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“I want this guy to make Final Fantasy 17”: Yoshi-P embarrasses Final Fantasy 7 Remake lead with the “highest praise you can get” from players live on stage at FF14 Fan Fest
At a Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest event, series producer Naoki Yoshida (known as Yoshi-P) publicly praised Final Fantasy 7 Remake co-director Naoki Hamaguchi on stage, saying he would like to see him take charge of a future numbered entry, "Final Fantasy 17". The remark, framed as the "highest praise" a developer can receive from players, highlights the strong fan reception to Hamaguchi's work on the FF7 Remake trilogy and reflects the camaraderie between Square Enix's Final Fantasy creative teams.
The comment came during a live panel or stage segment at the FF14 Fan Fest, an event usually focused on Final Fantasy 14 but which also gives space for cross-promotion and banter between different Final Fantasy development teams. Yoshi-P's endorsement singled out Hamaguchi's leadership on the acclaimed Remake series as evidence he could steer a mainline future title, drawing a warm reaction from the audience and reinforcing Hamaguchi's growing standing within the franchise.
In short
- Yoshi-P praised FF7 Remake lead Naoki Hamaguchi on stage at FF14 Fan Fest.
- He said he'd want Hamaguchi to direct a future "Final Fantasy 17".
- Called it the "highest praise" a developer can get from fans.
Explained simply
Final Fantasy is a decades-old video game franchise owned by Square Enix, known for its expansive fantasy worlds and intricate narratives. Final Fantasy 14 is an online multiplayer game that serves as one of the latest titles in the main series and maintains a substantial global fanbase.
Naoki Yoshida, known as Yoshi-P, leads the creative team behind Final Fantasy 14. Naoki Hamaguchi is the co-director of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which reimagines a landmark 1997 title that remains beloved by franchise fans. At a fan event in October, Yoshida publicly praised Hamaguchi on stage, expressing his desire to see him direct a future main Final Fantasy game.
The praise carries weight because directing a future main Final Fantasy game represents one of the most prestigious creative positions within Square Enix. Yoshida's public endorsement of Hamaguchi, delivered to an audience of thousands, highlights his reputation as one of the studio's most accomplished directors and signals the company's confidence in his leadership abilities.