Just hours ahead of Nintendo’s latest Direct presentation, rumors are swirling that a high-profile mobile RPG could be getting announced for the Switch and other consoles.
According to gaming insider Nate the Hate, the 2021 Apple Arcade release Fantasian is set to be revealed for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox during today’s Nintendo Direct showcase.
“Fantasian will be announced at the Nintendo Direct,” stated Nate the Hate definitively on his podcast, claiming first-hand knowledge of the unannounced port.
Developed by Mistwalker and its founder Hironobu Sakaguchi – the creator of the iconic Final Fantasy franchise – Fantasian is a classic-style Japanese RPG that garnered significant acclaim upon its original mobile release.
The diorama-style game stood out for its blend of nostalgic turn-based combat with mind-blowing handcrafted dioramas comprising nearly 160 unique environmental “biomes.” With a total playtime estimated between 60-90 hours, it aims to recapture the grandeur of landmark RPGs like Sakaguchi’s own Final Fantasy games.
While Fantasian being ported to consoles seems plausible given its pedigree, the rumor’s other alleged detail is more puzzling. Nate the Hate claims the port is the result of a new partnership between Mistwalker and Square Enix, Sakaguchi’s former employer which published the Final Fantasy games he created.
Sakaguchi departed Square in the early 2000s after creative clashes and the failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within film, going on to found Mistwalker. For the studio to collaborate again with Square Enix on a Fantasian release would be an unexpected reunion over 20 years in the making.
Certainly, a Switch version of Fantasian’s diorama wonderlands seems perfectly suited for Nintendo’s hybrid handheld. The game’s turn-based gameplay could also prove a refreshing change of pace amid the Switch’s endless deluge of action RPGs.
Whether this rumored reveal proves accurate remains to be seen when Nintendo’s Direct kicks off later today at 3pm BST/10am ET. But the tantalizing possibility of bringing Sakaguchi’s latest epic to a wider audience would undoubtedly spark excitement among RPG fans who have long revered the Final Fantasy franchise’s creator.
