Modders reinstate Ariana Grande in Final Fantasy Resonance demo
The FFR Vision Studio project restores the pop star and other guest characters after Square Enix excluded them from the new HD-2D title.
Modders have released a modification for the Final Fantasy Resonance demo that reinstates pop star Ariana Grande as a playable character. The community effort follows official confirmation from Square Enix that the singer would not return for the upcoming title.
Developed as part of the FFR Vision Studio project, the mod allows players to use Grande as a playable "Vision" within the game's demo. In addition to the pop star, the modification adds other high-profile guest characters, including Sora from Kingdom Hearts and 2B from NieR: Automata. This project serves as a direct response to the official roster, which omits several legacy cameos from the franchise's mobile history.
The Shift to HD-2D
Final Fantasy Resonance is an HD-2D remake and successor to Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, a mobile title that shut down in 2025. The original mobile game was known for its eclectic mix of characters, including a 2017 appearance by Ariana Grande, who featured a version of her character in a "Dangerous Woman" era bunny outfit. While the original title embraced these celebrity and crossover cameos, Square Enix is taking a different approach with the transition to the HD-2D style.
A Question of Vibe
The exclusion of these characters was a deliberate creative choice. Producer Keisuke Nakashima confirmed that Grande would not make an official appearance in the new project, stating that her character would not fit within the specific "vibe" the team created for Final Fantasy Resonance. This suggests a tighter focus on a cohesive worldview and artistic direction for the HD-2D entry compared to the more experimental nature of its mobile predecessor.
Preserving the Mobile Legacy
This mod highlights the enduring legacy of the mobile era of Final Fantasy and the community's desire to preserve the eccentric crossover elements of that period. By reinstating these characters, modders are bridging the gap between the original game's inclusive spirit and the new title's curated aesthetic. It underscores a recurring tension in gaming where fans seek to maintain the "weirdness" of past iterations that official developers may deem inconsistent with a modern brand identity.
What to Watch
As the full version of Final Fantasy Resonance approaches release, it remains to be seen if the community will expand the FFR Vision Studio project to include more legacy characters. While the current mod focuses on the demo, the appetite for these crossovers suggests a strong demand for the return of the mobile game's diverse roster, regardless of the official "vibe" established by Square Enix.