Square Enix has revealed Final Fantasy Resonance, along with its release date of October 22, 2026, during the June 9 Nintendo Direct showcase. Since debuting in 1987, the Final Fantasy series has remained one of the developer’s most recognizable and influential RPG franchises. Over the years, it has expanded beyond its turn-based roots and now encompasses action RPGs, MMORPGs, remakes, mobile games, and numerous spin-offs.
Recent years have seen Square Enix continue focusing heavily in the brand through releases like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy Rebirth while also providing ongoing support for Final Fantasy 14. The publisher also revisited its earlier catalog with Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster in 2021, which includes the first six games in the franchise and provides both new and longtime fans with the ability to replay the classics that started it all.
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Final Fantasy Resonance Will Be the Series’ First HD-2D Game
During the Nintendo Direct presentation on June 9, Square Enix officially introduced Final Fantasy Resonance, a brand-new entry in the long-running RPG franchise. Through an announcement trailer, it was revealed that the game will be the first in the series to feature HD-2D graphics, combining pixel-based character artwork with modern visual effects. Final Fantasy Resonance will launch on October 22, 2026, on the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Fans of the HD-2D style of games like Octopath Traveler or Triangle Strategy will recognize the charming and unique aesthetic of the upcoming FF game.
In Final Fantasy Resonance, Square Enix is combining the classic and modern games. It will feature a turn-based battle system “with a modern twist,” as well as chocobos, espers, and airships. Well-known characters from the series — like Cloud, Tidus, and the Warrior of Light — will also make an appearance in retro-inspired HD-2D graphics. The game’s narrative will be based on the first story arc of the now-defunct mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. This will be happy news for fans of that game, which was discontinued at the end of 2024. The story of Final Fantasy Resonance will not be just a direct port, however, but will be “refined and extensively rebuilt as a full-fledged console-quality RPG experience.”
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
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Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
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The announcement of Final Fantasy Resonance wasn’t the only thing that got RPG fans excited during the June 9 Nintendo Direct presentation, of course. Square Enix shared the first gameplay footage of Kingdom Hearts 4 since 2022 and also revealed Kingdom Hearts Collection [1~3], which launches on October 8 for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was also announced, and though it was confirmed to be launching before the end of the year, no firm release date has been given yet. Additionally, Switch 2 will be getting official ports of the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy, and a new entry in the franchise, Xenoblade Genesis, was revealed to be coming in 2027.
