Square Enix kinda shook things up about 10 years ago when they finally spilled the beans on a long-awaited redo of Final Fantasy 7. Fast forward to 2025, and we’ve got two parts of this remake trilogy out in the wild for PlayStation and PC, with Switch 2 and Xbox ports on the horizon. Director Naoki Hamaguchi spilled some tea on what it took to bring FF7 Remake to Switch 2 and Xbox, the challenges faced with less powerful hardware, and even hinted at which Final Fantasy game might get a facelift next.
Hamaguchi spilled the beans to ScreenRant, highlighting the importance of “character expressions” and “lighting” for a top-notch experience on Nintendo’s hybrid console. He mentioned that they aimed for lighting similar to the PS5 version while also balancing it out with Switch-specific effects to keep things looking sharp. In an interview with Inverse, Hamaguchi mentioned that a Switch 2 port seemed like a no-brainer once Square Enix got a peek at Nintendo’s new hardware. According to him, the Xbox version was already in the works before they even laid eyes on the Switch 2 specs, and surprisingly, the Series S didn’t pose too many problems despite being the underdog in terms of power.
The FF7 Remake train isn’t stopping at Switch 2 and Xbox; the more visually demanding Rebirth is also gearing up for a release. Hamaguchi teased that Rebirth is well on its way to being playable on Switch 2, emphasizing their goal to cater to all platforms possible. As for the third installment of the remake trilogy, development seems to be chugging along smoothly. Hamaguchi shared that the team is focused on refining everything to deliver a polished final product. While the previous FF7 remake chapters have garnered praise from fans, there are lingering concerns about sales and the direction of the storyline. Hamaguchi, however, seems pleased with Rebirth’s performance on PS5 and PC in terms of sales, drawing inspiration from the live-action Beauty and the Beast remake to reimagine FF7 for the modern era.
Despite his dedication to the FF7 Remake series, Hamaguchi can’t help but daydream about potential remakes for other classic JRPGs. Speaking to Windows Central, he expressed a soft spot for FF6 and the idea of giving it a modern makeover. After pouring his heart and soul into the FF7 Remake series for over a decade, the thought of tackling something fresh and exciting definitely piques his interest. Who knows what the future holds for the world of Final Fantasy remakes? Only time will tell.
