I'm not a big fan of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy—much to the dismay of my colleagues. The shift to a more action-driven RPG with an open world cluttered by towers and collectibles felt a little too safe for the series, and splitting it into three parts only muddied the pacing. I'm not too fussed, though: the original still exists. But I've always been a little worried that Square would use this as the template for future remakes, abandoning the painterly art style of FF9 or the moody FMV charm of FF8's old cutscenes.

Thankfully, Square Enix isn't taking a one-size-fits-all approach to future projects. As reported by Insider Gaming, in a recent shareholders' meeting, the team said that each remake would take a unique approach based on "market trends" and player expectations.

"As part of our market-in approach, we engage in trial and error to establish what is best for contemporary customers based on current market needs and trends," Square Enix explained. "In doing so, it is extremely important to us that we strike the right balance between our approach and the expectations of players who loved the original works. While specific titles may call for specific mechanics, we will continue our development efforts by assessing what truly resonates within the current market environment for both original titles and new remakes."

C'mon Square, Where's That HD-2D Final Fantasy 9?

Considering the sheer expense of turning Final Fantasy 7 into a blockbuster trilogy, and the fact that Rebirth's profits did not meet expectations, it's easy to imagine the scope being scaled back for future projects. Of course, there's a whole cocktail of reasons why Rebirth didn't perform as well as Square Enix had hoped, namely launching as a timed PS5 exclusive—a mistake Revelation won't repeat.

I'd argue as a FF7 detractor that a more modest scope would only be a good thing for future remakes, but there's also a sliver of hope in the corporate promise to balance "the expectations of players who loved the original works." This isn't just a hollow appeasement: Square Enix announced a new HD-2D Final Fantasy game at the most recent Nintendo Direct in June, returning to a turn-based combat system akin to the classics. The studio is clearly willing to experiment with its games, so maybe we'll see an HD-2D remake of Final Fantasy 9 that retains its storybook-like art style, or a Clair Obscur-esque combat system that modernizes Squall's iconic gunblade in a hypothetical FF8 remake.

Subscribe to the newsletter for smarter game-remake insight

Curious how remakes, art styles, and design choices affect your favorite games? Subscribing to the newsletter offers thoughtful analysis of developer strategies, remake approaches, and what those shifts mean for future titles. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The possibilities are endless. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Reports suggest that the rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake—which first appeared in the infamous Nvidia GeForce leak—is "on ice," and it's unknown whether Square Enix will return to it. So, what might be remade after FF7, if anything, is up in the air. At any rate, it's good to know Square Enix is open to taking different approaches with future games, rather than riding the coattails of Cloud Strife forever and ever.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation Like Follow Followed RPG Action Adventure Systems Released 2027 Developer(s) Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix Prequel(s) Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Franchise Final Fantasy Number of Players Single-player 21 Images Close Genre(s) RPG, Action, Adventure Powered by Expand Collapse