FF7 Revelation Director Addresses Open World Fatigue and Game Size

Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, confirmed that the upcoming finale of the remake trilogy will feature a world larger than that of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Speaking with Eurogamer, Hamaguchi stated that Square Enix is implementing specific guidance systems to prevent players from experiencing open world fatigue, a design priority he described as a very important concept.

Addressing Open World Fatigue in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation

Hamaguchi acknowledged that the previous installments, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, have been linked to broader industry discussions regarding oversized open worlds that can feel overwhelming. He told Eurogamer that he has personally experienced being placed in an open world without knowing where to begin or what to do.

To counter this, the development team is focusing on a balance between exploration and direction. Hamaguchi believes creators must offer proper guidance so players know where to go and what tasks to perform. This philosophy was first applied in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to clarify the volume and difficulty of available content, and Hamaguchi confirmed this approach is being carried over to Revelation.

That design philosophy is applied to Revelation: players have all the guidance that they need. This is something that both myself and the development team were very careful about when we designed the game.
— Naoki Hamaguchi

Guidance Systems and World Scale

While the world in Revelation is larger than in Rebirth, Hamaguchi noted that the team is avoiding overly restrictive direction. He cited a specific gameplay mechanic involving the Highwind airship, where players must rely on their memory to land in a desired location.

According to Hamaguchi, this specific interaction serves as an example of providing guidance without directing the player too much. He stated that because the world is bigger, ensuring sufficient guidance is more important than ever to ensure players enjoy the content without frustration.

Release Timeline and Platform Availability

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X | S
• PC
• Nintendo Switch 2

The title serves as the conclusion to the trilogy, wrapping up the narrative arc for characters including Cloud, Tifa, and Barret in their conflict against Sephiroth. Beyond the main campaign, reports have surfaced suggesting that DLC may currently be in development, though this remains based on leaks rather than official Square Enix confirmation.