Square Enix announced a new Final Fantasy game during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, one that’s the first in the franchise to use the 2D-HD art style. However, it’s not as new of a game as people think, as its content will be familiar to Final Fantasy mobile game fans.
2D-HD is an art style that was first used in Octopath Traveler, one where the old sprite work of the 16-bit era was improved to glorious HD standards. While Square Enix could easily have kept 2D-HD as a gimmick for the Octopath series, it would later be used for Dragon Quest, with the remakes of the first three games done in the gorgeous art style.
Final Fantasy Resonance Is the First 2D-HD Game in the Franchise
Square Enix had some amazing announcements during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, including a long-awaited update for Kingdom Hearts 4. For Final Fantasy fans, the biggest reveal was for Final Fantasy Resonance, a 2D-HD game that’s coming to Nintendo Switch & Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S on October 22, 2026, with pre-orders open now.
Final Fantasy Resonance follows Rain, a Knight of the world of Lapis, who must protect the world from an evil knight who wishes to destroy its eight elemental crystals. The combat in Final Fantasy Resonance is similar to Fire Emblem Engage in that the players can call on the spirits of iconic Final Fantasy heroes to help them in battle, including Cloud Strife, Tidus, Rosa, and the Warrior of Light. The iconic summon monsters are also here, with Shiva and Ifrit ready to aid the party.
Final Fantasy Resonance Isn’t Technically a New Game
Final Fantasy Resonance has everything old-school fans could want, with the 2D-HD visuals, Chocobos, and even an airship. The only problem is that it isn’t a new game. As confirmed by Square Enix, Final Fantasy Resonance is actually a single-player remake of the first story arc from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, a mobile spin-off that was discontinued back in 2024.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing that Final Fantasy Resonance is a drastically altered remake of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. After all, it looks like the more obnoxious elements of mobile gaming are absent, like gacha draws. It’s just a shame that it’s not a brand-new adventure, something made with retro fans in mind.
Those who played Final Fantasy Brave Exvius when it launched will know the story of Final Fantasy Resonance going in, but those who skipped it (due to Square Enix’s poor reputation when it comes to keeping its mobile games alive) should be in for a treat. Final Fantasy Resonance is clearly going all-in on the fanservice for the older games, and that’s what the long-time players want.