Ahead of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's release next year, director Naoki Hamaguchi has opened up about community discourse, player fatigue from side quests in past entries, and the uncertainty surrounding physical media.
Embracing Heated Fan Discourse
Since the remake project began in 2020, fans have heavily debated the story changes, combat mechanics, world design, and minigames introduced by Square Enix. Speaking to Automaton, Hamaguchi stated he is "grateful" for the ongoing debate because it proves players care deeply about the franchise.
"Games are a medium, a community, and a culture," Hamaguchi told Automaton. "The very fact that the community is so active, that conversations happen, and debates keep erupting, is a kind of entertainment in and of itself."
Refining Gameplay After Rebirth
The trilogy has varied significantly in structure, shifting from the linear progression of the 2020 debut to the expansive open world seen in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Hamaguchi recently acknowledged to GamesRadar+ that some players "got a little bit tired" of the massive volume of side quests in Rebirth, leading certain players to step away from the JRPG in exhaustion—comments that suggest Revelation may feature a more streamlined approach.
The Uncertainty of Physical Editions
While Hamaguchi stated he wants "some kind of physical edition" for the upcoming RPG, he noted that he cannot currently promise one. The hesitation stems from Sony and the wider industry shifting away from physical releases toward digital distribution.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is scheduled to launch next year across multi-platform hardware.