Speculation regarding the director of Final Fantasy 17 has surfaced following an exchange between Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi at the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest on July 26, 2026.
During a segment titled 'Naoki's Room,' Yoshida noted that he has received significant feedback from fans expressing a desire for Hamaguchi to helm the next mainline entry in the series. Addressing Hamaguchi on stage, Yoshida remarked, "There were comments along the lines of 'I want this guy to make Final Fantasy 17.'"
Yoshida characterized the fan sentiment as "the highest praise you can get," though he quickly intervened when Hamaguchi began to respond, explicitly telling him, "No, no, don't!" and moving the conversation forward. While some observers have interpreted the exchange as a potential hint regarding future development, the interaction remains unconfirmed as an official announcement.
Source Reliability
This report is based on a primary source—the official livestream held at Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest. The credibility of the event is 5/5 stars as it is a direct account of the developers' public statements. However, the nature of the information is a rumor; the developers' playful on-stage interaction does not constitute a formal confirmation of any project, and the lack of a response from Hamaguchi may simply be a reaction to the public praise or a standard professional deflection.
Context for Players
Naoki Hamaguchi is currently engaged with the development of the final title in the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, which is expected in 2027. Yoshida has previously commented on the scale of potential future remakes, noting that titles like Final Fantasy 6, 8, or 9 would likely require four to five installments to complete, emphasizing the extensive resources required for such projects. For now, there is no official word on the development status of Final Fantasy 17.