The Square Enix Games With The Longest Development Times

Key Takeaways

Square Enix develops games with lengthy development cycles, such as
Forspoken
and
Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Final Fantasy
entries like
FF12
and
FF16
have seen development times spanning 5-6 years, showcasing the studio’s commitment to quality.
Games like
FF15
and
Kingdom Hearts 3
faced challenges like rebranding and collaboration delays, but overcame hurdles for successful releases.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the fascinating world of video games, I find it truly captivating to delve into the behind-the-scenes stories of these complex creations. The journey from concept to completion is often fraught with challenges, and the tales of perseverance and innovation are nothing short of inspiring.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by the extraordinary journey of Square Enix since 2003 – a fusion of two titans in the gaming world, Square and Enix. Since then, this company has left an indelible mark on my gaming experience with its groundbreaking publications and developments of some of the most iconic games from the past two decades. Often synonymous with epic JRPG series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, Square Enix is renowned for crafting grand, top-tier experiences.

The games on this list were all created (not just distributed) by Square Enix and each went through extensive development periods. While Square Enix has produced some of today’s most cherished games in modern gaming, fans often find themselves waiting a considerable amount of time to play them due to their lengthy creation process. The exact development times for these games aren’t always disclosed by Square Enix, so the timeframes provided here are approximations.

Only games made after or during the merger and founding of Square Enix are listed.

8 Forspoken

Development Time: 4-5 Years (2018-2023)

As a gamer, I’ve got to say that while Forspoken is technically developed by Luminous Productions, it feels like a Square Enix game to me, seeing as how the team behind it includes developers from Final Fantasy 15. It’s been in the works since around 2018, with its release initially planned for May 24, 2022, but got pushed back to October 11, 2022. But guess what? It didn’t hit the shelves until January 24, 2023!

The game Forspoken had two delays and took a long time to develop, which isn’t usually a good sign. However, despite its underwhelming sales performance, some argue that it ranks among Square Enix’s top M-rated games. Visually, Forspoken is stunning, but its open world and gameplay were criticized by many players and reviewers. These issues likely contributed to the delays because the game was intended to demonstrate the graphical capabilities of the newly released PlayStation 5, particularly its ray tracing and procedural generation technology. Unfortunately, the delays meant that Forspoken missed its chance to capitalize on this novelty, as by the time it was launched, people were less captivated by the impressive graphics.

7 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Development Time: 5 Years (2015-2020)

Square Enix has shared that the development of the highly anticipated “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” spanned over five years. To some, this may seem like a considerable length, but given the decades-long wait for an update on the beloved “FF7”, it can be seen as relatively quick. During this period, Square Enix diligently worked to transform one of the PlayStation 1’s classic RPGs into a fresh and thrilling experience while maintaining its historical significance.

One way to rephrase this passage in a more natural and easy-to-read manner could be:

6 Final Fantasy 12

Development Time: 5 Years (2000-2006)

Even with the anticipation of Grand Theft Auto 6 yet unmet, it’s astonishing to recall that Final Fantasy 12 once boasted the longest production time. In today’s context, five years might not seem excessive, but in 2006, it was a source of concern. Issues during development and an expansive vision were valid reasons for such an extended period.

To begin with, Final Fantasy 12 showcased some of the most advanced graphics of its time, demonstrating the capabilities of the PS2. Notably, it incorporated open-world elements, changing seasons, and a real-time battle system – all novel additions to the franchise. However, behind the scenes, the development process was not without its challenges. The original director, Yasumi Matsuno, left midway through production, causing some disruption. This was compounded by interference from the emerging Square Enix corporate leadership who insisted on modifications to make the game more appealing worldwide. Remarkably, despite these hurdles and the technical difficulties presented by the new mechanics, Final Fantasy 12 is widely regarded as one of the best games in the series.

5 Dragon Quest 11

Development Time: 5-6 Years (2013-2018)

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always admired how Dragon Quest doesn’t revolutionize as swiftly as Final Fantasy. This consistency can sometimes make it challenging to justify its prolonged development periods. However, there are instances of subtle evolution, like the transition to 3D models, that have kept the series remarkably familiar since its inception in 1986.

It’s quite possible that the extended development period was due to the studio’s focus on delivering a high-quality product. This game is undeniably one of the best installments in the mainline Dragon Quest series, with industry veterans like Yugi Horii and Koichi Sugiyama pouring their heart and expertise into ensuring it lived up to expectations. The expansive world map, intricate locations, compelling narrative, and classic turn-based battles with a contemporary edge are testament to this dedication. In essence, sometimes exceptional games simply require time to mature, without any unnecessary drama.

4 Final Fantasy 16

Development Time: Approximately 6 Years (2016-2023)

The development process for Final Fantasy 16 likely commenced shortly following the release of Final Fantasy 15 in 2016, with the game itself not being launched until 2023. This lengthy gap has undoubtedly been challenging for enthusiasts of this popular JRPG series, which boasts a considerable number of games. To add to the frustration, due to exclusivity agreements with Sony, PC gamers had to endure an additional wait until 2024 before they could play the game.

The prolonged development of Final Fantasy 16 might be attributed to when it initially started. While it was launched in 2016, Square Enix continued to provide DLC and updates for a considerable period afterward, implying that the development of Final Fantasy 15 didn’t immediately gain momentum. Moreover, the project began during the transition between console generations, necessitating the developers to adapt to the rapidly changing industry standards and emerging technology. As a game with high graphical aspirations, the team invested significant time in achieving a balance between its visuals and maintaining optimal performance on the PS5. Additionally, the combat system deviated even further from the traditional combat of Final Fantasy series, embracing advanced action RPG combat entirely. Fortunately, the game lived up to expectations. It was positively received by both fans and critics upon release, validating its extended development process.

3 Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn

Development Time: Approximately 6 Years (2004-2010 and 2010-2013)

The initial development of this game, known as “Final Fantasy 14,” started towards the end of 2004. It was officially announced in 2009 and finally launched in 2010, after almost six years of work. Surprisingly, despite its long development time and initial critical and commercial failure, Square Enix chose not to close it down. Instead, they decided to completely overhaul the game while still catering to the existing player base.

A fresh game engine was introduced, boasting enhanced performance and improved visual aesthetics. Simultaneously, our server framework underwent a complete overhaul to ensure greater stability and responsiveness. To make the gaming experience more user-friendly, we studied successful MMORPGs and redesigned the user interface. Additionally, we revamped the combat system, narrative, and quest design. Despite these transformative changes, our team continued to support the previous version of the game, even adding new content to it. When Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn debuted in August 2013, skepticism among fans gave way to praise. The relaunch was a resounding success, and today, Final Fantasy 14 stands as one of the most acclaimed and well-supported MMORPGs on the market.

2 Kingdom Hearts 3

Development Time: Approximately 6 Years (2013-2019)

It’s not entirely correct when people state that Kingdom Hearts 3 took a full 13 years to create, as development started in 2013, and that timeframe includes other releases like Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. Essentially, the developers had numerous projects to manage during this six-year period.

It appears that the creation of Kingdom Hearts 3 faced numerous challenges, primarily due to Square Enix having multiple major projects ongoing simultaneously. Consequently, the team responsible for KH3 often found themselves understaffed, which proved difficult given their grand plans for the game. Delays were also encountered as a result of the collaboration with Disney and Pixar, as both companies closely scrutinized modifications to their beloved stories and characters. To make matters worse, midway through development, they switched from a proprietary engine to Unreal Engine 4, adding to the team’s troubles. Remarkably, despite these numerous obstacles, the developers successfully delivered Kingdom Hearts 3, which was warmly received for its stunning graphics, innovative gameplay features like Attraction Flow attacks, and its captivating continuation of the franchise narrative.

1 Final Fantasy 15

Development Time: 10 Years (2006-2016)

The intricate history of Final Fantasy 15 is a complex and chaotic tale. Initially revealed as a spin-off titled Final Fantasy Versus 13 in 2006, the game was intended to capitalize on the potential of Final Fantasy 13, which didn’t see release until 2009. Despite being an outsider within the Final Fantasy family, it spawned two full sequels, but the spin-off was eventually shelved. Six years later, in 2012, Square Enix revitalized the project and repositioned it as the next major installment of the series. This move required the development team to effectively start from scratch, discarding much of the previous work and rewriting a significant portion of the story. Additionally, the original director, Tetsuya Nomura, was replaced, leading to further complications.

The revamped title’s conception resulted in its delayed launch. Initially planned for PS3 using the Crystal Tools Engine, it was later changed to a simultaneous release on PS4 and Xbox One with the Luminous Engine instead. This additional workload, already challenging for a team divided among various Square Enix productions, further strained their resources. Remarkably, they extracted Final Fantasy 15 from development limbo and into the open. With numerous overhauls, the game was exceptionally ambitious, introducing an authentic open-world design and groundbreaking real-time combat to a primary, numbered Final Fantasy title for the first time. The game features one of the finest combat systems in RPGs and became a significant commercial triumph. Many games perish in development hell, but Final Fantasy 15 emerged unscathed.

2024-11-29 06:07