Square Enix Eyes New IPs as Yoshinori Kitase Shifts Focus Away From Remakes

For those of us who have spent years navigating the evolving landscape of Square Enix, a major shift in strategy appears to be on the horizon. Yoshinori Kitase, the veteran producer behind the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, recently indicated that the company is planning to prioritize the development of new titles over revisiting classic entries from its catalog.

In an exclusive interview with IGN at the Lucca Comics & Games Festival 2026, Kitase explained that while the company remains open to remaking projects when there is a strong creative or historical imperative—as was the case with Final Fantasy VII—the current internal momentum is leaning toward fresh intellectual properties.

“I think that mainly we are more likely to invest in new titles and new games,” Kitase stated. When pressed on whether he personally plans to lead another massive remake project once the current trilogy concludes, he was clear: “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.”

Looking Toward New Gameplay Challenges

While the Final Fantasy franchise has long been defined by its character-driven storytelling, Kitase is looking at how the series might adapt to changing player tastes. He noted that newer generations of gamers often gravitate toward action-heavy experiences rather than titles strictly centered on narrative progression.

“Maybe in the future I would like to try and explore that kind [of game] without losing the characteristics of a Final Fantasy story,” Kitase said. “Maybe trying to create something more focused on that. That might be a new challenge.”

Despite the shift toward original projects, Kitase acknowledged the persistent fan demand for a remake of the classic Final Fantasy VI, though he stopped short of confirming any such development. He also left the door open for other media adaptations, noting that because the Final Fantasy VII Remake projects explored the world so thoroughly, it would be a logical next step to expand the universe further into television series or film formats.

Why it matters

For players, this news signals a pivot for one of the industry’s most significant publishers. After a decade heavily defined by high-profile remakes, Square Enix appears ready to move into a new era of original development. For fans waiting for a modern reimagining of older entries like Final Fantasy VI, the prospect seems less likely in the immediate future as the team prioritizes creating the next generation of games.

Looking ahead, players should watch for how Square Enix balances its traditional focus on deep, story-heavy RPGs with Kitase’s desire to experiment with more action-oriented gameplay. While no specific titles were announced, this shift suggests that the company’s future roadmap will be focused on breaking new ground rather than looking back at its legacy catalog.