Operation Backlog Completion 2026

No, the Final Fantasy VII Remake is NOT Delayed Until 2023

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
May 162018
 

FF7 remake CloudBy now you’ve probably seen it, reported either with excitement or dismay, “Final Fantasy VII remake will be out by 2023.”

While I’m sure we will see it by 2023, this has caused a frenzy of upset reactions that we might have to wait that long.

But did Square Enix really indicate we might have to wait until 2023 to get the Final Fantasy VII remake?

No.

In a conversation translated over at The Lifestream, producer Yoshinori Kitase said they would polish up the game for Final Fantasy’s 35th anniversary (which is 2023).

Kitase then signs us off by making the joke previously mentioned in the thread, saying he wishes to keep on polishing up the game for the 35th anniversary, to which they all laugh and Hamaguchi responds objectingly “Hey that’s a long ways off!”
He then however, also goes on to say that a lot is hanging on the next (presumably big) event, and that they’re hoping to show off (the game) by then.”

It was a joke.

They were laughing about it, not making a serious prediction. It’s like when I tweet that I’ll be editing for the rest of my life. They were talking about the 30th anniversary and joking that they’ll still be working on it for the 35th.

Really, if you want to be concerned about anything in this conversation, it should be the part that also puzzled the translator, that they’re designing Cloud to visually look not cool, or more like his actual self than the front he’s putting on.

But the most important thing to take away is that the sites reporting that the Final Fantasy VII remake is still 5 years off are doing so based on a joke.

Latest Final Fantasy VII Remake Details

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Apr 232018
 

FF7 remake CloudAs we continue to get Final Fantasy XV DLC news, I sometimes wonder when they’ll announce Final Fantasy XVI… and then I remember we have another big Final Fantasy game coming.

We haven’t discussed the Final Fantasy VII remake since last February, when we learned the Compilation works will not be considered canon.

There hasn’t been a lot of new information, aside from little details, but now a job listing has provided some insight into how Square Enix views the project.

According to the translation from Gematsu, the job post describes it as a “new creation” rather than a “simple remake.”

They’re looking to surpass the original and want to “preserve the existing concepts users hold while creating a new world view.”

To me, that would mean giving it a revitalized turn-based combat system rather than switching to an action combat system. The job listing does mention “a battle system that combines commands and action,” but that makes me think more of the way Kingdom Hearts uses menus in its combat. On the other hand, the post later describes it as “action elements added to the traditional strategy,” which sounds like action would have a lesser emphasis.

(But really, after what they’ve shown and said in the past, I’d be surprised if they include turn-based elements.)

They’re looking for people who can work on enemies, bosses, and environments, as well as people who can work on level designs.

All of these things together with their emphasis on it as a “new creation” really make it sound like they’re rebuilding the entire game. Are we sure this isn’t a re-imagining after all?

Update: A new interview, with a translation from DualShockers, discusses how the visual team is working to make sure the special effects have a meaning beyond looking cool.

What are your expectations for the Final Fantasy VII remake? And… do you think we’ll hear about it at E3?

Square Enix Did NOT Say We Have to Wait 3 Years for KH3

 Video games  8 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
May 262017
 

Today, Square Enix set the Internet on fire with a financial briefing in which they outlined their future plans.

This outline included three games planned for “FY2018/3 and beyond,” Kingdom Hearts 3, the Final Fantasy VII Remake, and a Marvel game. They “plan to launch each of these upcoming titles in the next three years or so.”

Somehow, fans have taken this to mean Kingdom Hearts 3 and the Final Fantasy VII Remake won’t be out for three years.

But that’s not what Square Enix said at all!

First, these are their plans starting from fiscal year 2018. That means games on the slide could be released in 2018.

Second, these games will be released “in the next three years or so.” In other words, they’ll be released within three years, not necessarily three years from now.

Finally, the slide refers to “a robust pipeline from which 1-2 blockbuster titles as well as multiple mid-size titles are constantly launched every year.” If they hope to release 1-2 blockbuster titles every year, it makes sense that the blockbuster titles listed on the same slide could be among them.

In short, Square Enix did NOT say we have to wait 3 years for Kingdom Hearts 3 or the Final Fantasy VII Remake (or the Marvel game). This news does NOT mean these games won’t be out until then.

Instead, it means these games should be out in 2018, 2019, or 2020. One could come out each of those three years, even.

Update: According to DualShockers, a more accurate translation of the Japanese statement is: “We plan to launch them sequentially over the next three years or so.” That makes the one-per-year scenario even more likely.

Many people have chosen to interpret this announcement in the most pessimistic way, but I don’t think that’s how it was intended. I know I’ve been mistaken before (I never expected Final Fantasy XV’s structure would be so odd), but there’s no need to panic. This news doesn’t rule out a 2018 Kingdom Hearts 3 release date by any means.

I hope Square Enix provides more information at E3, maybe even with more specific windows for their upcoming games. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even get a solid release date.

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