Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi is already thinking about what comes after the massive remake project.
During an interview with Nintenderos, Hamaguchi was asked what kind of game he wanted to make next once the trilogy nears completion.
His answer was not limited to one direction.
He said he remains open to creating something completely new, while also thinking about how the wider Final Fantasy franchise can reach younger players.
Final Fantasy must reach the next generation
The Final Fantasy franchise has a long history, but its audience has changed over time.
Many longtime players grew up alongside the series.
Because of that, Hamaguchi sees the need to think about how the franchise can connect with the next generation of players.
He also said that as the Final Fantasy VII Remake project nears completion, he wants to answer fan expectations by presenting the world and characters with even more depth.
At the same time, he recognizes the challenge of expanding the franchise’s potential for younger audiences.
New experiences may be part of the future
Hamaguchi said he is ready to accept the challenge of creating new experiences that may differ from past projects.
That does not mean abandoning what fans already love.
Instead, it suggests that future projects may need to balance familiar identity with fresh design ideas.
Whatever form those projects take, he said the team will continue aiming to deliver interesting experiences for fans.
A wider Final Fantasy concern
The article also connects Hamaguchi’s comments to a similar concern previously raised by Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P.
Yoshida, who directed Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI, previously said that longer development cycles make it harder for new and younger players to enter the franchise.
When major entries take many years to release, each game becomes more separated from the next generation of players.
That creates a challenge for a series with such a long history.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth platform update
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is already available on PlayStation 5 and PC through Steam and Epic Games Store.
The game is also scheduled to arrive on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on June 3.
That wider platform release may help more players experience the second chapter of the remake trilogy.
THIS IS our take
Final Fantasy has a rare challenge: it must honor decades of history while still feeling exciting to players who did not grow up with it. Hamaguchi’s comments show that Square Enix understands nostalgia alone is not enough. The next era needs both legacy and fresh energy.
SOURCE: https://www.gamesradar.com
