As Final Fantasy VII Revelation prepares to conclude the ambitious Remake trilogy next year across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the gaming community is already speculating about what Square Enix has planned for the future of its beloved franchise. The conclusion of this groundbreaking remake project marks the end of an era that began in 2020, leaving fans eager to know which classic entries in the series might receive similar treatment. However, prominent Square Enix producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida has tempered expectations with a sobering reality check about the feasibility of remaking other beloved titles in the series.
During this year’s gaming events, Yoshida delivered a candid assessment that has significant implications for fans hoping to see remakes of Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy IX. According to the influential producer, any attempt to remake these classic titles with the same level of detail and expanded content as the Final Fantasy VII Remake series would require an estimated five installments each. This revelation underscores the enormous undertaking that modern AAA remakes represent, particularly when attempting to faithfully recreate and expand upon the sprawling narratives of classic JRPGs.
The Monumental Challenge of Modern Remakes
The Final Fantasy VII Remake project has demonstrated both the potential and the challenges of reimagining classic games for modern audiences. What began as a single game announcement evolved into a trilogy spanning multiple years of development, with each installment featuring fully voiced dialogue, real-time combat systems, expanded storylines, and cutting-edge graphics. The original Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, was revolutionary for its time but required approximately 40-50 hours to complete. The Remake series has transformed this experience into hundreds of hours of content spread across three massive games.
Final Fantasy VI, often regarded as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, presents an even more complex challenge. Originally released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the game features an ensemble cast of fourteen playable characters, each with their own backstories and character arcs. The game’s non-linear second half, where players can tackle objectives in almost any order, would require extensive reimagining to work in a modern, story-driven format. Industry analysts estimate that faithfully remaking Final Fantasy VI with current-generation production values could require a decade or more of development time.
Fan Expectations Versus Development Realities
The gaming industry has undergone dramatic changes since the original PlayStation era, with development costs and timelines increasing exponentially. Modern AAA games routinely require teams of hundreds of developers working for five or more years, with budgets often exceeding $100 million. The Final Fantasy VII Remake project alone has consumed nearly a decade of Square Enix’s resources when accounting for pre-production, development, and the creation of all three installments. Yoshida’s warning serves as a reminder that while nostalgia drives demand for remakes, the practical considerations of game development impose significant constraints.
Meanwhile, Square Enix has begun teasing Final Fantasy XVII, suggesting that the company is balancing its commitment to honoring the past with the need to continue moving the franchise forward. The mainline series has always been about innovation and new experiences, with each numbered entry typically featuring entirely new worlds, characters, and gameplay systems. Final Fantasy XVI, released in 2023 to critical acclaim, demonstrated that the series still has significant creative potential beyond remake projects.
Looking Toward the Future of Final Fantasy
For now, fans will need to content themselves with the conclusion of the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga and whatever new projects Square Enix unveils in the coming months. The success of the Remake trilogy has proven that there is substantial appetite for modernized versions of classic games, but the development realities mean that not every beloved title can receive the same treatment. Whether Square Enix eventually commits to smaller-scale remakes, remasters, or entirely new interpretations of classics like Final Fantasy VI remains to be seen. What is clear is that the publisher is carefully weighing fan desires against the practical limitations of modern game development.
Expert Opinion: Yoshida’s candid assessment reflects the growing tension in the gaming industry between fan expectations and sustainable development practices. We may see Square Enix pivot toward more focused remake projects—perhaps single-game experiences with strategic expansions rather than multi-part epics—as a middle ground between honoring legacy titles and maintaining development viability. The teasing of Final Fantasy XVII suggests the company recognizes that new entries, not just remakes, are essential for the franchise’s long-term health.
