Final Fantasy XV Director Hajime Tabata said Square Enix was suffering from a “Final Fantasy disease” that almost crippled the publisher.
“It wasn’t only from inside the team, but outside as well,” he said, as published in 4Gamer (and translated by Kotaku). “The reason was that if my way of doing it ended up working, there are those whose circumstances will worsen.
“It refers to people within the company who can’t imagine anything other than their own view of Final Fantasy,” he continued. “Since the root is a strong self-affirmation, one’s own view of Final Fantasy takes more priority than the team’s success. If that view of Final Fantasy isn’t fulfilled, then they’re convinced that it’s bad for Final Fantasy.“
Tabata said that the disease — or that mentality — meant Final Fantasy‘s outlook wasn’t good.
“They think, ‘Since Final Fantasy is a special team, then we are also special because we are making it. When the new Final Fantasy comes out, everybody is going to be so into it.’ But that’s not the reality of the situation, is it?
“I realized that when Final Fantasy XV news was made public – this wasn’t only inside the company. Everyone has FF disease.”
Tabata insisted the key to saving the franchise — and perhaps Square Enix — was to modernise.
Final Fantasy XV heads to PS4 and Xbox One this September.
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