Looking ahead, Yoshida expressed interest in creating a new online game based on original IP and stated he feels far from retirement at age 52.

Yoshida discussed the challenge of appealing to both younger and older gamers, especially with a game like Final Fantasy XIV that balances bite-sized content with deep storytelling.

He emphasized respecting player interpretation and avoiding over-explaining story elements to preserve individual player experiences.

He shared plans for Final Fantasy XIV up to version 10.0, with the game currently at version 7.0, indicating ongoing expansion.

Yoshida hinted at potential future projects and adaptations related to Final Fantasy XVI, including possible spin-offs or media tie-ins.

Naoki Yoshida discussed the future of the Final Fantasy series at Anime Expo 2025, highlighting ongoing development plans and his personal commitment to its growth.

During the event, Yoshida shared insights into his career, creative approach, and the challenges of balancing storytelling for both MMO and standalone titles, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and innovation.

He explained the differences in storytelling between Final Fantasy XIV, an evolving MMO, and Final Fantasy XVI, a fixed-story single-player game, noting that the choice of combat style—turn-based or action—depends on various factors like graphics and narrative delivery.

Yoshida acknowledged the ongoing debate about turn-based combat's viability in future titles, citing the challenges of integrating realistic graphics with this style, but did not rule out its potential.

He also mentioned that while Final Fantasy XVI features action combat, he remains open to the possibility of turn-based mechanics in future installments.

Reflecting on his early career, Yoshida highlighted how his influences from anime, manga, and sci-fi shaped his approach to narrative and game design, including his work on Bomberman 64.

He stressed the importance of producing high-quality games efficiently, aiming to reduce development time without sacrificing quality, based on lessons learned from Final Fantasy XVI.