Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi has emphasized the importance of physical game releases, warning that their decline risks losing part of our culture as Sony plans to stop producing new disc-based games from January 2028 onwards. The third and final installment in the FF7 remake trilogy, set for spring 2027, will launch on PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S, with Hamaguchi advocating for a physical edition despite industry trends.
Physical Game Releases and the Future of Discs
Hamaguchi’s comments reflect broader concerns within the gaming industry as major publishers shift toward digital-only releases. For example as a download code in a box,
he suggested, noting, I want physical games to continue — both as a creator and a game fan.
The director’s stance contrasts with the industry’s growing reliance on digital distribution. While Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth started out as PlayStation exclusives before being released on other platforms, Hamaguchi acknowledged the challenges of maintaining traditional formats. It did make me realize all over again how hard it is to develop games these days,
he said, noting the complexity of creating unique 3D outfits and animations as well as gameplay balancing around action-based combat. Despite these hurdles, he remains committed to exploring alternatives that preserve the culture of physical media.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Launch and Development
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the third and final part of the FF7 remake trilogy, is scheduled for release in spring 2027 on PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will ship on PC, PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S simultaneously — a first for the remake trilogy.
Hamaguchi also addressed the game’s narrative structure, confirming that the main story will conclude definitively in Revelation. The story will be concluded within the main game,
he stated, dismissing speculation about a cliffhanger ending. While he left the door open for potential DLC, he emphasized that any additional content would likely take the form of a spin-off rather than an extended story. If we were to hypothetically release any DLC, we would likely want to create a kind of spin-off focused on a specific character that depicts their untold stories,
he explained.
The game’s development has also been shaped by player feedback. Hamaguchi revealed that minigames in the series are being made skippable based on community responses to Rebirth, and rewards adjusted. When it comes to gameplay and game design, especially playability, I believe we absolutely have to keep listening to players and minimize points of frustration wherever we can,
he said. This approach has contributed to the trilogy’s strong sales, with Hamaguchi noting that both Remake and Rebirth have been selling several times better
than expected.
The Job System and Character Customization
A key feature of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is its job system, which allows players to customise Cloud and co. to better suit their needs on the battlefield. Hamaguchi confirmed that each character will have four distinct outfits, each with a defined role. The FITS system has four different outfits for each character, and each of those is quite a defined role,
he said. Despite the limited number of jobs, he emphasized the complexity of designing them, noting that it was quite a lot of work
to balance gameplay across multiple characters.
Hamaguchi acknowledged the challenges of creating tens of distinct jobs for every playable character, saying that it is just insanely difficult.
It did make me realize all over again how hard it is to develop games these days,
he said, referencing the technical and creative demands of modern game development.
Fan Reactions and the Legacy of FFVII
Meanwhile, the trilogy has continued to generate intense discussion among fans, with voice actor Cody Christian teasing the emotionality and vulnerability of the ending at a recent convention appearance. There’s so much emotionality, there’s so much vulnerability,
Christian said.
As Revelation approaches its 2027 release, fans remain eager for the final chapter of the trilogy. Whether the game will ultimately include a physical release remains uncertain, but its impact on the series and its fans is already clear.
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