Fans have been waiting for a true continuation of Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2 for many years. While Final Fantasy 10-2 satisfied some fans, it was met with a divisive reception in North America. Many have been waiting for a more impactful and new look at Spira and the remaining members of Yuna’s guardians and YRP. Supposedly, another sequel might be happening someday, but this hypothetical Final Fantasy 10-3 is no more than a proposition by the developers at Square Enix right now.
According to a statement by Tetsuya Nomura, the basic plot outline for FF10-3 has been written, likely building off of the novels and audio dramas that have been released in the years since the original game. However, Square Enix's key staff members have been busy with Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and thus Final Fantasy 10-3 is a lower priority. It seems 10-3 is probably around a decade out if Square Enix sticks to its guns about wanting specific management on the project, but there are some public details on what the game could entail. There's also a large number of directions Final Fantasy 10-3’s story could go given how different Square Enix is now than when it made the first two games.
Final Fantasy 10-2.5 and Final Fantasy 10 -Will-
To commemorate the release of Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster, a novella was released in Japan called Final Fantasy 10-2.5 ~Eien no Daisho, and an audio drama was packaged in with the remaster called Final Fantasy 10 -Will-. These were both meant to cover the events after Final Fantasy 10-2’s secret ending, with 10-2.5 picking up immediately afterward. Yuna starts showing the newly-revived Tidus around Besaid, but they are sidetracked by a plot involving a number of summoners and guardians from the Zanarkand war 1,000 years prior. This novel was poorly received and is infamous for a scene where Tidus kicks a bomb disguised as a blitzball, dies, and is immediately brought back to life by an unknown god. Aside from a look at the dominant religion from 1,000 years ago and getting Yuna to admit her mixed feelings for Tidus, this novel contributes little to FF10’s story.
Final Fantasy 10 -Will- is a lot more pertinent to Final Fantasy 10-3, and may serve as a direct lead-in it that project ever manifests. The audio drama takes place one year after the events of Final Fantasy 10-2 and focuses on newcomers Chuami and Kurgum. Chuami is allegedly the daughter of FF10’s Auron, but Lulu questions the veracity of this when she hears it. The pair work for the Spiran Council and are sent to meet with Yuna due to a number of bizarre happenings in Spira, including the reappearance of Sin. After some relational drama, two groups are formed with Tidus, Chuami, and Lulu on their way to join up with Yuna, Kurgum, and Wakka in order to defeat Sin once more.
Determining Final Fantasy 10-3’s Story
There's a lot to digest without one game to put it all together, but it’s the best lead fans have regarding the potential future of Final Fantasy 10. It seems like Final Fantasy 10-3 could be about continuing to solve the metaphysical mysteries lying beneath Spira, and dealing with various parties’ attempts to abuse FF10’s vague magic systems. Final Fantasy 10 producer Yoshinori Kitase has commented that Sin has a similar role in Final Fantasy 10 as Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7, justifying the beast’s return. It’s theorized in -Will- that Sin may have been reactivated via beckoning due to someone’s wish. Beckoning is a new concept introduced in the novella that involves illusions from the Farplane being manifested by a person thinking of someone they used to know, and -Will- shows that these illusions are becoming more lifelike.
Whether that will stick for 10-3 proper is anyone’s guess, but -Will- also proposes some new party dynamics, as well as developments to Yuna and Tidus’ relationship. The two have had a falling-out, and are now seeing other people. Tidus’ significant other is named, but Yuna’s is talked around in a way that suggests she may be making him up to get Tidus jealous. Chuami and Kurgum throw a further wrench into this, as Kurgam is initially smitten with Chuami and allows her to abuse his important social position. However, he falls for his idol Yuna and ends up leaving Chuami distressed and unsure of herself. This is one of the most complicated romance situations Final Fantasy has seen, and could add some potent spice to FF10-3’s story.
Final Fantasy 10-3 Could Stand Out From Its Peers
That’s all of the angles that can be mined from -Will-, but more can be done with Final Fantasy 10-3. Tidus, Yuna, Wakka, and Lulu surely wouldn’t be the only returning characters in the next trip around Spira. The Spira Council will have a few familiar faces taken from the three competing factions in 10-2, and various other merchants, guards, priests, and travelers from the two games should show up from time to time. Of course, Rikku, Kimahri, and Paine will probably be hanging around various parts of Spira, with Kimahri leading his tribe and the former YRP members doing odd jobs with their family and friends.
With the set-up in place for a plot that includes both personal relationships and globetrotting adventuring, Final Fantasy 10-3 seems poised to deliver an exciting return to the world of Spira. Fans will probably need to wait upwards of a decade before they can actually play it, but plenty of Final Fantasy games will be coming out in the meantime to keep them entertained. The question of whether Final Fantasy 10-3 will mark a return to turn-based combat for the series will also need to be answered considering Square Enix’s recent push into the action genre. Questions of gameplay and story alike will hopefully be answered once FF10-3 is confirmed to be entering development.
Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.