Yoshinori Kitase
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Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Might be Followed Up With More Spin-Offs
Square Enix director Yoshinori Kitase stated that while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth concludes the Remake trilogy's main story, the company is open to future spin-off games and DLC. He noted the enduring popularity of the characters and the potential for more content based on fan reaction, similar to the original Final Fantasy 7's legacy.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is definitely "the end of the series," says Square Enix director Yoshinori Kitase, but he won't rule out a spin-off if the "fan reaction" is right
Square Enix director Yoshinori Kitase stated that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will conclude the remake series, but he is open to future spin-off titles if fan reception is positive. The success of the original Final Fantasy VII and its subsequent spin-offs like Crisis Core demonstrated the power of fan enthusiasm in extending a game's universe.
Final Fantasy 10 devs worked on the game under the assumption it could have been their last single-player RPG
Final Fantasy 10 producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed that the development team believed it might be their last single-player RPG, as the industry was shifting towards online experiences, exemplified by Final Fantasy 11's announcement. Kitase reflected on how Final Fantasy 10's emotional storytelling and character focus matured the RPG genre and influenced the series' evolution.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation boss says The Witcher 3 "inspired me for so many years," and it was "a great…
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, expressed his long-standing admiration for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, calling it a significant inspiration for his work. Developers from CD Projekt Red, including Miles Tost and CEO Michał Nowakowski, reciprocated the sentiment, highlighting their own appreciation for the Final Fantasy series. This mutual respect was evident at Gamescom, where both companies showcased their respective titles.
Kingdom Hearts made assembling Final Fantasy 10's dev team "difficult" after Tetsuya Nomura and other JRPG veterans were assigned to the Disney crossover, lead says
Final Fantasy 10 producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed that assembling the development team for the game was challenging due to the concurrent development of Kingdom Hearts, which involved key staff like Tetsuya Nomura. Nomura, who was the director of Kingdom Hearts, also served as character designer for Final Fantasy 10, leading to divided attention and the need to bring in new talent or promote existing staff for core development roles.
Final Fantasy 4 was nearly skipped entirely so the JRPG series could "beat" Dragon Quest: "It was kind of…
Square Enix considered skipping Final Fantasy 4 and releasing Final Fantasy 5 instead to gain a promotional advantage over the Dragon Quest series. Takashi Tokita and Yoshinori Kitase revealed that the CEO at the time suggested this unconventional strategy to surpass Dragon Quest's popularity. The company also controversially renumbered Final Fantasy 4 as Final Fantasy 2 in North America.
Final Fantasy 10 leaned into the fantasy genre after devs "learned that The Lord of the Rings was in production" and thought it would be "the next big global trend"
Final Fantasy 10's developers shifted from a sci-fi direction to a fantasy setting after learning about the production of The Lord of the Rings films, anticipating fantasy would become a major trend. This decision aligned with the game's 2001 release, shortly before The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone hit theaters. While the game embraced fantasy, some sci-fi elements remained, influenced by a desire for Eastern-inspired fantasy rather than medieval European settings.
Square Enix talks Final Fantasy 4, was originally intended for the NES
Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy 4 was initially planned for the Nintendo Entertainment System before its eventual release on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Development began in 1989, and the platform change occurred due to unexpected shifts, including the desire to utilize the SNES's Mode 7 graphics feature for elements like the opening airship scene.
Kitase says it was hard building a team for Final Fantasy X due to Kingdom Hearts
Square Enix director Yoshinori Kitase revealed that assembling the development team for Final Fantasy X was challenging due to key staff members, including Tetsuya Nomura, being occupied with the Kingdom Hearts franchise. This situation impacted the resources available for Final Fantasy X's production.
Whether you believe it or not, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi says the end's been planned from the start
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the ending for the series has been planned from the early stages of development. He also discussed the team's approach to player feedback, emphasizing that they do not aim to please the 'median average' to maintain the product's unique character. Hamaguchi confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Rebirth will feature a similar number of minigames as its predecessor.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says fans will "see for themselves" if the JRPG remake trilogy links to Advent Children, though other Square Enix veterans may have spoiled that already
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth producer Naoki Hamaguchi stated that players will discover for themselves if the JRPG remake trilogy connects to Final Fantasy 7 Advent Children. This contrasts with comments from co-director Tetsuya Nomura and original director Yoshinori Kitase, who previously suggested a link would be established.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation announced for 2027
Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the concluding installment in the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, set for a Spring 2027 release on Nintendo Switch 2 and other consoles. The game will feature an explorable world, customizable combat, and carry over save data bonuses from previous titles. Directors Yoshinori Kitase, Naoki Hamaguchi, and Tetsuya Nomura expressed their excitement for the epic finale.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation announced for 2027
Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the concluding installment in the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, set for a Spring 2027 release on the Nintendo Switch 2 and other consoles. The game will feature Cloud Strife and his companions facing Sephiroth in a world on the brink of annihilation, with players able to explore freely and customize combat. Save data from previous titles will unlock in-game bonuses.
FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION ANNOUNCED — EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY’S END IN SPRING 2027
Square Enix announced Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the conclusion to the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga, set for a Spring 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game will feature a fully explorable world via the Highwind airship and a hybrid combat system. Save data from previous titles will unlock in-game bonuses.
FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION ANNOUNCED — EXPERIENCE THE JOURNEY’S END IN SPRING 2027
Square Enix announced Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the conclusion to the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga, will launch in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game will feature a fully explorable world via the Highwind airship and a hybrid battle system with new playable characters and abilities. Save data from previous entries will unlock special bonuses.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation announced
Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the concluding chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, slated for a Spring 2027 release on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. The game will feature a fully explorable world via the Highwind airship and an expanded hybrid battle system with new playable characters and abilities. Players with save data from previous titles will receive in-game bonuses.
Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2026
Summer Game Fest 2026 showcased a multitude of new game announcements and trailers, including Resident Evil Veronica remake, Alien: Isolation 2, genAtlas, Stranger Than Heaven, and the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 7: Revelation. Several developers also revealed new projects, such as PlatinumGames' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin and RGG Studio's Virtua Fighter: Crossroads. The event also featured updates on existing titles like Palworld and Fortnite, alongside reveals for new entries in franchises like Guild Wars and Monster Hunter.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Says “No Option Than a Trilogy Was Realistic” For the Remakes
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that adapting the original RPG into a trilogy was the only realistic option due to the sheer volume of story and content. He explained that expanding Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake was necessary to faithfully recreate locations with modern techniques. Co-director Tetsuya Nomura added that the overall framework for the trilogy came together smoothly after suggesting Aerith's fate as a natural break point.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake had "no option other than a trilogy," lead says, since the "sheer volume" of…
Naoki Hamaguchi, project leader for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, stated that dividing the original game into three parts was the only realistic option due to the sheer volume of story and content. He explained that even the initial Midgar section required substantial development to faithfully recreate. The decision to end the first part with Aerith's fate was a key catalyst for structuring the entire trilogy.
Final Fantasy VII REMAKE series director says the team listens to fan feedback and adjusts, but maintains their core creative vision
Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, stated that while the development team listens to fan feedback and incorporates it into later installments, they prioritize maintaining their core creative vision. He highlighted that elements like mini-game design and difficulty are areas where feedback is actively considered, but the fundamental experience remains driven by the creative team's direction.