Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Clair Obscur-Sized Adventure Planned

Square Enix’s Creative director Eyes ‘AA’ Game Growth Inspired by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

A growing chorus of praise for the French role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is resonating throughout the gaming industry, even reaching the highest levels of competitor studios. The game’s innovative approach has sparked interest in a potential shift in development strategy at Square Enix, one of the world’s leading game publishers.

The acclaim for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t limited to players.developers, including those at rival companies, have lauded the title for its unique qualities. This widespread appreciation recently culminated in a public endorsement from Naoki Hamaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth.

According to a recent interview with GamesRadar, Hamaguchi previously named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as his game of the year choice. He further elaborated on his admiration, stating he would like to develop a similar title. Hamaguchi contrasted the expansive nature of AAA games – known for their massive content and budgets – with the focused design of AA games.

“While so-called AAA games are top-notch everywhere and have an amazing amount of content,” Hamaguchi explained, “slightly cheaper AA games ‘Choose one aspect of an element and really push it and then… take it to a high level.'”

He acknowledged the challenges of pursuing such a project within his current role at Square Enix, but expressed a strong desire to “try to make a game like this [AA] that really focuses on one area, pushing the boat out and making that aspect as fun as possible.” Hamaguchi even suggested a willingness to collaborate with the developers of these smaller-scale, yet highly focused, games, stating, “If I get a chance to work with some people who are making these types of games, I think that would be great too.”

Did you know? – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was developed by Sandfall entertainment, a French studio founded in 2019. The game blends tactical RPG combat with a unique 1930s art deco aesthetic.

This sentiment reflects a broader industry trend. Hamaguchi believes that the emergence of AA titles is “really healthy” and demonstrates a positive evolution in game development. Square Enix recently collaborated with Sandfall, the developer of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, on a guest Art Project, signaling a potential openness to new approaches.

Pro tip: – AA games often prioritize depth in specific gameplay mechanics or narrative elements over sheer scale. This can led to more innovative and focused experiences.

The question now is whether Square Enix will capitalize on this momentum and empower its legendary game creator to explore the possibilities of AA development, or continue to prioritize its large-scale, “very luxurious adventure” titles. The industry will be watching closely to see if Hamaguchi’s vision can translate into a new era of focused, high-impact gaming experiences.

Reader question: – Do you think Square Enix should allow more creative freedom for its developers to pursue smaller, more focused projects? What kind of AA game would you like to see from them?

Why, who, What, and How did it end?

Why: Naoki Hamaguchi, a prominent game creator at Square Enix, expressed a desire to develop a game similar to clair Obscur: Expedition 33, sparking a discussion about the potential for Square Enix to explore AA game development. He believes AA games allow for a deeper focus on specific elements, leading to more innovative experiences.

Who: The key figures are Naoki Hamaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and creative director at Square Enix) and the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Entertainment). Square Enix as a company is also