Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, recently spoke in regards to the importance of the team’s decade-long collaboration in shaping the success of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. Hamaguchi emphasized how working with the identical group of talented individuals over time has been crucial to their growth and expertise.
Despite still being within the midst of developing the third and final installment of the trilogy, he expressed excitement about what the team can accomplish with the experience they’ve gained once the project is accomplished.
Hamaguchi reflected on how the team’s experience and knowledge have evolved over the course of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake games. He acknowledged that the plot for the third part has already been written, but emphasized that the main target stays on ending the trilogy before considering future projects.
While he’s uncertain about what the following project shall be—whether it can be one other Final Fantasy installment or a completely latest brand—he’s obsessed with the chances for the team’s next chapter. He believes that the expertise they’ve collected over the trilogy shall be invaluable moving forward.
A big point in Hamaguchi’s remarks was his appreciation for a way his team has stayed intact despite the challenges faced by the video game industry lately. With quite a few layoffs, studio closures, and high-profile acquisitions happening across the industry, retaining a particular and expert team has been no small feat.
Hamaguchi suggested that the continued success of his team will be partly attributed to the rising technical demands of recent game development. The complexity and high expectations of today’s gaming market require a level of experience that his team has developed over the course of their work on Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
He also touched on the broader context of the gaming industry, acknowledging that many major corporations, comparable to Sony and Microsoft, have been acquiring studios with established expertise. These acquisitions, he identified, are likely attributable to the difficulties of developing high-end games and not using a solid foundation of experienced developers.
Hamaguchi’s comments highlighted the importance of experience in handling the demands of recent game development, and the way his team’s long-term collaboration has given them an edge in tackling those challenges.
Looking ahead, Hamaguchi is optimistic in regards to the future. He expressed confidence that when the trilogy concludes, his team shall be well-positioned to tackle latest and exciting projects. The experience gained throughout the event of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its sequels will provide a solid foundation for whatever direction the team chooses to go in next.
Whether continuing with Final Fantasy or exploring latest ideas, Hamaguchi believes that the team’s deepened knowledge and cohesion shall be key to achieving even greater success in the longer term.
