Final Fantasy XIII, is the most liked entry in the long-running role-playing game series among younger employees at Square Enix.
During a recent interview with Sean Lim of GamerBraves (via Genki_JPN on Twitter/X), Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi reflected not only on the evolution of the series with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but also on how time, generations, and tastes within Square Enix itself have changed. Among his more personal observations was a comment about how younger employees at the company now view the Final Fantasy series very differently from the generation that came before them.
Hamaguchi explained that as Square Enix continues to grow and welcome new talent, the internal cultural memory of the franchise naturally changes. Final Fantasy VI was once widely regarded as the favorite entry among the company’s employees. It inspired countless creators, including Hamaguchi himself, to pursue careers in game development. However, he noted that this is no longer the case for younger staff members joining the company today.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy director mentioned that when he speaks with younger employees at Square Enix about their favorite Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy XIII is frequently brought up. For developers who grew up during the Super Famicom and PlayStation eras, FFVI and FFVII were defining experiences. For newer generations, however, Final Fantasy XIII, with its cinematic presentation as well as modern aesthetics and storytelling, was their first major exposure to the franchise.
Hamaguchi described this shift as a natural evolution rather than something to resist. As new creators bring their own influences, nostalgia, and emotional connections into Square Enix, the company’s creative identity continues to expand. This generational turnover reinforces his belief that Final Fantasy must remain flexible and open to reinterpretation, rather than being locked to one era or design philosophy.
This perspective also ties directly into Hamaguchi’s approach to the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. Rather than simply recreating the original game as it was, the team aims to reinterpret it in a way that resonates across generations, honoring long-time fans while still appealing to players whose first entry may have been Final Fantasy XIII or later titles.
