When Naoki Hamaguchi was offered his dream job of directing the remakes of his favorite game, Final Fantasy VII, he hesitated.
“I realized this was going to be 10 years of my life as a games developer, and I was a little torn,” he told BBC Newsbeat.
The evolution of video games has led to longer development cycles and larger budgets, requiring creators to dedicate substantial portions of their careers to a single project.
Few endeavors match the scale of the new Final Fantasy VII trilogy, which reimagines the iconic 1997 classic with modern visuals, voice acting, and expanded content.
The first two installments, Remake and Rebirth, have been well-received, earning critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.
Hamaguchi recently accepted a Game Award for Best Score and Music at the industry’s biggest ceremony in Los Angeles.
At the Golden Joysticks in London, Rebirth secured prizes for Best Soundtrack, Best Storytelling, and Best Performance.
Despite initial skepticism surrounding Square Enix’s decision to split the remake into three games—considering the original could be completed in about 40 hours—Hamaguchi feels the project has justified itself.
“With the original being so famous, so many people have their own visions of what Final Fantasy VII is. It’s very difficult to please absolutely every single fan out there,” he said.
Reflecting on his initial reservations, Hamaguchi is glad he embraced the challenge.
“Final Fantasy was one of the big inspirations for me to want to become a game creator in the first place. This was my way of giving back to the series.”
However, he is eager to explore new horizons after the trilogy’s conclusion. “I want to move away from it and take on a completely new kind of challenge. I’ve given everything I have to this.”
Hamaguchi highlights how game development has fundamentally changed since the original Final Fantasy VII’s release.
Modern blockbusters require years of development, compelling teams to anticipate the gaming landscape five to ten years into the future.
He notes the rapid growth of emerging markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where younger generations are embracing gaming.
These shifts necessitate culturally inclusive content that resonates across diverse regions.
The competitive market adds another layer of complexity.
Although Rebirth launched exclusively on PlayStation 5, Square Enix acknowledged it didn’t perform as well as expected, prompting plans for a PC version.
With players spending extended periods on platform-dominating games like Fortnite and Call of Duty, capturing their attention is increasingly challenging.
Awards and nominations can help games stand out, boosting visibility on online storefronts.
“Previously, we’d release a game on a console, and it would sell very well for the first couple of weeks,” Hamaguchi explained. “Now, an award mention can give it that extra push.”
As for the future of gaming, Hamaguchi envisions immersive experiences blending virtual and augmented reality.
“Creating a digital environment that merges with the real world and allows people to interact with it would be a very different feeling from playing with a standard controller,” he said, adding that advancements in lightweight and affordable headsets could make such experiences more accessible.
For now, Hamaguchi is focused on completing the trilogy’s final chapter, hoping it will once again bring him to the awards stage and solidify Final Fantasy VII’s enduring legacy.
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