Summary
Fantasianis about to go multi-platform, a well-known leaker has said. The Switch version of the critically acclaimed JRPG will supposedly be announced during the next Nintendo Direct, but moreFantasianports are also said to be on the way.
Fantasianis the latest game from Mistwalker, a Honolulu, Hawaii-based studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi, an industry veteran best known asthe creator of theFinal Fantasyfranchise. The game was released in two parts over the course of 2021, exclusively for iOS and macOS. It has never been available for purchase, instead requiring an Apple Arcade subscription to play.
Fantasian’s Apple Arcade Exclusivity Is Reportedly Coming To an End
Its three-year period of Apple Arcade exclusivity is now said to be coming to an end, according to long-time leaker Nate the Hate. During the latest episode of his YouTube podcast, the insider reported that the Switch version ofFantasianwill berevealed as part of the next Nintendo Direct. The upcoming showcase was announced a few hours prior to this report, with Nintendo scheduling it for June 18, at 7am PT / 10am ET / 4pm CET.
The leaker said that the Switch isn’t the only platform set to receiveFantasianin the near future, noting that the highly rated JRPG is also on its way to PC, as well as PlayStation and Xbox consoles. That claim matches an August 2023 leak that suggested Mistwalker hasstarted testing a PC version ofFantasianon Steam. The game’s leaked Steam repository is still active as of June 2024 but was last updated back in February and still doesn’t have a public store listing. Given how the RPG isn’t particularly resource-intensive, it’s plausible that its rumored PlayStation and Xbox ports won’t just target the current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft but their immediate predecessors as well.
Rumored Fantasian Ports Will Reportedly be Handled by Square Enix
Nate the Hate has also reported that the upcomingFantasianports will all be published by Square Enix. That claim is notable because Hironobu Sakaguchi founded Mistwalker in 2004 precisely because he was growing dissatisfied with Square’s management, eventually deciding he wanted to make games independently. His departure wasn’t particularly amicable, with Square reportedly going as far as to forbid its employees from communicating with him. This was all around the time when the Japanese gaming giant merged with Enix. Although Sakaguchi never worked with his former employer again, he did appear on stage at the March 2016 Uncovered: Final Fantasy 15 event.
Square Enix publishingFantasianwould suggest that Sakaguchi has fully reconciled with the company. Regardless of the game’s distributor, its rumored multi-platform foray should serve as welcome news for JRPG fans, not least becauseFantasianhas been widely regarded as one of thebest Apple Arcade gamesever since its debut.
WHERE TO PLAY
Fantasian by Mistwalker Corp. — From the creator of Final Fantasy, comes the next breathtaking adventure from industry legend Hironobu Sakaguchi. Fantasian is an exciting, new RPG set against a spectacular backdrop made from nearly 160 handmade dioramas that blends physical environments and 3D characters.
● Dive into the Dioramas
Explore the nearly 160 different hand-crafted dioramas in Fantasian, with particular attention to detail. The adventure lasts between 60~90 hours with the first part more focused on story and the latter half more quest-driven, giving players the freedom to explore the world.
● New Battle Mechanics
Tapping into his experience from the Final Fantasy franchise, Sakaguchi brings to Fantasian several quality of life improvements to the classic JRPG genre, such as the “Dimengeon Battle” mechanic, which allows players to send previously encountered enemies into a separate dimensional dungeon to streamline combat and maximize uninterrupted exploration of the beautiful locations.
“Dimengeon Battles” introduce various “Gimmicks” or power-ups that can turn the tide of battle for a satisfying encounter.
Likewise, the Growth Map gives players various customization options and party members can be swapped in and out for even more diverse strategic options.
