During Final Fantasy 14 FanFest not too long ago, it was revealed to attendees and those at home that FF15's Noctis and his Regalia would be joining the MMO's world by way of a special crossover event. Keeping the latest numbered entry in the long-running role-playing game franchise in mind, Final Fantasy 14 director and producer Naoki Yoshida was asked at the Paris Fan Festival what he hopes to see in the next direct followup.

According to Yoshida, he wants the next Final Fantasy to contain more "straightforward fantasy" that would have less of a technological and industrialized influence in the world so as to make it "one that doesn’t have much machinery, and with no mecha in it." The FF14 director then made a lighthearted statement on his wishes for the next numbered entry, saying, "After all, we’re having trouble with the Garlean Empire being too powerful. Ah, okay, that was a bad joke [laughs].”

Yoshida was also asked about how online aspects could factor into future Final Fantasy games, with the director stating that the question of another MMO coming down the pipeline is "unlikely" should FF14 continue to do well. Most fans will likely see this position as being a reasonable one, especially since Square Enix continues to pump the title full of post-launch content such as the Nier: Automata crossover raids and the forthcoming Shadowbringers expansion.

All things considered, it will be interesting to find out where Square Enix plans to take the Final Fantasy franchise next with its succeeding numbered entry, as there's always the chance that the publisher and developer could double down on more mechanization influences by creating a sequel with a heavily technologized world. Be that as it may, perhaps Yoshida will get his wish and get to see the next installment be primarily driven by more fantastical elements.

Final Fantasy 14 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.