Renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu, known for his iconic scores for most of the Final Fantasy series, has shared that he likely won’t score an entire video game again. He stated that he intends to keep contributing main themes to the Final Fantasy series, his most recent composition was for the latest remake, Rebirth. However, he does not feel he has the energy to devote two to three years to fully scoring a game. His last full video game soundtrack was for the mobile RPG Fantasian. Uematsu stressed this decision does not signify a complete withdrawal from the industry, but rather a move away from video games. He expressed a desire to focus on other projects, such as an upcoming orchestral performance and work with his band.
Uematsu gained fame through scoring the Final Fantasy series from its inception in 1987 until 2000’s Final Fantasy IX. He continued to compose alongside Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano for Final Fantasy X, and other composers have subsequently led scores for each new game. However, Uematsu maintains involvement, most notably returning to Final Fantasy with a new theme for 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and also contributing to this year’s sequel, Rebirth. Despite these games’ soundtracks being primarily composed by others, the scores heavily revisit Uematsu’s original music.
The trailblazer of video game scores, Uematsu may not be returning to full soundtracks but left a great legacy. Notably, his work on the 2021 Apple Arcade-exclusive Fantasian could be his last complete game score. The game’s release led its maker, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, to speculate whether it would be Uematsu’s last due to health issues. Uematsu ended up composing a full score involving a 60-piece orchestra. Sakaguchi amusingly praised Uematsu’s early Final Fantasy score, believing the composer had revised his original songs per Sakaguchi’s request, but Uematsu revealed he had simply changed their order.
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