Final Fantasy Producer Cites Star Wars as a Key Inspiration for Characters and Mechanics in Franchise
Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed that Star Wars has been a significant influence on the franchise’s character and game design. Speaking at Lucca Comics & Games Festival 2026, Kitase discussed how he draws creative inspiration from major entertainment properties beyond gaming. The comments came in response to a question about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, another RPG that has been heavily influenced by Final Fantasy and achieved considerable commercial success.
Kitase expressed enthusiasm about seeing games inspired by Square Enix’s franchises flourish in the market, and he spoke directly with the creators of Expedition 33 to discuss their project. His admission of Star Wars’ influence highlights the cyclical nature of creative inspiration within the game industry, where major franchises inspire new titles, which in turn inspire other creators. The revelation suggests that the sweeping narratives, character archetypes, and thematic elements found throughout Final Fantasy’s decades-long history may owe a creative debt to George Lucas’s science fiction saga.