In VGC’s latest hands-on preview for Remaining Fantasy 7 Revelation, we had been left with excessive hopes for the ultimate entry within the remake trilogy, but additionally startled by the overwhelming scope of the sport.
At Tokyo Sport Present 2026, I caught up with Remaining Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi, who mentioned he’s not involved about such critiques, and famous that the general public demo debuting in Japan this week affords a extra centered have a look at what Sq. Enix is attempting to do with Half 3.
In our temporary dialog, Hamaguchi mentioned latest information across the recreation, together with affirmation of DLC tales, and phrase that every one bodily variations would require a obtain.
Remaining Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch on April 8, 2027, for PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Swap 2, and PC.
Among the feedback on-line from followers and press are involved that the scope of this recreation is perhaps a bit too massive. What would you say to them?
I’m actually not nervous concerning the scale. It’s massive, however I’m not nervous about it. For the media demo, it begins at Chapter 4, which is a couple of hours into the sport. The aim of that media demo was to indicate the impression of how a lot there may be to do on the planet – that was the objective.
In that construct, for those who go to sure areas, quests are locked behind degree blocks. We purposely put that in there to indicate, ‘hey, there’s a lot extra right here’. We wished gamers to be excited that there’s a lot to do on this recreation.
Whereas there’s a lot occurring, we make sure that to position markers and determine the rewards for why you’re doing what you’re doing, so fairly than being overwhelmed by selection, gamers can resolve what they do and what they don’t wish to do.
You’re displaying a special demo right here at TGS that’s playable for everybody. What’s the largest distinction you’ve heard from gamers versus the media impressions up to now?
For the media demo, we wished to indicate that the sport is massive and throw them in with no restrictions. With the general public demo, it’s a hyper-focused model of one of many earlier chapters. You get to expertise what the sport appears like, how Sid performs, the story… the main target could be very clear.
Some folks have advised me they like this demo, however I inform them the opposite one is healthier! The 2 totally different demos have totally different focuses. We’re anticipating good issues to come back out of this one.
You’re formally planning two story DLCs, one starring Vincent and the opposite Sephiroth. You beforehand mentioned you wished Revelation to have a definitive ending that wouldn’t be spoiled by DLC. So what does that imply for the DLC’s placement within the story? Are they prequels?
It’s greatest to think about the DLC like what we did with Intermission: digging deeper into the characters of Vincent and Sephiroth. In regard as to whether these tales happen previously or the current, I’m not going to inform you that now, however we’re excited to disclose that.
You lately confirmed that all bodily variations of Revelation would require extra downloads since you didn’t wish to ‘compromise’ the sport by way of file dimension. Does that imply that the sport obtain shall be bigger than the 2 Blu-ray discs earlier entries shipped on?
In a phrase, sure. Issues are nonetheless getting labored out, nevertheless it’s in all probability going to be round 200GB of recreation. I perceive there are a number of opinions about this subject, however on the finish of the day, the actual fact is we have to overcome the {hardware} to a sure extent.
“It’s greatest to think about the DLC like what we did with Intermission: digging deeper into the characters of Vincent and Sephiroth.”
One factor I wish to say is, despite the fact that the sport is not going to be on the complete disc, within the place we’re in, as a result of discs could also be dying out, or perhaps staying, with Remaining Fantasy 7 Revelation, we positively wished to ship some form of bodily product. That was actually essential to us. Belief me!
Together with your background in programming, are you able to clarify for our readers some great benefits of transport all digitally versus on a bodily disc?
With a full disc launch, three months earlier than, you may have all these efficiency checks, and you really want to schedule issues out. To offer you an excessive instance, for a download-only model, you may actually repair the sport up till the day of launch, so if there’s an enormous challenge, you may repair it earlier than launch. I’m not saying, ‘you must imagine me and it’s my method or the freeway’ or something like that: that is strictly one of many advantages, talking as a developer. I’m not saying by hook or by crook. For me, these are the advantages.
There was combined pleasure and disappointment over the three-game Full Version and its Japan-only launch. Is there any likelihood of that coming to the West finally?
From a manufacturing schedule, issues are so tight, and we now have to offer a restricted amount of editions: we will’t simply make a bunch of them. That’s one of many points.
So will it come to the West?
You’ll must ask him! (Factors to PR)
You’ve taken half in an enormous variety of interviews since Revelation’s announcement this summer time. What are you able to inform me concerning the recreation that you just’ve not but revealed?
(Lengthy pause)…
In Rebirth, there was a piano mini-game. This time round, that’s been vastly expanded, and it now accommodates data associated to Tifa. You may be taught extra about Tifa by enjoying this Piano recreation. I’m positively going to get requested by PR why I simply mentioned that, however I wish to maintain our friendship going!
With Revelation, you’re after all going to must wrap up the trilogy. Have you ever seen any fan theories on-line about the place the story may go that had been shut, or that made you snort at how far off they had been?
That’s a tough query to reply, however we have a look at all of the fan theories and what persons are writing. I’m not going to say that are proper and improper, however as a fan and a developer, we’ve been on this journey for ten years, and by the point all of it concludes, I believe it’s going to be very satisfying. We’re simply actually excited to see how folks take to the ending.
