Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, discussed the challenges posed by gameplay streaming on RPGs during an interview with 4Gamer. He indicated that streaming could lead potential players to feel satisfied with just watching others play, rather than engaging with the game themselves. Hamaguchi described this trend as a “crisis” for developers, emphasizing the necessity for RPGs to maintain player interest. He remarked, “One thing that RPGs like Final Fantasy have to pay attention to today is the risk that people might feel satisfied just from watching a stream.”
In addressing this issue, Hamaguchi stressed that player choice will be a focal point of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, set to release in spring 2027. He noted that each player should have a unique experience, stating, “If people watch a game stream and it makes them wonder, ‘What would I do in that situation?’, then they’ll hopefully be inspired to try playing it themselves.” He aims for Revelation to provide more player agency than its predecessor, Rebirth.
The game will feature an outfit-based job system (FITS), inspired by Final Fantasy X-2, where character jobs and their outfits will be distinct. Players will have the option to select any job for each character from the beginning, enhancing the degree of customization. After roughly five hours, players will gain access to the Highwind Airship, enabling unrestricted exploration of the world map.
Hamaguchi acknowledged the feedback regarding Rebirth, which was criticized for an overabundance of minigames. He confirmed that the development team is rectifying this for Revelation. In the new installment, battle-related content will yield battle rewards, while minigames will provide cosmetic prizes. A skip function will also allow players to bypass minigames if desired. He reassured fans that the slap battle between Tifa and Scarlet from the original game will be included in Revelation.
Hamaguchi stated that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation aims to resolve ongoing storylines and mysteries from the remake series, emphasizing the team’s commitment to delivering a satisfying conclusion. He affirmed, “Rather than expanding the FF7 IP further, our priority as developers is to wrap up this remake series properly.”
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation was announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 and is set to release for multiple platforms, including PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. The English voice of Sephiroth will feature a new actor.
