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‘There’s More Satisfaction in the Struggle’: Final Fantasy Composer Nobuo Uematsu Says No to AI Music Tools
October 21, 2025Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary composer behind Final Fantasy’s iconic soundtracks, has a clear message: AI-generated music isn’t for him. Uematsu revealed in a recent interview with music association JASRAC that he’s never tried generative AI, and doesn’t plan to start. “I’ve never used it, and I probably never will,” he said, doubling down on his preference for human effort and authenticity over algorithmic shortcuts.
For Uematsu, the act of creating music is about the challenge and the deeply personal journey. “I think there’s more satisfaction in something you’ve created yourself after some effort and struggle,” he explained. It isn’t just about notes and melodies, it’s about the story behind the person who made it. “When people listen to music, part of their enjoyment comes from discovering the background of the person who made it, right? AI doesn’t have that kind of background.”
Why Human-Crafted Music Still Matters
Uematsu’s resistance to generative AI isn’t rooted in technological fear or nostalgia. It’s about what makes music resonate. Even when a musician plays an existing piece, every performance is a little different, unique and unpredictable. “Music created by humans can be unstable and unique to each individual,” he said. “It’s that fluctuation and expansion that makes it so enjoyable.” For him, that unpredictability is where the real magic lies. AI, he believes, can’t capture that vital spark.
He’s not entirely dismissive of AI in all aspects of game music. Uematsu acknowledged that technology could have a role in behind-the-scenes tasks, like managing transitions between tracks. The idea isn’t new: as games push into bigger, more immersive experiences, seamless audio is becoming more important. “Another aspect is how smoothly the music that’s being played can be transitioned. That’s an area where AI might handle things well in the future,” he said. But for the creative heavy lifting, the melodies and heartbeats of a game’s world, Uematsu doesn’t think AI belongs.
Game audio’s technical evolution is already nearly ‘complete,’ according to Uematsu. With the rise of studio-quality recordings, the real challenge now lies in spatial audio and player demand. “Final Fantasy X already implemented the idea of spatial audio itself, but the question is how much users will demand it going forward,” he pointed out. Past a certain level of audio fidelity, it’s not about the technology. It’s about how it’s used, experienced, and intertwined with the game’s soul.
A Legendary Rivalry and Unlikely Friendship
Uematsu’s career has been shaped not just by technology, but by friendships and rivalries, too. One of his most memorable anecdotes involves Koichi Sugiyama, the legendary composer behind Dragon Quest. After the very first Final Fantasy launched, Uematsu got a surprise phone call. “They just said, ‘he praised your work. That’s all’,” Uematsu recalled, laughing. It was a moment of validation he never forgot.
That feedback didn’t stop there. Sugiyama played every Final Fantasy game and shared his uncensored thoughts. “Regarding the opera scene music in Final Fantasy 6, he said: ‘You wrote that without knowing anything about opera, didn’t you? You should have consulted me.’ Well, when you’re composing for Final Fantasy, you can’t exactly consult the Dragon Quest composer, can you?” The rivalry was real, but so was the respect.
Uematsu’s legacy in the Final Fantasy series is unmatched. He’s responsible for nearly every mainline soundtrack, and he recently returned for the blockbuster Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. Even as he steps back from full-scale projects, last year’s Fantasian Neo Dimension was his final complete soundtrack, Uematsu isn’t leaving video game music behind. He stressed he’ll keep composing, just not entire scores from start to finish. The message from video game music’s most celebrated composer is clear. The struggle, the story, and the human touch are what set great game music apart. AI, for all its potential, can’t recreate that.
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