In an interview, Final Fantasy series producer Yoshinori Kitase said that during development, the team followed Hollywood trends. After learning that Peter Jackson was filming "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the developers decided that fantasy would be the next global trend. After that, they decided to abandon the futuristic style of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII.
The new direction was also influenced by screenwriter Kazushige Nojima, who wanted to create a fantasy world unlike the classic European medieval era. Instead of knights and castles, the authors were inspired by Asian cultures, thanks to which the world of Spira acquired a unique look.
At the same time, some science fiction ideas were retained, so Final Fantasy X combined magic and high technology. According to the developers, the change in concept became one of the most important decisions in the game's history.