In recent years, debates over whether films and video games should have their entire storylines planned out in advance have never ceased. One of the most frequently criticized examples is the Star Wars sequel trilogy—particularly Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, whose rushed and inconsistent ending drew widespread backlash.
For Square Enix’s JRPG epic remake project, the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, the pressure on the developers is even greater. They are not only retelling a legendary story but also attempting a bold re-imagining that fundamentally reshapes its narrative.
Many fans have long wondered whether this newly adjusted storyline was thoroughly mapped out from the beginning, or if it has been evolving “on the fly” in response to player feedback.
Now, trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi has provided an answer that reassures many players:
Yes — the overarching direction of the story was decided when the project began.
A Clear Blueprint From the Beginning
In an in-depth interview with Eurogamer, Hamaguchi was asked how much of the trilogy’s “divergent storytelling” had been predetermined before the 2020 release of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Hamaguchi stated clearly:
“In terms of the overall plot — how the story would unfold, the themes and direction of the remake — these were largely decided when the project started.”
He elaborated that while the specific details and in-game presentation were not yet finalized at the time, the team had already established a broad outline — a fundamental story summary.
Although he emphasized that this was not a detailed script, having a solid narrative framework from the outset has provided a strong foundation for maintaining coherence across the trilogy. This statement also indirectly refutes speculation among fans who believed that the divisive ending of Remake may have caused Rebirth to veer off in a completely new direction.
Flexibility in Gameplay and Content
Unlike the overall story, the gameplay and content have remained highly flexible.
Hamaguchi explained:
“No specific details were fixed at that stage. Obviously, large-scale themes, gameplay systems, and certain scenes could evolve or change as the series progressed.”
He cited the Rebirth sequence featuring Aerith’s live performance as an example of how creative ideas were expanded mid-development:
“During the development of Rebirth, producer Yoshinori Kitase came to me and said, ‘Now that we have this theme song, I’d love to include a scene where the characters actually perform it in the game.’”
From Remake to Rebirth — and Beyond
Compared to Remake, which was confined mainly to Midgar, Rebirth features a far more open world. However, Hamaguchi stressed that the design philosophy wasn’t just about “making it bigger.”
“Once we determined the structure of the first game — its map, gameplay experience, and how all the elements came together — we asked ourselves: what do we want to change for the second game? What do we want to add? What do we want to expand? What new experiences can we offer?”
Hamaguchi revealed that the third and final installment is being planned in the same way. As development on Rebirth wrapped up, the team had already begun to seriously conceptualize the final chapter, focusing on delivering fresh gameplay experiences and a powerful emotional impact that would conclude the trilogy on a memorable note.
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
