Final Fantasy Tactics creator and director Yasumi Matsuno has opened up about how the game came to be, revealing he wrote the story to bring joy to those in an era “robbed of hope.”
Now, with the long-rumored Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles finally getting a release date later this year, Matsuno posted a heartfelt message to X/Twitter, saying he “offers this story once again,” as though addressing the profound unrest and division plaguing us in 2025, too.
“Nearly 30 years ago, the collapse of Japan’s bubble economy engulfed the nation’s financial institutions in mountains of bad debt, triggering a wave of corporate bankruptcies, a sudden and extreme rise in unemployment rates, and stagnation of Japanese society as a whole. It was an era when many were robbed of hope, when dreams were measured by their price tag.
“Against this historical backdrop, I crafted a story,” he added. “It was the story of Ramza, a young man who fought tirelessly against the entrenched social class system. It was the story of Delita, who sought to take advantage of this confusion and despair to advance his own social position. It was a story of a peculiar destiny, in which friendship and betrayal intertwine.
“And now, in 2025 — a time when inequality and division are still deeply rooted in our society — I offer this story once again. The will to resist is in your hands.”
The Final Fantasy Tactics remaster includes two versions of the game: the classic original (which includes the War of the Lions translation); and a fresh new version with full-blown voice acting, revamped interface, “extensive additions and adjustments to the story,” and smoother visuals. It’s coming to PS5 and PS5 on September 30, 2025.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles was just one of dozens of games announced last night. Sony kicked off the summer reveal season with a bang, presenting a smorgasbord of new games to whet our appetites going into Summer Games Fest Week. Here’s everything announced at PlayStation State of Play 2025 last night, including 007 First Light, Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls, Romeo is a Dead Man, and Silent Hill f’s release date.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
