Square Enix reveals Final Fantasy IV was originally planned for the NES

Square Enix disclosed that the role‑playing game Final Fantasy IV began development in 1989 with the intention of releasing it on the Nintendo Entertainment System. According to veteran developer Takashi Tokita, the project was redirected to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System after “unexpected changes,” including a demonstration of the SNES’s Mode 7 capabilities at the Nintendo Space World trade show, which led the team to incorporate the feature into the game’s opening air‑ship scene.

The interview also notes that the game’s long development period resulted in its eventual release on the SNES, where it became one of the most acclaimed RPGs of its era. The title is now available on the Nintendo Switch through the Pixel Remaster series.