The rise of AI-generated content has brought a mix of existential dread and impressive visual spectacle to the gaming industry. While much of what surfaces is often dismissed as "slop," a recent viral post has caught the attention of one of the most legendary figures in RPG history: Hironobu Sakaguchi.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) recently shared a faux trailer for an imagined Final Fantasy 6 remake. The clip, which utilizes AI to create glossy, dreamlike visuals of a reimagined world, essentially asks what it would look like if the game received a "Final Fantasy 7 treatment" with even more emphasis on water effects.

Sakaguchi's Reaction to the FF6 AI Trailer

While the video is purely speculative and lacks any actual development backing, Sakaguchi, the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise, couldn't help but react. He quote-tweeted the clip with machine-translated praise: "What is this?! That's amazing!"

Sakaguchi’s enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed by his former colleagues. The post sparked a wave of mixed responses, leading to some lighthearted friction between industry veterans.

A Friendly Jab from Akitoshi Kawazu

The most notable response came from Akitoshi Kawazu, the battle designer for the first two Final Fantasy titles and a key figure in Square’s SaGa series. Kawazu offered a witty critique of Sakaguchi's excitement, writing:

"No, Sakaguchi-san, you should have stopped at the first line."

Kawazu's comment implied that Sakaguchi should have stopped his inquiry at "What is this?" rather than offering praise for the AI generation. However, he did offer a sincere professional opinion regarding the game itself, noting:

  • "I do think FF6 is well-suited for a 3D remake."

Developer Banter and the Future of AI

Despite the perceived "ribbing," there appears to be no genuine animosity between the two legends. Kawazu later clarified his stance, making it clear that he wasn't looking to make a massive public spectacle of their exchange. He noted that while he used to criticize Sakaguchi when he was his subordinate, he isn't angry and doesn't feel the need to explain his jokes to a "large, unspecified audience."

Sakaguchi eventually weighed in on the surrounding discourse regarding AI technology in game development. He acknowledged the current limitations of the medium but remained optimistic about its trajectory:

  • "Whoa!? What a wild reaction … [AI isn't] gonna work as-is, but it feels like there might be some intriguing stuff waiting down the line... that's the vibe."
  • "Maybe it's just that I've barreled through 40 years of work and private life powered purely by 'exciting things'—that's the kinda guy I am, after all."

While skeptics might find it disappointing to see a veteran developer enamored by non-functional AI clips, the exchange highlights a common theme in the modern era: even the creators of the world's most iconic RPGs are being captivated by the "exciting things" that new, albeit imperfect, technology can produce.