After a few decades, 15 main series titles, and quite a lot of spinoffs,Square Enix’sFinal Fantasyisn’t as final as the title suggests. Moreover, the critical acclaim of hit releases such asFF7andFF14show the timeless quality of Square Enix’s works. However, it seems Square Enix didn’t just pop out oneFinal Fantasytitle after another. In fact, hardcore fans know the publisher had a few rough patches in the form of unreleased spinoffs and cancelled titles.
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Some fans might wonder just what titles didn’t make it to the acclaimed franchise, if any of these titles evolve into released games, and what exactly happened to these titles that led to their cancellation. Read on to find out the stories behind these unreleased– or released and later cancelled– entries.
8FF 14 1.0 Part 1: Rapture
Players ofFinal Fantasy 14might be surprised to learn thatFF 14had a “cancelled” iteration, but that explainswhyFF14: A Realm Rebornis officially consideredFF14 2.0. Despite delayed beta tests and praise for its music and graphics, the original version ofFF14left players with the impression that it was a rather unfinished game.
The lackluster interface and gameplay, as well as conflicts with the Crystal Tools engine, led to negative reception and caused internal staff changes, “letters from the producers” populating the game and the main website, and official polls for player insight. All things culminated when servers went online on 2012, and the game’s narrative eventually led to a catastrophic event that sends players into the “future,” which became theFF14that is currently active.
7FF Versus 13: The Concept Behind FF 15
In its original conception,Versus 13andAgitoserved as companion games forFF13,all of them being part ofFF13’s overarchingFabula Nova Crystallistheme. Players who saw footage ofFF Versus 13a few years ago noted that the fast-paced battles were veryKingdom Hearts-esque. As time went on,Versus 13would eventually becomeFinal Fantasy 15.
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FF15took a lot of the core ideas inVersus 13, including a modernized premise, action-packed combat, the cast of characters, and their basic powersets. However,FF15’s place in theFinal Fantasyfranchise became clouded as the years went by.
6Final Fantasy Agito 13
Fans ofType-0’s Class Zero know that the game used to be in development asAgito 13. Despite announcements for a mobile release, Square Enix opted to redevelop the title for the PlayStation Portable. Original director Hajime Tabata wantedAgito 13to tackle heroes challenging a god in a believable fantasy story, with Class Zero eventually making a stand against the warring factions, including their own, in an effort to stop the conflict.
The original mobile game idea forAgito 13did come to fruition in the form ofFinal Fantasy Agito, a mobile game. UnlikeType-0, that mobile title focuses on player choice as they get to make their own character and interact withType-0’s main cast. As for the originalAgito 13, itwas cancelled in 2015.
5Final Fantasy Dimensions
Square Enix releasedFinal Fantasy Dimensions, an episodic mobile game, in 2010. Essentially,Dimensionsgives mobile users a signature light-versus-darkFinal Fantasyexperience with 2D graphics as well as the classic Job System. Unfortunately, the game eventually met its end in March 2018 alongside other titles of the Square Enix Mobile Portfolio.
Players who playedDimensionsmay have appreciated its presentation, with it taking the episodic format akin toFF4: The After Years. Moreover, the game used the Active Time Battle system withparty memberschanging every episode. WhileDimensionsis no more,Dimensions 2, a game under theDimensionsbranding with a standalone story, lives on as of this writing.
4Final Fantasy Type-Next
Fans who loved the darker and more mature take ofType-0clamored for a sequel. Director Hajime Tabata answered with artwork for a planned follow up, showing feudal Japanese settings and a main character resembling Class Zero’s Ace. However, Square Enix didn’t release any information as to how– or even if–Type-Nexttied in withType-0.
Fans know little about the true nature ofType-Next. In its initial form, the game looked like a prototype for eighth-generation consoles. Unfortunately, this concept got left behind when theType-0team got transferred to work onFF15. Fans still hope for the eventual release ofType-Nextas Square Enix didn’t officially announce the cancellation of the title, but it seemed unlikely after Tabata left Square Enix in 2018.
3Fortress
Aside fromFinal Fantasy TacticsandFF12, Square Enix planned make other games set in Ivalice, approaching Stockholm-based GRIN to work on a spinoff forFinal Fantasy 12. Fans eventually heard aboutFortresswhen GRIN’s team spoke up about the project following the studios’s closure. At that time,FF13director Motomu Toriyama confirmed the cancellation ofFortress.
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Fortresssupposedly starredFF12’s Basch fon Ronsenburg in a journey against an ancient evil that only a fortress could hold off. Basch proved unsuccessful and had to call on Vaan and the rest of his comrades back for “one final mission.” It seems Square Enix didn’t approve ofFortress' intended art direction, as it had heavy Norse influences that strayed away fromFF12’s art style.
2Chocobo De Battle
Square Enix actually had something in store for Chocobo lovers. If Square pushed through withChocobo de Battle, fans in the early 2000s would have a Chocobo battle racing game similar toMario Kart. Breaking with the company’s tendency to focus on home platforms,Chocobo de Battlewould’ve released as an arcade title with full 3D graphics.
Interestingly, it’s the battle system that could’ve madeChocobo de Battlea potentially-awesome game, especially for its time of release. It seemsChocobo de Battlewould’ve had motion controls, with players having to wave their hands on a part of the machine to move their Chocobo and perform combos.
1Chocobo Racing 3D
Interestingly, Square Enix almost released a Chocobo racing game for the Nintendo 3DS. Square announcedChocobo Racing 3Dfor the 3DS back in 2010, albeit with no confirmation of its relation to the originalChocobo Racinggame. Unfortunately, the team announced the game’s cancellation in 2013.
Square hasn’t revealed much about this title. However, it is assumed it would have had similar gameplay to 1999’sChocobo Racer, perhaps even being a kind of remake of that title. As such, fans would’ve hadMario Kart-esque gameplay featuringFinal Fantasycharacters in various vehicles, likely accompanied by anawesome soundtrack.
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