Final Fantasy Resonance has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the year so far. The HD-2D title originally debuted as Final Fantasy Brave Exvius back in 2015, but its console version is vastly different from the mobile-only predecessor. Instead of being just a simple run-of-the-mill port, Final Fantasy Resonance is a complete revamp of Brave Exvius that gets rid of microtransactions and adds better visuals. As great of a game as Final Fantasy Resonance is, Square Enix almost made a huge mistake with its development.
Before Final Fantasy Resonance became what it is today, producer Keisuke Nakashima’s original pitch for the project was nearly shot down by Square Enix. The company was more interested in a Brave Exvius port in order to save time and money. That definitely would have been the easier route to take, but Nakashima was thankfully able to get Square Enix to see the benefit of making Final Fantasy Resonance its own experience instead of just a quick console port. Now that the game has seen so much success since its launch, Square Enix’s approach to Final Fantasy Resonance could be the perfect blueprint for future Final Fantasy remakes, especially with there being so many requests to revisit Final Fantasy 6.
Final Fantasy Resonance Is Now the Blueprint for How to Handle a Final Fantasy 6 Remake
There have been calls from both fans and devs at Square Enix to remake Final Fantasy 6. It’s a beloved entry for a good reason, but remaking that particular game would be an ambitious undertaking. Final Fantasy 6 is massive in scale, and the Final Fantasy 7 remakes show that it can take years and multiple entries to properly adapt these kinds of stories into a 3D game. A full-blown Final Fantasy 6 remake in the style of FF7 would be incredibly daunting, but Resonance might actually be the true key to making the project happen.
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Square Enix Director Yoshinori Kitase has mentioned recently how much demand there already is for a Final Fantasy 6 remake. An interview that Kitase did with IGN had some fascinating insight into what he thinks the future of the franchise looks like. Even though he made it clear that Square Enix plans to focus mostly on new games over remakes, he refrained from completely dismissing a Final Fantasy 6 remake down the road.
I was very fulfilled by the development of the Final Fantasy 7 remake. And at the moment, I would like to create new games, but I don’t have any particular feeling towards any kind of remake for a while. So I don’t think I will work on another remake anytime soon. But inside the company and also among the Final Fantasy fans, there’s been many people asking for a remake of Final Fantasy 6, so who knows?
Kitase’s words are far from a confirmation, but it’s at least not a complete shut-down. After the Final Fantasy 7 Revelation release date arrives in April, there is bound to be plenty of buzz regarding what the next game in the franchise will be, remake or not. Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 trilogy has been a massive achievement, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Final Fantasy 6 can work in the same way.
With 14 playable protagonists and the inevitability of also being a multi-game series, a 3D Final Fantasy 6 remake would take far longer to bring to life than Final Fantasy 7. Square Enix has spent a decade on the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, so there’s no telling just how long Final Fantasy 6‘s production would take if the project got the green light.
A Final Fantasy 6 Remake Should Embrace Square Enix’s HD-2D Graphics
Ever since Square Enix games like Octopath Traveler introduced HD-2D, I’ve loved the use of this visual style to create games that feel both retro and modern at the same time. Square Enix may have popularized the style, but there have been other games since that have pushed these visuals forward even more. For example, the recently announced Threads of Time is an upcoming title inspired by classic RPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, and it utilizes HD-2D wonderfully. Threads of Time‘s HD-2D graphics are even more cinematic, which could be further inspiraiton for a Final Fantasy 6 remake.
With HD-2D, a Final Fantasy 6 remake could maintain its original charm while still having some stronger cinematic qualities like the Final Fantasy 7 remakes boast. If Final Fantasy Resonance proved anything, it’s that a new Final Fantasy game doesn’t have to be a giant 3D overhaul to be a compelling and worthwhile experience. A Final Fantasy 6 remake may never come to fruition, but if it does, Square Enix’s willingness to take a chance on Resonance is a promising sign that it would be handled properly. Resonance has been a great demonstration of how the easiest route isn’t always the best one.
- Released
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October 22, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
