are not limited to creating an entirely new franchise or making a simple port. Final Fantasy Resonance began with the foundations of the discontinued mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, but was rebuilt as a full HD-2D turn-based console RPG. The new release removes the mobile game’s gacha mechanics and microtransactions. Producer Keisuke Nakashima told Bloomberg that when he proposed the project in 2020, some Square Enix executives initially preferred a cheaper, faster port. Nakashima wanted to make a full console experience instead. Nintendo Everything and Push Square reported on his account of the development process. Nakashima said he had met players who were interested in Brave Exvius but avoided it because of its gacha elements, which helped motivate the new version. This example does not contradict Kitase’s comments. It shows that Square Enix may still invest in existing intellectual property when a project can be substantially reimagined. The company’s official announcement says Final Fantasy Resonance launched on October 22, 2026, for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox and PC.

Fans still want classic remakes, but fan projects are not official plans

Demand for remakes of older games remains strong. Kitase specifically mentioned Final Fantasy VI as a title that many fans and people inside the company would like to see remade. Meanwhile, Wccftech reported on Project Animus, an unofficial fan effort to rebuild the 1998 role-playing game Xenogears and make much of its second disc fully playable. The project remains in an early stage, has no announced release date and is not an authorized Square Enix remake. These examples show that players want both new games and renewed access to classic properties. Remakes can use established characters and worlds to attract existing fans, but large projects can also consume resources that might otherwise go to new intellectual property. Kitase’s remarks offer a view from a senior creator inside the company, but they do not prove that management has adopted a single, company-wide policy favoring new games.

A new-game emphasis still has to succeed commercially

Square Enix’s future lineup may continue to include new intellectual property, sequels, remakes and remasters. Kitase’s preference is best understood as the outlook of a creator who has spent years on a major remake project, rather than a formal investment commitment from the company’s leadership or finance team. The final direction will depend on the performance of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, sales of new releases and the company’s assessment of development costs and player demand. A stronger emphasis on new games could give players new worlds and mechanics. Continued investment in remakes could also bring older titles to modern platforms and introduce them to new audiences. Kitase did not announce his next project, and Square Enix has not confirmed another remake. For now, the concrete milestone is the planned spring 2027 release of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, after which Kitase says he would rather focus on making new games.