Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi just broke the internet by launching his own Final Fantasy 14 in-game brand. You’d never guess the name.
Yes, it’s actually called sakaGUCCI!
sakaGUCCI第６弾
オルタードリネンカウルが前から気になっており、これを最大限活かしつつ、仮面と同じハニーイエローでポイントをつくりました。胴（頭表示不可）、手、脚、足（実際は黒）となります。今夜０時からPT募集。転売無しなお願い、トレード手渡し、討伐ツアー付き、５万＋チップです。 pic.twitter.com/Gtuqwg1VGQ— 坂口博信 (@auuo) January 26, 2022
Sakaguchi himself will be the one handling transactions of the limited-time goods directly through the game’s party system. This is to avoid reselling, and of course, to make that merch all the more premium. The sakaGUCCI line’s latest release includes a coordinated harem pants set for release on January 26, 12:00 a.m. JST.
sakaGUCCI・第５弾
サルエルパンツのラインを活かすようにデザイン。あえてシックな黒でまとめています。銅・脚・手の３箇所セットです。９点完全限定。今夜０時くらいからＰＴ募集。転売無しなお願い、トレード手渡し、討伐ツアー付きｗ 染色、素材のかねあいで１０万＋チップとなっております。 pic.twitter.com/5NRd9QNzlO— 坂口博信 (@auuo) January 25, 2022
This idea came about after Sakaguchi started playing Final Fantasy 14 in preparation for a conversation with FFXIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida at the Tokyo Game Show 2021. As expected, he crushed the game’s story in a month. We have no excuse.
Soon after, he beat Endwalker and leveled his crafting skills. The results, of course, garnered a lot of attention. However, there was always the concern that people would resell these items at exorbitant prices, or worse, create counterfeits under Sakaguchi’s name. Enter the fashion line.
The first de-facto sakaGUCCI release was a winter sweater. 10 were crafted and sold. The following releases were also limited in quantity and very rare. Sakaguchi also developed a rule where the buyer must glamour the purchased item, thus binding it. This would solve the reselling problem. Afterwards, he’d party up with the buyer for some in-game shenanigans. This was not only a failsafe that addressed a concern, but also a nice gesture to fans. I mean, Sakaguchi was always been cool, but still!
さらに、sakaGUCCI第５弾の構想をしていたら、美しくおそろいな３人組が現れた。
おもわず、モーグリのぬいぐるみをその場でつくって、プレゼントしてしまったｗ
デザイナーおじさん、弱いｗｗｗ#FF14 #FFXIV pic.twitter.com/hkRWNBPPrG— 坂口博信 (@auuo) January 25, 2022
The sakaGUCCI brand is definitely a very cool way to connect with the fans, and well, Sakaguchi’s subtle way of flexing those level 90 crafting skills. All kidding aside, in spite of its unofficial, non-canon nature, it’s interesting to see something meaningful created personally by one of Final Fantasy’s big daddies.
Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker is available on PS5, PS5, Mac, Windows, and Steam.