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Naoki Hamaguchi, the Game's Director, revealed that an impressive 80-90% of the development team from the previous sequel remained for the new iteration, which greatly contributed to the game's completion in just four years.
Image credit: Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the much-awaited addition to the Final Fantasy VII remake project, where the original creators reimagine the iconic game into three standalone titles. This game introduces exciting new elements as the story progresses, leading the party on a captivating journey to The Forgotten Capital from the original Final Fantasy VII. The game will be released on February 29, 2024. As for now, you can prepare for the upcoming installation by checking out the pictures of Grasslands, Under Junon, Junon, and Gold Saucer, the regions recently introduced by the creators.
Speaking of the game, in a recent interview with Bloomberg, Naoki Hamaguchi, the Director of the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth project, spoke about the upcoming installment and shed light on the game's development process and the impressive timeline of completing it within four years.
When he was asked about the team's ability to achieve this feat, especially considering that many AAA titles typically take five to six years, Hamaguchi attributed their success to the exceptional "team chemistry" they cultivated. He mentioned that approximately 80 and 90% of the developers who worked on the first part of the remake were involved in Rebirth as well. This continuity allowed for more efficient production, particularly during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. Having familiar faces on the team ensured that developers always knew who to reach out to for assistance or troubleshooting, contributing to the overall smoothness and effectiveness of the production process.
"It was quite clear who to go to if we had a certain question or problem we were trying to solve. We were able to work together as a team, achieve this great flow and tempo of game development," Hamaguchi shared.
Image credit: Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
In his role as Director, Naoki Hamaguchi takes on the task of liaising with the original creators of the game and translating their ideas for contemporary audiences. Nevertheless, he doesn't always embrace suggestions from senior colleagues. For instance, Yoshinori Kitase, the Square Enix veteran who directed the original Final Fantasy VII and is now Brand Manager for the entire series, proposed altering the design of the Mako Reactor in the first part of the remake. However, Hamaguchi disagreed, deeming "it was too iconic" to be modified. After extensive deliberation, Hamaguchi ultimately persuaded Kitase to preserve the original aesthetic.
"I do feel like that is my role too, to offer that perspective," Hamaguchi added.
As for now, you can have a look at the gameplay trailer and read the original interview by Bloomberg. Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.