Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Acknowledges Square Enix Must Attract New Generation of Fans

Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, recognizes the challenge of engaging younger players with the franchise. The series, which debuted in the late 1980s, tends to have an older player base. Newcomers might be intimidated by the roman numerals in titles, mistakenly thinking they need to catch up on story, even though most games are standalone. Long gaps between releases also reduce relevance for some audiences.

In an interview with Nintenderos, Hamaguchi said: "We are constantly updating our vision on what kind of experiences we can offer next. As the Final Fantasy 7 remake project nears completion, I want to meet the expectations of fans who desire even more depth in this world and its characters. At the same time, I am very aware of the need to consider how we can expand the potential of the Final Fantasy franchise as a whole for the next generation."

He added: "... as the creator of these works, if there is a demand for new and unique experiences that differ from what we have done so far, I am also eager to face those challenges."

Earlier this year, Mat Piscatella, senior director at analyst firm Circana, reported that 70% of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players were over 30. While the franchise remains successful with older demographics, some players may age out over time, making it crucial for Square Enix to attract younger audiences.

Final Fantasy 15, 16, and the 7 remake trilogy shifted from turn-based to real-time combat, appealing to newer players. Final Fantasy 16 also introduced an M-rating but didn't achieve the commercial success Square Enix hoped for.

The future of the series after the remake trilogy is uncertain. Final Fantasy 17 is likely in development, but its release and approach to engaging new players remain unknown.

In March, Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) acknowledged that long development cycles make it "harder" for new players to engage with the franchise. In a video interview promoting spinoff Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy, he said: "I'm 53 now, and I've been playing since Final Fantasy 1 in real time... But for younger generations — people who grew up naturally accustomed to action-based combat and online competitive play — the recent entries in the series may have been harder to engage with. Part of that is simply because... the release intervals for new titles have gotten longer, so some players haven't really had the chance to connect with the series the way older fans did."

In 2024, Yoshi-P, who produced Final Fantasy 16, suggested it might be time for a younger generation to lead the franchise and helm Final Fantasy 17. However, no sequel has been announced as Square Enix focuses on completing Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3.