[ASIA EXCLUSIVE] Bringing Back a Classic: Inside the Making of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles

Nearly three decades after its original release, one of Final Fantasy’s most beloved spin-offs is making its grand return. We had the exclusive opportunity to hear from the development team behind FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles, speaking with Director Kazutoyo Maehiro, original scenario writer Yasumi Matsuno, and Producer Shoichi Matsuzawa about what it takes to revive a gaming legend for modern audiences.

The original Final Fantasy Tactics, released in 1997, remains one of the best spin-offs in the franchise and is widely considered among the best games the series has ever produced. Now, with FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles, both longtime fans and newcomers will get to experience this tactical masterpiece in a whole new way.

The Spark That Reignited a Classic

The journey back to Ivalice began in an unexpected place. Director Kazutoyo Maehiro, who worked on the original game, found his inspiration through Final Fantasy XIV’s Return to Ivalice content.

“It was a few years ago when Return to Ivalice was added to FINAL FANTASY XIV—that was what inspired me to finally go back and play the original version of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS again,” Maehiro explains. “At that time, I was once again struck by just how incredible the game was—with its outstanding game design and deeply layered story that still holds up even when compared to modern titles.”

However, Maehiro also noticed a significant problem. “Because so many years had passed without any new related releases, there was no way to play it on current platforms. That’s when I strongly felt that this amazing game deserved to be experienced by a new generation of players—especially those who never had the chance to know it back then.”

Two Versions, One Vision

Understanding the challenge of appealing to both devoted fans and curious newcomers, the team made a bold decision: create two distinct versions within the same package.

“We decided to include two versions: the ‘Classic’ version, faithful to the original for the fans, and the ‘Enhanced’ version, which features various improvements and additional elements aimed at new players,” Maehiro reveals. This approach allows players to choose their preferred experience—whether they want the pure, original gameplay or a more modern take with quality-of-life improvements.

The decision wasn’t made lightly, as the team carefully weighed how to serve both audiences effectively. “When reviving this title after 30 years, we considered how to approach both long-term fans who have cherished FINAL FANTASY TACTICS and new players who will experience FINAL FANTASY TACTICS for the first time,” Maehiro explains, highlighting the delicate balance they needed to strike.

Staying True to the Original Vision

One question many fans have is whether the new version will include content from FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions, the PSP remake that added new characters and jobs. The answer might surprise some players.

“Just like the ‘Classic’ version that stays faithful to the original, the ‘Enhanced’ version does that same in not including the characters or job elements added in FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions,” Maehiro clarifies.

The reasoning behind this decision goes deeper than simple nostalgia. “The original version was already a highly polished game in terms of both game design and storytelling. Making significant changes could potentially be detrimental to the experience of both fans of the original and new players.”

The team’s philosophy centers on respecting what made the original so special. “At the time of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions’ original release, we believe that it offered more than sufficient to meet the expectations of players. After 28 years, as we set out to remake this work, we reflected on what only we—the creators of the original version—could do,” Maehiro states. The team concluded that their unique position as the original creators gave them a special responsibility to preserve the core experience.

“Of course, we considered adding new jobs, abilities, and characters, as well as content added in FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions. However,” Maehiro continues, “we made a deliberate decision to preserve the original version as faithfully as possible. Rather than alter what already worked so well, as a first step in bringing FINAL FANTASY TACTICS back to the modern era, we chose to focus on the original characters, jobs, and the gameplay experience as it was.”

Instead, the team focused on fixing technical issues that plagued The War of the Lions. “We’ve addressed and resolved all the issues that were present in FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: The War of the Lions, including VFX, sound effects, and rendering problems,” Maehiro notes.

The Weight of Legacy and Lost Possibilities

For original scenario writer Yasumi Matsuno, seeing his creation get a definitive treatment brings mixed emotions. The original development was a race against time with ambitious goals.

“As the originator of the concept, I had a vision that was higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea. So many ideas came to mind—it felt limitless at times,” Matsuno reflects. “However, the company gave us only about a year for development. It was our first time working on that hardware, and our first time we were working on a project together as a team.”

The pressure led to difficult choices. “The project that became FINAL FANTASY TACTICS was one of constant cuts and compromises,” he admits. “As a creator, there were still so many things I left unfinished.”

When asked about specific jobs or characters that were cut, Matsuno remains diplomatic: “There were several characters and jobs that were ultimately cut from the project. However, I don’t think there’s much point in discussing those now.”

Despite the regrets, Matsuno takes pride in what they accomplished. “I’m proud that I was able to balance these two opposing sides of myself and see the project through to completion. I’m truly delighted that a product filled with the passion and vision from 30 years ago can now be delivered to audiences around the world in 2025.”

The Perfect Gateway to Tactical Gaming

With tactical RPGs experiencing a renaissance through games like Tactics Ogre Reborn, Triangle Strategy, and Unicorn Overlord, producer Shoichi Matsuzawa sees FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles as perfectly positioned to welcome new players to the genre.

“Unlike action games, tactical games have their own distinct charm—like planning the build in advance or anticipating your opponent’s moves. I think the genre still has plenty of untapped potential,” Matsuzawa explains.

He believes the game strikes the right balance for newcomers: “FINAL FANTASY TACTICS offers the full enjoyment of experimenting with a wide range of builds by freely combining different jobs and abilities. The number of controllable units strikes a perfect balance—not too many, not too few—making it accessible for anyone.”

For Matsuzawa, the ultimate goal is expanding the tactical RPG audience. “I truly believe it’s a game that serves as the perfect entry point into the world of tactical RPGs. I hope this title will help bring more fans into the world of this genre!”

As FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles prepares for its September 2025 release, it carries the weight of nearly three decades of fan expectations and the promise of introducing a new generation to one of gaming’s finest tactical experiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan eager to revisit Ivalice or a newcomer curious about what makes this game so special, this definitive version promises to deliver the complete Final Fantasy Tactics experience for the modern era.

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