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Shinji Hashimoto explains what the "Final" is Final Fantasy means ... and gets it wrong

Gothic Girl | September 04, 2008 | News | Misc

The word "Final" in "Final Fantasy" has always confused gamers. The Final Fantasy games are a part of one of the longest-running game series of all time, so why call it "Final Fantasy" if there are no plans for a true final installation? Shinji Hashimoto, of Square Enix, explains why ... and gets it wrong.

Why does he get it wrong? Well Hashimoto's explanation is that the "final" in the title doesn't really mean "final" - It means "ultimate" instead.
That differs from the explanation that the creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, gave years ago. And he should know, he invented the name. Final Fantasy was meant to be Sakaguchi's final game and he didn't expect it to be a sucess - But when it did succeed, he continued the series under his title.

A small oversight on Hashimoto's behalf? Or a deliberate kick to Sakaguchi who is no longer a part of Square Enix?

And is Final Fantasy eternal? Will there ever be a "final" Final Fantasy?

Says Hashimoto, "The term 'Final' in the title doesn't mean 'last,' but the teams behind it see it as a term for 'ultimate,' and as long as there are creators that are wanting to make Final Fantasy games, we will probably keep going."

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kik36 | September 04, 2008

To be fair when the title was originally coined it was absolutely true and a very literal meaning.....whereas now the term really has taken more of a broad definition when referring to "Final Fantasy".

I don't think he meant any disrespect, just that the meaning of the term in relation to the Final Fantasy series has evolved.
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Cruxis Mana | September 04, 2008

I'm having to break out the facepalm.gif's to often these days.
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Final Blade | September 06, 2008

_{Actually tbh, its not really any disrespect. He never thought Final Fantasy would turn into a multi million series worth continuing, so with that reason alone things change. And the term Final in final fantasy is now more broad meaning ultimate. So in a way both are correct.}