{"id":56777,"date":"2026-02-16T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=56777"},"modified":"2026-02-16T18:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T09:22:19","slug":"final-fantasy-7-remake-trilogys-third-entry-will-not-compromise-on-graphics-whatsoever-despite-multiplatform-shift-director-naoki-hamaguchi-addresses-co","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/game-development\/final-fantasy-7-remake-trilogys-third-entry-will-not-compromise-on-graphics-whatsoever-despite-multiplatform-shift-director-naoki-hamaguchi-addresses-co\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy\u2019s third\u00a0entry\u00a0\u201cwill not compromise on graphics whatsoever\u201d despite\u00a0multiplatform\u00a0shift. Director Naoki Hamaguchi addresses concerns\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade\u2019s <\/strong>recent release on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, Square Enix’s remake trilogy is going fully multiplatform. While this is a much-awaited development for many Final Fantasy fans, some players have also expressed concern about whether the need to accommodate platforms of differing specs could potentially affect the graphics level of the trilogy\u2019s next and final installment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 AUTOMATON recently talked to director Naoki Hamaguchi, who addressed these concerns in detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Naoki
Naoki Hamaguchi (Photo taken in December 2024) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2014The FFVII Remake series has so far centered on high-end platforms like PS5 and PC, but now you\u2019re making a move to include comparatively lower-spec platforms like Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2. While this is certainly welcome news, some fans online have voiced concern that this could lead to the third installment compromising on graphics to match lower-spec systems. Has the shift to multiplatform development had any such impact on you?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naoki Hamaguchi (hereafter Hamaguchi):<\/strong> 
Both the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox versions have been incredibly well received and generated a lot of buzz online, and that attention has also made me realize how many people are worried about this issue. However, our decision to go multiplatform with the FFVII Remake series will not in any way lower the quality of the third installment. Our development structure simply doesn\u2019t work that way to begin with. \u2026I suppose I\u2019ll just have to keep saying it (laughs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014While it\u00a0does\u00a0feel\u00a0reassuring\u00a0to hear that\u00a0from you considering your background as an engineer,\u00a0I think\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also a given that a developer\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0say anything negative about their own work before release. It could just be interpreted as marketing talk. How would you address that?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamaguchi:<\/strong> 
(Laughs) I understand why people might think that. Since I haven\u2019t previously had the chance to explain in detail why there\u2019s no need for concern, I\u2019d like to take this opportunity to do so. I\u2019ve heard that talk about this has been circulating ever since the Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S versions launched, so if I can help ease even a little of that anxiety, I\u2019d be very glad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Thank you. So, to return to the question, why can you say that adding platforms with performance gaps won\u2019t result in a decline in graphical quality on high-end systems?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamaguchi:<\/strong> 
When developing a game, there are four key points to consider across platforms. First is CPU, the computational side that governs character behavior and executes game logic. Second is the GPU, which handles graphics rendering and related tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"CPU\/GPU
Image credit: Dosparaplus <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The third is RAM, or memory, which determines how much data can be loaded while the game is running. You often hear that the Xbox Series S is difficult to port to, and that\u2019s largely because it has less memory compared to other platforms. If memory is insufficient, it can even cause the game to hang (as in freeze\/stop responding). By contrast, the Nintendo Switch 2 has ample memory, which makes it relatively easy to develop for in that respect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there\u2019s ROM, or storage media such as cartridges and discs. In the past, we often had to reduce data size to fit within physical media constraints. Broadly speaking, I believe these four elements are the key considerations in game development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Understood.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamaguchi:<\/strong> 
I’ll break them down one by one: Regarding ROM and overall game size, the Nintendo Switch 2 physical edition uses a game key-card through which data is downloaded. That means we don\u2019t need to shrink data just to fit it on a cartridge or improve read speeds, so it\u2019s highly unlikely to affect game sizes on other platforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for RAM, the Switch 2\u2019s ample memory means there\u2019s little concern there. The Xbox Series S does have its limits, but we already optimize for each platform individually to the absolute limit, so memory constraints on one platform don\u2019t impose restrictions on others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nintendo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Xbox<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, about CPU \u2013 I feel like there\u2019s been a shift over the past four or five years. Traditionally, 30fps was the basic standard for console RPGs. But with the arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, we’ve entered an era where 60fps is expected on consoles as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014That\u2019s true, 60fps is considered a given nowadays.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamaguchi:<\/strong> 
Our current approach to developing games is based on the idea that if a title runs at 30fps on platforms like PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, or Xbox Series S, it should be able to achieve 60fps on high-end platforms. In other words, we don\u2019t design the game to fully saturate a high-end CPU at 30fps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, on hardware that lends additional CPU headroom, we scale density elements, like increasing the number of NPCs in towns. As a result, towns feel more alive on higher-spec hardware, while lower-spec systems may display fewer NPCs. So even when factoring in Nintendo Switch 2 or Xbox Series S support, CPU-related bottlenecks are unlikely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the area most people are concerned about is GPU, the graphics processor. When a game launches across multiple platforms, many enjoy comparing the visual differences, like in those side-by-side comparison videos (laughs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014(Laughs)\u00a0Well, it\u00a0is<\/em> something\u00a0to be\u00a0concerned\u00a0about.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamaguchi:<\/strong> 
The main concern is that if development assumes hardware of a certain level as the standard, all platforms might be pulled to that level of quality. What I\u2019d like to clarify first is that the highest-end gaming environment is PC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While PC gaming is gradually expanding in Japan, overseas growth has been even more rapid. The market has broadened tremendously across both consoles and PC. The FFVII Remake series has sold very well on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store, so we develop assets with the broad PC market in mind. In fact, our 3D assets are created at the highest quality level based on PC as the foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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