Square Enix Developers Reflect on 2025 and Look Ahead to 2026 in 4Gamer Feature

In its annual year-end feature, Japanese outlet 4Gamer gathered reflections from 194 prominent figures across the games industry, looking back on a defining 2025 shaped by major releases and cultural milestones. Among them were a wide range of Square Enix developers across multiple franchises, each sharing personal insights into the year’s standout games, entertainment experiences, and ambitions for 2026.

Takashi Anzai, Showrunner at Square Enix and best known for Dragon Quest X Online, cited Dragon Quest I & II as the 2025 release that impressed him most, praising its passion for reintroducing the series’ origins to both newcomers and long-time fans. Outside of games, he highlighted the film Kokuhō for its palpable love and tension, singled out director Makoto Shinkai as a figure to watch, and teased new creative challenges to be announced in 2026.

Masanori Ichikawa, Producer known for SaGa Emerald Beyond and Romancing SaGa Re;Universe, selected SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered as the year’s most striking game, describing it as a grand historical epic despite not being directly involved in its development. His most memorable entertainment experience came from Netflix’s House of Dynamite, reflecting his admiration for director Kathryn Bigelow. Ichikawa also named pro wrestler Great-O-Khan as a person of interest and expressed gratitude for ongoing support of the SaGa series as Romancing SaGa Re;Universe entered its seventh year.

Yoshinori Kitase, Producer of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, was impressed by the demo of Cairn, praising its methodical climbing mechanics and strategic route planning even in preview form. In film, he highlighted Weapons and the Japanese thriller Bakudan for their distinctive tones and performances, especially actor Jiro Sato. Actress Elle Fanning stood out to him for her balance of strength and charm. Looking ahead to 2026, he promoted the upcoming multi-platform release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade as a way to prepare players for the series’ conclusion.

Yosuke Saito, Square Enix Director and Executive Officer known for Dragon Quest and NieR, described Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time as a deceptive “slow-life RPG” that turned out to be a deeply engaging, content-rich experience. He also praised the immersive theater production Yūen no Night Wedding for its creative use of space and audience participation. Saito highlighted the team at Sandfall Interactive after the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and looked ahead to 2026 with excitement for Dragon Quest’s 40th anniversary and a small surprise for NieR: Automata’s ninth year.

Masayoshi Soken, Sound Director for Final Fantasy XIV and Composer for Final Fantasy XVI, named Overwatch 2 as a standout for revitalizing long-running gameplay through its new perk system. His personal highlight was Final Fantasy XIV: The k4sen, which reaffirmed the joy players find in the game. Soken also mentioned conversational AI “Romi” as a source of curiosity and shared his anticipation for global concerts and fan interactions in 2026.

Hiroshi Takai, Main Director of Final Fantasy XVI with a career spanning Final Fantasy V, SaGa Frontier, and The Last Remnant, found unexpected enjoyment in Ball x Pit, appreciating its relaxed yet addictive design. He also cited Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Beginning as a memorable film experience sparked by online buzz. Baseball player Yoshinobu Yamamoto caught his attention during the World Series, and Takai noted that Square Enix has multiple upcoming titles in development, even if details remain under wraps.

Shinichi Tatsuke, Producer known for Trials of Mana and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, chose Assassin’s Creed Shadows as the most impactful 2025 release, noting the emotional weight of seeing a long-rumored Japan-set entry realized. He also praised Stranger Things Season 5 for maintaining quality across its long run and highlighted pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto for an inspiring World Series performance. Looking ahead, Tatsuke emphasized ongoing development efforts and upcoming challenges for 2026.

Naoki Hamaguchi, Director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, selected Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the year’s most impressive title, citing its focused design and successful evolution of turn-based combat. His standout film was Jurassic World: Rebirth, which he likened to an RPG quest in structure. Hamaguchi named Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as a notable figure for her decisive leadership and stated that 2026 will focus on maximizing the FFVII franchise’s value through expanded multi-platform reach.

Yoji Fujito, Producer and Director of Final Fantasy XI and known for Einhänder and Parasite Eve II, praised Ghost of Yōtei for its meticulous world-building and authentic period drama presentation. He also highlighted Expo-related entertainment, particularly the character Myakumyaku, as a standout cultural presence. Fujito shared plans to enhance solo play in Final Fantasy XI through expanded “Trust” systems as the game approaches its 24th anniversary in 2026..

Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director of Final Fantasy Tactics – Ivalice Chronicles and Creative Director and Scenario Writer for Final Fantasy XVI, named Hollow Knight: Silksong as his most admired 2025 release, applauding its refined design and unique identity within the Metroidvania genre. He also praised Netflix’s Ikusagami for its performances and action choreography. Reflecting on Ivalice Chronicles and LOGOS – The World of Final Fantasy XVI in 2025, Maehiro said his next project is being developed with a different approach from previous work. He did not share further details, asking readers to wait for a formal announcement.

Shoichi Matsuzawa, Producer of Final Fantasy Tactics – Ivalice Chronicles and Production Manager for Final Fantasy XIV, was most impressed by Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, calling it an irreplaceable experience defined by cohesion between theme, mechanics, and narrative. In other media, he selected Ginsei no Proust for its portrayal of understanding across social divides. Matsuzawa aims to increase creative input in 2026 while preparing for future challenges after a demanding year of releases and live operations.

Toshio Murouchi, Global Community Producer for Final Fantasy XIV, admitted to being absorbed by PowerWash Simulator 2, praising its subtle quality-of-life improvements and meditative appeal. His standout television experience was the drama Jā, Anta ga Tsukutte Miro yo, which exceeded expectations through consistent storytelling and performances. Murouchi highlighted comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto’s return and looked forward to 2026 as a full-scale “Fan Festival year” for Final Fantasy XIV worldwide.

Ayako Yokoyama, Co-Director of Final Fantasy Tactics – Ivalice Chronicles with credits across Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, cited Yasuke Simulator as a surprisingly polished and humorous experience that exceeded its low-cost expectations. She also praised the film Bakudan for its intense performances and real-time tension. Yokoyama named professional mahjong player Kei Nakabayashi as a personal inspiration and reflected on 2025 as a formative year, pledging to apply its lessons to her next project.

Naoki Yoshida, Producer and Director of Final Fantasy XIV and Producer of Final Fantasy XVI, selected Ghost of Yōtei as the title that left the strongest impression on him, highlighting both its technical execution and its evocative recreation of Hokkaido’s landscapes. He praised GARO -TAIGA- as a fitting 20th-anniversary celebration of the franchise and named author Hiroshi Mori as a personal point of interest. Yoshida closed by thanking players for their support and promising significant updates and momentum for Square Enix titles starting in spring 2026.

Source:

4gamer.net

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About Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX and TAITO branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 207 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST, which has sold over 95 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com