History of Final Fantasy in Timeline
Final Fantasy is a Japanese fantasy anthology media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, owned, developed, and published by Square Enix. Primarily a series of fantasy role-playing video games, the first title was released in 1987. To date, there are 16 numbered main entries in the series.
December 18, 1987: First installment release in Japan
On December 18, 1987, the first installment of the Final Fantasy series was released in Japan, establishing the foundation for subsequent numbered games with unrelated stories.
1987: Hironobu Sakaguchi Creates Final Fantasy
In 1987, Square designer Hironobu Sakaguchi created Final Fantasy for the cartridge-based NES, drawing inspiration from Dragon Quest, The Legend of Zelda, and Ultima series, considering it his last-ditch effort in the game industry.
1987: First Final Fantasy Game Release
In 1987, the first game in the Final Fantasy series was released, marking the beginning of the franchise.
1989: Final Fantasy II Novelization
In 1989, the novelization of Final Fantasy II was released.
1990: Final Fantasy Released in North America
In 1990, Final Fantasy was released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), introducing console RPG concepts and later being remade on multiple platforms.
1992: Miyamoto Notes Final Fantasy's Impact
In 1992, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto noted the impact of Final Fantasy on Japanese role-playing games, recognizing its "interactive cinematic approach" with an emphasis on presentation and graphics.
1992: Final Fantasy III Manga Adaptation
In 1992, a manga adaptation of Final Fantasy III was released.
1994: Final Fantasy VI Released in Japan
In 1994, Final Fantasy VI was released in Japan, and in North America it was released as Final Fantasy III.
1995: Square's SGI Technical Demonstration
In 1995, Square showcased an interactive SGI technical demonstration of Final Fantasy VI using Nintendo 64 workstations, leading fans to believe it was a new Final Fantasy game for the Nintendo 64 console.
1996: Next Generation Ranks Final Fantasy as 17th Best Game
In 1996, Next Generation ranked the Final Fantasy series collectively as the 17th best game of all time, praising its graphics, music, and stories.
1997: Release of Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation
In 1997, Final Fantasy VII was released for the Sony PlayStation due to a dispute with Nintendo, marking the introduction of 3D graphics and pre-rendered backgrounds in the series.
1997: Final Fantasy VII Released
In 1997, Final Fantasy VII was released, moving away from 2D graphics to 3D computer graphics and introducing a more modern setting.
1998: Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals Released in the United States
In 1998, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals was released in the United States by Urban Vision.
September 9, 1999: Final Fantasy VIII Becomes Top-Selling Video Game
On September 9, 1999, within two days of its North American release, Final Fantasy VIII became the top-selling video game in the United States, holding the position for more than three weeks.
1999: Series Sales Reach 25 Million Units
By 1999, the Final Fantasy series had sold 25 million units, marking a significant milestone in its commercial success.
1999: Final Fantasy VIII Published
In 1999, Final Fantasy VIII was published, becoming the first to consistently use realistically proportioned characters and feature a vocal piece as its theme music.
1999: Next Generation Lists Final Fantasy as Top 50 Game
In 1999, Next Generation listed the Final Fantasy series as number 16 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", highlighting its pairing of technology with memorable storylines.
2000: Final Fantasy IX Released
In 2000, Final Fantasy IX was released, returning to the series' roots with a more traditional Final Fantasy setting.
2001: Final Fantasy X Released
In 2001, Final Fantasy X was released, introducing full 3D areas and voice acting to the series and was the first to spawn a sub-sequel.
2001: Sakaguchi Leaves Square
In 2001, Sakaguchi, the director of the first five games, left Square, and Yoshinori Kitase took over directing the games until Final Fantasy VIII.
2001: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Released
In 2001, Square Pictures released its first feature film, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, set on a future Earth invaded by alien life forms, but it was considered a box office bomb.
2001: Release of Nintendo GameCube and Square's interest
In 2001, the release of the Nintendo GameCube, which used optical disc media, caught the attention of Square. To produce games for the system, Square created the shell company The Game Designers Studio and released Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which spawned its own metaseries within the main franchise.
2002: Release of Final Fantasy XI
In 2002, Final Fantasy XI was released, marking a longer gap between releases compared to previous games in the series.
2002: Final Fantasy XI Released
In 2002, Final Fantasy XI, the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the series, was released on the PS2 and PC.
October 2003: Nojima Resigns from Square
In October 2003, Kazushige Nojima, the series' primary scenario writer, resigned from Square Enix and formed his own company, Stellavista.
2003: Final Fantasy X-2 Published
In 2003, Final Fantasy X-2 was published as the first sub-sequel in the series.
2003: GameSpy Lists Final Fantasy VII as Overrated
In 2003, GameSpy listed Final Fantasy VII as the seventh most overrated game of all time.
2003: Uematsu co-founded The Black Mages
In 2003, Nobuo Uematsu co-founded The Black Mages, an instrumental rock group independent of Square. The band released albums of arranged Final Fantasy tunes.
November 2004: Uematsu Resigns from Square Enix
In November 2004, Nobuo Uematsu, the primary composer of the Final Fantasy series, resigned from Square Enix.
2004: Final Fantasy VII Tops GameFAQs Poll
In 2004, Final Fantasy VII topped GameFAQs' "Best Game Ever" audience poll.
2004: Synchronized swimming routine at the Summer Olympics
In 2004, bronze medalists Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova performed their synchronized swimming routine at the Summer Olympics to music from Final Fantasy VIII.
2005: Final Fantasy VII Tops GameFAQs Poll
In 2005, Final Fantasy VII topped GameFAQs' "Best Game Ever" audience poll.
2005: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Last Order: Final Fantasy VII Released
In 2005, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, a feature length direct-to-DVD CGI film, and Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, a non-canon OVA, were released as part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.
March 2006: Final Fantasy XI Reaches 200,000 Daily Players
In March 2006, the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI reached over 200,000 active daily players.
November 6, 2006: Final Fantasy XII Ships 1.5 Million Copies
By November 6, 2006, one week after its release, Final Fantasy XII had shipped approximately 1.5 million copies in North America.
2006: Final Fantasy XII Published
In 2006, Final Fantasy XII was published, including real-time battles in large, interconnected playfields and utilizing the world of Ivalice from previous games.
2006: Release of Final Fantasy XII
In 2006, Final Fantasy XII was released for the PlayStation 2, using fewer polygons than Final Fantasy X but featuring more advanced textures and lighting.
2006: Famitsu's Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time
In 2006, Twelve games were listed on Famitsu's "Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time", four of which were in the top ten, with Final Fantasy X and VII ranking first and second, respectively.
2006: Final Fantasy III Enhanced 3D Remake Release
In 2006, an enhanced 3D remake of Final Fantasy III was released.
2006: Final Fantasy Receives Star on Walk of Game
In 2006, the Final Fantasy series was awarded a star on the Walk of Game, being the first franchise to receive the honor, recognized for its pursuit of perfection and innovation.
July 2007: Final Fantasy XI Surpasses Half a Million Subscribers
By July 2007, Final Fantasy XI had reached over half a million subscribers.
October 2007: Creation of Dead Fantasy web series
In October 2007, a fan-made web series of CG action films called Dead Fantasy was created by the late web-based animator and writer, Monty Oum. Dead Fantasy featured Final Fantasy characters competing against Dead or Alive characters in battle royale-style brawls.
2007: Edge Criticizes Series for Inferior Related Games
In 2007, Edge criticized the Final Fantasy series for the number of related games including the phrase "Final Fantasy" in their titles, which were considered inferior, and raised concerns about the series growing stale after Hironobu Sakaguchi's departure.
2007: Final Fantasy IV Enhanced 3D Remake Release
In 2007, an enhanced 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV was released.
2008: Final Fantasy Voted Best Game Series by The Game Group plc
In a 2008 public poll by The Game Group plc, Final Fantasy was voted the best game series, with five games appearing in their "Greatest Games of All Time" list.
2008: Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition
In the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008, the Final Fantasy series holds seven Guinness World Records, including the "Most Games in an RPG Series" and the "Longest Development Period."
2009: Dissidia Final Fantasy Released
In 2009, Dissidia Final Fantasy was released, which is a fighting game that features heroes and villains from the first ten games of the main series.
2009: Final Fantasy XIII Released in Japan
In 2009, Final Fantasy XIII was released in Japan for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
2009: Release of Final Fantasy XIII
In 2009, Final Fantasy XIII was released, continuing the trend of longer development cycles between main series titles.
2009: Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition Top 50 Console Games
The 2009 edition of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition listed two games from the series among the top 50 consoles games: Final Fantasy XII at number 8 and VII at number 20.
2010: Release of Final Fantasy XIV
In 2010, Final Fantasy XIV was released, after which Square Enix decided to shift to annual or biennial releases to maintain fan interest.
2011: Series Sales Reach 100 Million Units
By 2011, the Final Fantasy series had reached 100 million units in sales, demonstrating its continued growth and popularity.
2011: Final Fantasy XIII Sequel Release
In 2011, a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII was released, leading to the development of the series' first official trilogy.
2012: Final Fantasy Trading Card Game Released in Japan
In 2012, the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game, produced by Square Enix and Hobby Japan, was first released in Japan.
2013: Relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV
In 2013, Final Fantasy XIV was relaunched, aiming for a better reception after the initial release.
2013: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Rereleased
In 2013, due to heavy criticism, Final Fantasy XIV was rereleased as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, this time to the PlayStation 3 as well.
2013: Second Final Fantasy XIII Sequel Release
In 2013, the second sequel to Final Fantasy XIII was released, completing the series' first official trilogy.
2015: Sakaguchi Explains the Origin of the Name Final Fantasy
In 2015, Sakaguchi explained that the name Final Fantasy stemmed from the team wanting a title that would abbreviate to "FF", and that any title that created the "FF" abbreviation would have done.
2015: Dissidia Final Fantasy Sequel Release
In 2015, a sequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy was released.
2016: Release of Final Fantasy XV
In 2016, Final Fantasy XV was released as part of Square Enix's plan to release Final Fantasy games more frequently.
2016: Final Fantasy XV Released
In 2016, Final Fantasy XV, an action role-playing game, was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
2016: English Version of Final Fantasy Trading Card Game Released
In 2016, an English version of the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game was released.
2016: Final Fantasy XV Animated Tie-ins Released
In Summer 2016, two animated tie-ins for Final Fantasy XV were released as part of the Final Fantasy XV Universe: Brotherhood, a series of five episodes, and Kingsglaive, a CGI film.
2017: Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light Released
In 2017, Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light, an 8-episode Japanese soap opera based, featuring a mix of live-action scenes and Final Fantasy XIV gameplay footage.
2017: Dissidia Final Fantasy Mobile Spin-off Release
In 2017, a mobile spin-off of Dissidia Final Fantasy was released.
2018: Final Fantasy VII Inducted into World Video Game Hall of Fame
In 2018, Final Fantasy VII was inducted as a member of the World Video Game Hall of Fame, recognizing its significance in video game history.
June 2019: Live-Action Adaptation of Final Fantasy Announced
In June 2019, it was announced that Sony Pictures Television is working on a live-action adaptation of the Final Fantasy series with Hivemind and Square Enix.
2019: Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn - Prologue Released
In 2019, Square Enix released a short anime, Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologue on their YouTube channel as a background story for the final DLC for Final Fantasy XV.
2020: Final Fantasy VII Remake First Installment Release
In 2020, the first installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project was released on the PlayStation 4.
2022: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Release
In 2022, Square Enix released Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, an action-role playing title, developed in collaboration with Team Ninja, which takes place in an alternate reality based on the original Final Fantasy game.
2023: Collaboration with Lost in Cult on Lock-On Vol. 6
In 2023, Final Fantasy Union collaborated with British indie publisher Lost in Cult on the sixth volume of the imprint's art journal, Lock-On, which focused on the art of Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda and featured an exclusive cover illustration of Terra Branford by Yoshitaka Amano alongside interviews with Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Matt Mercer.
2023: Release of Final Fantasy XVI
In 2023, Final Fantasy XVI was released, continuing the series' presence in the gaming market.
2023: Final Fantasy XVI Released
In 2023, the sixteenth mainline entry, Final Fantasy XVI, was released for PlayStation 5.
2024: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Released
In 2024, the second and latest installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, was released on the PlayStation 5.
March 2025: Series Sales Surpass 200 Million Units
By March 2025, the Final Fantasy series had surpassed cumulative global physical and digital sales of 200 million units, highlighting its enduring commercial success.
2025: Final Fantasy Wins 10 Awards at The Game Awards
As of 2025, the Final Fantasy series has won 10 awards at The Game Awards, more than any other video game franchise.
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