Final Fantasy Producer Cites Star Wars as a Key Inspiration for Characters and Mechanics in Franchise

Longtime Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase says Star Wars influenced elements of the series, including character names and a sport mechanic. His comments highlight how creative influences can move between games and other forms of entertainment.

Kitase said he admired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for drawing on Final Fantasy, and described inspiration as a cycle in which creators build on one another’s work. He named Wedge and Biggs from Final Fantasy 7 as clear references to Star Wars characters, and said Blitzball in Final Fantasy 10 drew on the pod racing in The Phantom Menace. Kitase added that he avoided copying Star Wars too directly.