Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, is interested in developing an AA-scale game after completing the trilogy.
- Hamaguchi believes that focusing on a single core element can help make AA games more enjoyable and offer a more targeted approach, compared to AAA games which require numerous features to meet high expectations.
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive was cited as a key inspiration for Hamaguchis interest in AA game development.
- Despite Square Enix executives preferring Hamaguchi to work on AAA titles, he remains passionate about AA game development and hopes to collaborate with other teams within the company to realize his vision.
Our favorite Goodies
Square Enix
Naoki Hamaguchi Eyes AA Game Focus After Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy, Citing Clair Obscur as Inspiration
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi has expressed interest in developing a AA-scale game, citing Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a key inspiration. In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Hamaguchi discussed the high cost of AAA game development, noting that the need for high-quality content across numerous elements drives up expenses. He pointed to the various minigames, vehicles, tournaments, side missions, hidden bosses, and achievements in Final Fantasy 7 Remake as examples of features required to meet AAA expectations. He suggested that AA games can excel by focusing on a single core element, offering a more targeted approach. After completing the trilogy, Hamaguchi hopes to develop a game centered around one such element, maximizing its enjoyment. However, Square Enix executives prefer him working on AAA titles. Despite this, Hamaguchi remains passionate about AA game development and hopes to collaborate with other teams within the company to realize his vision.
In Case You Missed It
In our exploration of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Ahmed Hassan sheds light on the enigmatic Whispers and their crucial role in preserving the original story while allowing for creative reinterpretation, as discussed in his recent article “Final Fantasy 7 Remake Addresses One of the Most Popular and Wild Fan Theories” Final Fantasy 7 Remake Addresses One of the Most Popular and Wild Fan Theories. Meanwhile, Bruno Pferd’s latest piece explores how Hideo Kojima’s visit to BGS 2025 profoundly impacted Brazil’s gaming scene by engaging with local culture and supporting independent game producers, despite facing criticism Opinion: Hideo Kojima’s Visit to BGS 2025 Was Profoundly Good for Brazil’s Gaming Scene. In a fascinating twist, Marcus Thompson’s latest article, “Final Fantasy 13 Already Did Much of What’s Being Hailed as New in Clair Obscur” Final Fantasy 13 Already Did Much of What’s Being Hailed as New in Clair Obscur, delves into Naoki Hamaguchi’s thoughts on the tribute to Final Fantasy series, revealing that much of Clair Obscur’s uniqueness was already seen in his previous work, particularly Lightning Returns from the FF13 trilogy.