Square Enix’s Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, has opened up about the challenges and rewards of bringing the iconic RPG to new hardware. Speaking with Famitsu, Hamaguchi detailed the team’s approach to optimizing the game for the recently launched Switch 2 while also reflecting on the broader benefits of a multi-platform release strategy.
Hamaguchi, who has been involved in the remake project for more than a decade, acknowledged that adapting the title for portable play was no small task. He explained that character presentation is especially crucial for the series, and that any compromise in visual fidelity could undermine player immersion. “What’s important for character depiction is lighting,” Hamaguchi said. “If this changes, the impression of faces and expressions changes too, so we basically made no changes to lighting.” He further noted that adjustments to fog and post-processing effects were carefully managed to preserve the overall visual impression.
When discussing performance, Hamaguchi confirmed that the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will run at up to 1080p and 30 frames per second in TV mode. Handheld play is supported by DLSS upscaling, which allows the game to maintain visual consistency across modes. Optimization extended beyond visuals as well, with engineers working to ensure stable performance and reduced power consumption. The director remarked that early feedback from events such as gamescom 2025 and PAX West 2025 was highly positive, with players surprised at how close the portable version felt to the console experience.
Looking beyond technical specifics, Hamaguchi addressed Square Enix’s new direction under company president Takashi Kiryu, who has set forth a policy of expanding the publisher’s major titles to multiple platforms. While he admitted that developing for several systems presents unique challenges, Hamaguchi emphasized the creative reward of reaching more players. “From the game creator’s perspective, having many people enjoy the content you made is the biggest motivation,” he explained. He also assured fans that multi-platform expansion does not mean a drop in quality, insisting that the team maintains high-end development standards regardless of the platform.
The director confirmed that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second entry in the trilogy, is being optimized for Switch 2 with the same quality targets in mind. While specifics on release timing were not disclosed, Hamaguchi suggested that Square Enix intends to allow Switch 2 and Xbox players to catch up with Rebirth before the final installment arrives. Development of the trilogy’s concluding chapter is reportedly progressing smoothly, with creative director Tetsuya Nomura previously stating that the schedule remains intact.
Hamaguchi also shared plans for fans to try the game firsthand. A demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade will be released for both Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S around the end of the year, offering players a glimpse at how the game runs on new platforms. For those attending Tokyo Game Show 2025, hands-on opportunities will also be available on Switch 2 handheld mode and ROG Xbox Ally.
In reflecting on the project’s broader journey, Hamaguchi noted that portable play styles continue to expand globally, citing the popularity of devices like Steam Deck. He expressed excitement at the possibility of players enjoying the remake across various contexts, even imagining a future where fans play it on public transport. With the franchise’s expansion onto more hardware, Hamaguchi believes the Final Fantasy VII Remake series can deliver a consistent and memorable experience for audiences worldwide.
