Square Enix talks Final Fantasy 4, was originally intended for the NES
Posted on July 18, 2026 by Brian(@NE_Brian)
in General Nintendo, News
According to Square Enix, Final Fantasy 4 was originally intended to be a NES game.
As we know, that’s not what happened in the end. Final Fantasy 4 was eventually released for the SNES, going on to become one of the most acclaimed RPGs for its time.
Takashi Tokita said in a recent interview that development kicked off in 1989. Despite being planned for the NES, the platform change happened due to “unexpected changes.”
Here’s the interview excerpt talking about the origins of Final Fantasy 4:
Tokita: I believe development began in ’89, but the development period was unusually long for that time. When the project kicked off, it was originally intended for the NES [Nintendo Entertainment System], but I think it ended up being developed for the SNES [Super Nintendo Entertainment System] instead due to some unexpected changes.
Kitase: When I joined the project, it was already being made for the SNES. It feels a little weird for me to be talking about this, but at the time, there was a trade show hosted by toy wholesalers and distributors [later called Nintendo Space World], and there were lots of flashy demos showcasing the SNES’s Mode 7 feature that lets you enlarge, shrink, and rotate the background. When Mr. Sakaguchi saw it, he insisted that we take advantage of it.
Tokita: Right, I remember now.
Kitase: That’s how the opening scene with the airship came together, and I was right there to see it happen. All of this was shortly after I joined the company.
Several years ago, Tokita shared interesting insight into Final Fantasy 4 about its mechanics and changed plans for scenarios. You can read more about that here.
Right now you can experience Final Fantasy 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch as part of the Pixel Remaster series.
More: Final Fantasy IV, interview, Square Enix
