Final Fantasy 7 Remake Director Eyes New RPG Projects Post-Revelation

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is approaching its grand finale with the release of Revelation next year, but don't expect director Naoki Hamaguchi to immediately dive into another massive legacy project. After spending over a decade breathing new life into the 1997 classic, Hamaguchi is looking toward the horizon for a different kind of creative challenge.

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Hamaguchi addressed the persistent rumors and community pressure surrounding a potential Final Fantasy 6 remake. While acknowledging the high volume of fan requests, he was clear about his own future: “Personally, I think that it might be in better hands if it went to another creator in Square Enix.”

Instead of revisiting another foundational title, Hamaguchi confirmed his next project will be a JRPG, though he remains open regarding the specific intellectual property. “Fans might have a lot of different expectations, but for me personally, I do want to take on this new challenge with another RPG title after this, whether it be Final Fantasy or a different IP,” he said.

The Weight of the Remake Trilogy

The Final Fantasy 7 project has been a unique case in the industry. While many modern publishers lean on remakes to minimize the risks associated with new creative ideas, this trilogy has opted to expand and alter the original form of the 1997 title. It hasn't always been a smooth road; the first entry faced criticism for its branding, and initial PlayStation exclusivity hampered its reach before the series eventually moved to multiple platforms to find success.

Despite the commercial success of Rebirth—which holds a 91/100 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic—the industry’s reliance on nostalgia remains a point of friction. With rumors of a Final Fantasy 9 remake having stalled due to quality concerns, and the announcement of projects like an Ocarina of Time remake stirring debate about the necessity of revisiting the past, the question of whether the industry can sustain this pace is becoming increasingly loud.

Hamaguchi’s desire to move on from the Final Fantasy 7 universe speaks to a broader reality for developers. After spending his formative years playing the original and a decade recreating it, the burden of doing justice to such a beloved property is immense. As the industry looks to the future, the focus shifts from what we already know to the uncertainty—and potential—of new, original JRPG experiences.