Could Final Fantasy finally return to its roots?
According to a Japanese investor attending Square Enix’s recent shareholder meeting, the company may be rethinking the future of Final Fantasy’s combat style! And it is partly thanks to the surprise success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
On social media, user @yuzz__ shared a detailed post about their time at the meeting. They brought up a request many fans have made for years: a return to turn-based RPG gameplay for both Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. You can check out the original post here, but be aware that it is entirely in Japanese:
To support their case, they pointed to two things:
- The switch toward action combat in Final Fantasy XVI, which received mixed reactions.
- The massive hype around Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which proved that turn-based gameplay can still impress players and critics alike.
Square Enix Responds: Turn-Based Is Not Dead
In their response, Square Enix didn’t make any direct announcements, but they did say this:
“We are aware of Expedition 33 and consider turn-based RPGs to be Square Enix’s origin and foundation… We value the genre and plan to continue delivering games in this style in the future.”
That’s a pretty big hint that the publisher is finaly switching his views back, and not abandoning what made Final Fantasy famous. While FFXVI’s combat leaned more into an action-style direction, this statement offers hope for players who miss the more thoughtful, strategic pace of past entries.
What’s Next for Final Fantasy?
Right now, the next big release is the final chapter of the FFVII Remake trilogy, expected sometime around 2027. After that, the door may be open for a more traditional FFXVII, especially as games like Persona and Clair Obscur show just how cool and modern turn-based RPGs can be.
There are also heavy rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake, which would bring classic turn-based gameplay back in a big way.
Why Did Clair Obscur Have Such a Big Impact
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 literally came out of nowhere and shocked the entire gaming industry. Cool, strategic, and deeply narrative-driven, it’s become an instant Game of the Year and is now being looked at as a proof of concept that turn-based games can still compete at the AAA level.
Even Square Enix could not ignore its impact, and according to @yuzz__, they directly referenced the game in their internal discussions.
A Turn-Based Comeback?
While nothing is officially confirmed for Final Fantasy XVII just yet, fans of classic RPG combat can take comfort in knowing Square Enix is paying attention. Both the FFIX Remake, future Dragon Quest titles, or something entirely new, the turn-based era is not over, it may just be getting started again!
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