Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi Addresses Backlash for Sharing AI Final Fantasy 6 Remake Video

Final Fantasy bid creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has addressed the backlash against his affirmative absorption to an unofficial, AI-generated video for a Final Fantasy 6 remake.

On May 18, Sakaguchi retweeted the AI-generated video connected his authoritative X account, below, reacting with: “What is this?! It’s amazing!”

なにコレ！？
すごいじゃん https://t.co/hSfhU9U4rA

The mock trailer shows the main formed (plus villain Kefka) successful current-gen graphics and covers iconic moments from FF6 specified arsenic the opera scene, Terra’s Esper transformation, and adjacent Sabin suplexing a train, positive gameplay-like scenes of Terra walking done assorted towns and overworlds successful a benignant akin to caller RPGs similar Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy.

Although the AI video stirred up nostalgia and hopes of a modern 3D remake for the SNES classic, galore commenters criticized Sakaguchi’s affirmative reaction. “Are you truly praising thing that was made without support utilizing generative AI?” 1 idiosyncratic reacted. Some claimed that the AI mentation perchance infringes connected copyright successful aggregate ways, noting the usage of Final Fantasy 6’s logo and Terra’s taxable without permission).

Even SaGa bid creator and Square modern Akitoshi Kawazu, who worked with Sakaguchi connected aboriginal Final Fantasy titles, weighed in, saying: “No, Sakaguchi-san, you should person stopped aft the archetypal line,” suggesting a shocked “What is this?!” would person been a much suitable absorption from the begetter of Final Fantasy. In the remainder of his comment, Kawazu talked astir his caller run-in with an American tourer who loved Final Fantasy 6 and Sabin, adding that: “I bash deliberation that 6 would beryllium suitable for a remake.”

In a follow-up tweet, Sakaguchi expressed astonishment astatine the attraction the Final Fantasy 6 station garnered: “Whoa, what a large reaction,” helium said, adding: “I conscionable benignant of intuitively reacted to the potential” shown successful the AI video. He explained that portion helium feels AI contented isn’t bully capable to usage as-is, helium senses imaginable for absorbing developments successful the future.

“After all, I’m the benignant of idiosyncratic who has been propelled done the past 40 years’ enactment and backstage beingness solely by breathtaking things,” Sakaguchi concluded, acknowledging however helium has ever been pursuing caller ideas and technology, arsenic tin beryllium seen successful the Final Fantasy series’ lasting power connected the RPG genre.

Sakaguchi’s tweet finished with a conception illustration for the Grand Staff magic probe installation from his ain studio’s debut game, 2008’s Lost Odyssey, with the creator adding that helium “played around” with animating it (implying that helium whitethorn person utilized gen AI to bash so).

おや！？なんだかすごい反応ｗ
まあ、なんていうか「可能性を直感的に感じちゃった」ってことで
そのまんまじゃダメだけど、その先には面白そうなことも待っていそうな．．．そんな感覚っす… pic.twitter.com/bL5CyXAZbl

While galore commenters said they understood Sakaguchi’s excitement for the imaginable of caller technology, others inactive thought that arsenic an influential fig successful the games’ industry, helium should person acknowledged the imaginable copyright infringement issues that presently marque AI specified a arguable topic.

Sakaguchi was 1 of the large originative forces down the Final Fantasy franchise from FF1 done to FF10, including The Spirits Within movie. After leaving Square, helium founded his ain workplace Mistwalker. Replaying Final Fantasy 6 is really what inspired Sakaguchi to make his latest game, Fantasian: Neo Dimension.

It remains to beryllium seen if Square Enix ever decides to revisit FF6, but reactions to the AI video amusement that determination are a important fig of fans of the crippled that would similar to spot it get a afloat 3D remake successful summation to the Pixel Remaster. But volition Square Enix really bash it? In 2024, Final Fantasy 6 manager Yoshinori Kitase said a remake akin to that fixed to Final Fantasy 7 could instrumentality astir 20 years to complete, noting that due to the fact that of the extent of the crippled and the sheer magnitude of contented and characters, it would instrumentality doubly the magnitude of Final Fantasy 7 Remake to make and release.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.