Final Fantasy 15 director Hajime Tabata believes that developers must embrace cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and Web3 in order to stay relevant in the ever-changing gaming industry. Tabata made these remarks during a seminar organized by Human Academy, where he was joined by former Square Enix president Yoichi Wada. The two industry veterans discussed the future of gaming, covering topics such as the necessary skills for creators and the importance of staying updated with emerging technologies.
Wada and Tabata emphasized that creators who haven’t experimented with generative AI systems like ChatGPT or explored Web3 and metaverse development will struggle to keep up with the industry’s evolving demands. Tabata highlighted the significance of these technologies, stressing the need for developers to maintain a sense of curiosity and adaptability as new methods reshape game creation and monetization.
Wada expanded on this point, stating that successful game development requires three key elements: authorship, craftsmanship, and teamwork. He emphasized that a proper understanding of media characteristics and related technologies is essential for creating high-quality content.
Square Enix, under the leadership of current president Yosuke Matsuda, has emerged as a strong advocate for future-facing technologies among major game publishers. The company recently announced its strategic shift towards future tech, pledging to restructure its organization to fully support blockchain, Web3, and AI technologies across its various divisions.
In line with this commitment, Square Enix has made investments in Web3 and NFT gaming platform HyperPlay, demonstrating its dedication to exploring the potential of these emerging technologies.