Square Enix
Square Enix business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Square Enix responds to Kingdom Hearts Collection AI controversy two months after players called it out
Square Enix has responded to accusations that AI-generated art was used in promotional material for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3. The company stated that the assets were created by their development team without generative AI, and that issues stemmed from human error. Updated artwork has been implemented to address player feedback.
FF7 Remake director had to tell his team to 'be reasonable' because they got too excited about the FF14 crossover: 'That would be putting the cart before the horse'
Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the excitement surrounding a potential crossover with Final Fantasy 14, emphasizing the need for his team to remain realistic about development bandwidth. Both Hamaguchi and Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida had to temper their teams' enthusiasm to ensure that development on the MMO's patches was not impacted.
As hype builds for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Remake and Rebirth continue to sell well
Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth are selling "several times better" than expected, according to trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi. He noted that sales of the earlier games rise whenever a new installment in the trilogy gains attention, and that the PC market, particularly in Simplified Chinese, is a growing factor. Hamaguchi also stated that player feedback is influencing design choices for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, with minigames becoming skippable and rewards being adjusted.
Champion modder ports the OG 'Father' Nier back into the PC remaster, original voiceovers and all
A modder named Elevna has successfully ported the original 'Father' Nier character model and voiceovers from Nier Gestalt into the PC remaster of Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139.... This mod allows players to experience the game with the older protagonist and his original voice actor, Jamieson Price, fulfilling a niche demand for the original Western release's protagonist.
2023 PS5 Remake of Beloved PS1 RPG Half Price on PlayStation Store
Star Ocean: The Second Story R, a 2023 remake of a classic PlayStation 1 action RPG, is currently available for half price on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This limited-time deal brings the game's price down to $24.99 until August 13, featuring new battle mechanics, full voice-overs, and updated music.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake boss wanted to make sure its crossover with Final Fantasy 14 didn't derail the MMO's…
Final Fantasy 7 Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the upcoming crossover with Final Fantasy 14, emphasizing the need to balance excitement with the MMO's release schedule. Hamaguchi and Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida worked to ensure the collaboration did not impact the MMO's patch cadence, with original writer Kazushige Nojima also involved in the project.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says each character in the RPG only has 4 jobs because making games is so much…
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that each character will have four distinct jobs, a decision influenced by the increasing difficulty of game development. He contrasted this with earlier Final Fantasy titles like Final Fantasy 5, which featured over 20 jobs, noting that modern games require bespoke animations for each character, making such extensive systems unfeasible for standalone titles.
Final Fantasy 14 gets first Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay
Square Enix showcased extensive gameplay footage for Final Fantasy 14 on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The MMORPG will feature touchscreen and mouse/keyboard support, and is set to release on August 4, 2026. The article highlights the game's free trial which includes four award-winning titles and the option to play solo with NPC allies.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Ends the Remake Trilogy’s Story; Any DLC Will Focus on “Untold Stories”
Square Enix director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that the main story of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy will conclude with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, with no story DLC planned for the main narrative. Any potential future DLC would focus on "untold stories" of specific characters, similar to the Episode INTERMISSION for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is slated for a Spring 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
"I sense immense expectations": Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's director on ending the remake trilogy and DLC
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, discussed the possibility of DLC for the game, stating that while nothing is confirmed, the team would consider it if there is significant fan demand. He emphasized that the main story of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will conclude within the game itself, with any potential DLC acting as a spin-off focusing on specific characters' untold stories.
Question time: What makes a 'good' grind in an MMO?
This article discusses the concept of 'grind' in Massively Multiplayer Online games, arguing that repetitive activities can be beneficial when approached with the right mindset. The author shares a personal experience with grinding for relic weapons in Final Fantasy 14, finding it a meditative and rejuvenating process. The piece explores player opinions on whether any amount of grinding is too much or if it can be a healthy part of the MMO experience.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director is "serious about concluding the series" at the end of the JRPG, and any…
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the game's main story will conclude the JRPG series, with any potential DLC focusing on untold character stories rather than continuing the main narrative. He confirmed that development is proceeding with the goal of concluding the series in this final installment, though the possibility of DLC remains undecided.
Square Enix says art for Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 didn’t use AI
Square Enix has denied that AI was used to create the artwork for the Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3. The company stated that no AI was involved in the creation of the art, which had drawn criticism on social media for perceived errors.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director is happy people argue about the remake trilogy because when people "get heated," it means "they see value in those elements"
Naoki Hamaguchi, director for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, believes the heated online discussions surrounding the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy are a positive sign. He argues that passionate debates about story, characters, and gameplay elements indicate that players see value in the series. Hamaguchi also mentioned that the team is considering a physical edition for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Final Fantasy 14 fans discover "Creepypasta Backrooms" area in Patch 7.55, and Square Enix is feeding into the horror: "If you're not careful and you noclip out of reality..."
Players of Final Fantasy 14 have discovered a disturbing, out-of-bounds area in the North Horn of the Occult Crescent, reminiscent of "Creepypasta Backrooms" imagery. This discovery, made after Patch 7.55, features white floating platforms against a black void with crawling arms and formidable enemies. Square Enix acknowledged the find with a playful reference to "noclipping out of reality."
Square Enix Says Controversial Kingdom Hearts Collection Art Was the Result of 'Human Error,' Not Generative AI
Square Enix has stated that the controversial key art for the Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 was a result of human error, not generative AI. The company clarified that no AI-generated materials were used in the artwork.
Popular 2024 PS5 RPG 60% Off on PlayStation Store, Lowest Price
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, a 2024 PlayStation 5 action RPG from Square Enix, is currently 60% off on the PlayStation Store, priced at $19.99 as part of a limited-time Summer Sale ending August 13. This marks the lowest price for the game, which is the sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake and is exclusive to current-gen platforms.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director knows players "got a little bit of tired" of side quests in the JRPG's massive open world and might have "stepped away"
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's director, Naoki Hamaguchi, acknowledges that the game's massive open world may have led to player fatigue with its numerous side quests. He suggests that the sheer volume of content and the need to complete certain activities for rewards might have caused some players to disengage. Hamaguchi indicates that future installments, like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, will aim for a more curated experience.
Square Enix says that weird Kingdom Hearts Collection cover art wasn't AI-generated and "issues" like Donald Duck's uneven number of fingers "resulted from human error"
Square Enix has stated that the controversial cover art for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts Collection was created by human error, not generative AI. The company acknowledged issues such as Donald Duck's uneven number of fingers and muddy clock details, and has implemented updated assets. The collection, which includes Kingdom Hearts I~III, is set to release on October 6 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Series Sales Are “Several Times Better” Than Expected Since Revelation Reveal
Director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that sales for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have significantly exceeded expectations, especially following the recent reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. The PC platform, particularly in English-speaking and Simplified Chinese markets, has shown strong performance for the trilogy. Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
