Nobuo Uematsu Announces Final Complete Video Game Soundtrack With Fantasian Neo Dimension

[UPDATE: Uematsu has put out a clarifying statement on X/Twitter to share that while Fantasian Neo Dimension is his final complete soundtrack of VGM, he will stay in the space to contribute to other works. This article has been updated accordingly.]

Nobuo Uematsu has announced that his work on the upcoming RPG Fantasian Neo Dimension will be his final complete soundtrack production as a video game music composer. A remake co-published between Square Enix and independent studio Mistwalker, the RPG brings together Uematsu and Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi.

“This is my final project as a composer of video game music,” Uematsu declared, according to the official social media post’s translation. “I hope you’ll pick it up and play it! Thanks for your support!” 

Nobuo Uematsu is no less than one of the most prolific video game music composers of all time. He began his music composition work at Square Enix, known at the time as Square, in 1986, including with FF creator Sakaguchi on Rad Racer. 

Final Fantasy’s release in 1987 set him up as the main composer for the series until Final Fantasy 9 in 2000, after which he started to work alongside others to hand off the mantle. He’s also done quite a few main themes for later Final Fantasy titles, including FF12’s ending theme, FF7 Remake’s “Hollow,” and FF14’s “Answers” and some of its expansions.

Aside from Final Fantasy, Uematsu has taken on myriad projects in games, including the Super Smash Bros. Brawl theme, Ragnarok Odyssey Ace, and the original Granblue Fantasy. On the side, he contributed to some Japanese media, including the main theme for Ah! My Goddess: The Movie, the ending for Fairy Tail The Movie: The Phoenix Priestess, and mixed-media musical fantasy fiction project Merregnon. 

He also played in The Black Mages covering FF music and its spiritual successor Earthbound Papas, both of which feature in Square Enix projects. 

Fantasian Neo Dimension is an “enhanced version” of the original 2021 Fantasian game, which was originally a mobile game for iOS systems. Most notably, even just through its publisher role, this is Square Enix’s first direct involvement with Sakaguchi’s projects after he stepped down from his roles in 2001 and left the company entirely in 2003. 

While the Apple Arcade original was well-received, it seems like this version will include some more features. With Uematsu declaring it his last full soundtrack, chances are even the soundtrack has also received some updates to fit “remake” standards. It releases December 5 on consoles and PC.