Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, found himself at the centre of an online firestorm this week after enthusiastically sharing an AI-generated video imagining a modern remake of Final Fantasy VI. The clip, which spread rapidly across social media, drew sharp criticism from fans who called it “AI slop” – and prompted a response from Sakaguchi himself.
What Happened
On May 16th, X user desusanJP posted a nearly two-minute AI-generated sizzle reel imagining what a modern-day Final Fantasy VI remake might look like, set to Terra’s iconic theme from the original game. Sakaguchi spotted the video and shared it approvingly – seemingly unaware, or at least unbothered, by the fact that it was AI-generated content.
The reaction was swift and negative. Many fans criticised the video for its unnatural character movements, deadened facial expressions, and the general “off” quality that tends to characterise AI-generated video. The phrase “AI slop” appeared repeatedly across comment threads and replies.
A Fellow Veteran Weighs In
The situation escalated further when Sakaguchi shared additional AI-altered concept visuals tied to his earlier project Lost Odyssey. At that point, Akitoshi Kawazu – a designer on the early Final Fantasy titles who went on to direct the SaGa series – publicly told Sakaguchi to slow down, noting that the material was AI-created. Kawazu did, however, add that he agrees Final Fantasy VI deserves the full remake treatment – just not this way.
Sakaguchi Responds
Sakaguchi addressed the backlash directly, explaining that he doesn’t view the AI tools as being “there yet” creatively, but sees potential down the line. “It feels like there might be some intriguing stuff waiting down the line,” he said. He clarified that his reaction was one of curiosity and forward-looking interest, not a professional endorsement of AI in game development.
There is no suggestion that Sakaguchi is using AI tools in any of his current development projects. The controversy is entirely rooted in his personal social media activity.
The Bigger Picture
The incident lands at a particularly sensitive moment for the gaming industry. AI-generated art and video remain deeply contentious topics, and the community tends to scrutinise any endorsement – even a casual one – from respected figures very carefully. For a creator of Sakaguchi’s stature, a repost carries weight that a random fan engagement might not.
As for a real Final Fantasy VI remake – the kind with actual human artists and animators – there’s been no official word from Square Enix. But judging by fan reaction to even the AI-generated concept, the appetite is clearly there.
