How ‘Final Fantasy VII Revelation’ Strikes the Balance Between Old and New
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Square Enix studio head Naoki Hamaguchi discusses the development of the final chapter in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. He emphasizes the project's 'multilayered' narrative approach rather than a traditional multiverse structure.
Why it matters
Final Fantasy VII is a landmark title in gaming history, and its modern reimagining serves as a case study for how legacy media adapts to contemporary storytelling expectations.
Naoki Hamaguchi doesn’t seem stressed, though. When I ask the Square Enix studio head and game director how he’s feeling as the release of Final Fantasy VII Revelation draws near, capping a series he’s worked on for over a decade, the only reply is a wry “I was just so focused, it really felt like it passed in a flash.”
Hamaguchi’s calm demeanor is all the more surprising given the weight of expectation surrounding the project. The original Final Fantasy VII, released on Sony's PlayStation in 1997, was a pop-cultural phenomenon—not the Japanese-RPG series’ first Western release, but undeniably its breakthrough title; one that arrived right as gaming was growing out of its kids-only niche and into a mainstream medium.
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