Calling all Final Fantasy fans-the creativity behind the codes of Final Fantasy XIV and XVI is coming to Anime Expo 2025! Square Enix is storming home with a major panel titled Leveling Up: How Anime, Manga, & RPGs Inspired Naoki Yoshida and Final Fantasy! If you have been yearning to learn the nitty-gritty of how Japanese pop culture influenced some of the biggest brands in gaming, this is your moment to listen firsthand.
Through announcement on Square Enix’s official Twitter account, Anime Expo’s Guest of Honor panel takes place from July 3-6 at the LA Convention Center. With tickets already available, the word is out on this one. In fact, the hype may have you hitting that refresh button at midnight.
But that is far from all Yoshi-P has to offer. The panel will actually delve into his own inspirations from classic anime and manga to the determination of mechanics leading to the practical shaping of a Final Fantasy. The new expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, Dawntrail, is heavily influenced by real-world cultures (shoutout to the Americas), so his storytelling style tends to defy the conventional.
As expected where Internet is the Internet, reactions ranged from mixed to wildly well. Half the fanbase tried to hawk the replies with hype as one user, @jjsprack, shouted out, “YOSHI P my Goat!” The other half could not resist stirring the pot, with @CappyBara69 humorously threatening a confrontation with Yoshida: “how THREE DIFFERENT TURN-BASED RPGS SOLD MORE COPIES THAN FFXIV.” Ouch.
Then, of course, there were those moments of confusion regarding which Naoki Yoshida was in question. “Wait, why is there a pic of both FF14 and FF16? 16 was made by the OTHER Naoki Yoshida working at Square Enix,” said @HabKeineName. Spoiler: It’s the same guy. For real.
Memes aside, it is obvious that this panel holds significance. The FFXIV community is known for being fiercely passionate (ask @WallyintheAlley, who clapped back against critics with, “Just say you want ‘Netflix’ content, hun✌️”) and the mega success of FFXVI stands as proof that Yoshida still has the Midas touch.
Surprises? Almost definitely. He is known for surprise announcements at live events—remember everyone vibing to those tropical beats? And with FFXVI DLC still fresh and talk of a sequel (“FFXVI parte 2,” teased @matox_matox84), AX 2025 could very well be the perfect place for another mic drop.
For the humphers not able to make it to LA, praying for a stream (“I hope they stream this,” begged @HeyKijani). But if you’re going, better start working on your questions. Or, you know, find someone else to go with who isn’t planning to ask why turn-based RPGs outsold MMO. Put it out there.
Anime Expo 2025 will be held from July 3 to July 6. Tickets, hotel booking, and the event app are already live—’cause missing out on this would be a much bigger tragedy than that FFXIV raid wipe your static still refuses to let go of.
