FF7 Remake Director Thinks Streamers Are Dangerous To RPGs

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi worries that streamers are causing a “crisis” for the RPG genre, as those who watch the game may not be interested in playing it themselves.

Final Fantasy 7 Reveal Since last week's big Summer Game Fest showcase, we've learned a lot about the third and final part of the remake trilogy. From the promised inclusion of Scarlett and Tifa's slap fight getting “the care it deserves” to the possibility of a Dirge of Cerberus DLC, director Naoki Hamaguchi has given us a ton to look forward to.

One of the most interesting details to come out about Revelation is that it will have a lot more player choice than both Remake and Rebirth, both when it comes to selecting story moments and how players view things like minigames and content. This degree of player agency is something Hamaguchi believes is necessary due to the rise of streamers causing a “crisis” for RPGs.

FF7 remake director thinks livestreams are a problem for role-playing games

That's why Prakash is pushing player selection

As pointed out by Automaton , Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi recently spoke with 4Gamer about the final chapter in the remake trilogy, where he highlighted a new focus on player choice. While this is partly due to fan feedback and making the story more personal, Hamaguchi reveals that the rise of gameplay streams also played a role.

Hamaguchi notes that player choice is something that games need in this era, as RPGs like Final Fantasy need to be “careful” that players aren't just satisfied with watching streamers play the game. The director called it a “crisis for work” and that the makers couldn't “rejoice wholeheartedly”.

Hamaguchi doesn't think all gameplay streams are bad, he thinks player selection can encourage watching streamers to consider how they might have played the game and encourage them to play it. On the flip side, focusing only on the story can make those watching livestreams feel like they don't need the full experience.

“I'm not saying all gameplay videos are bad, but if watching them makes people think, 'What do I want to do?' or 'How can I try to find out?' Then they will be more inclined to try it themselves.” – Naoki Hamaguchi

this no An issue that is unique to RPGs, as almost every game that is released immediately is livestreamed and clipped to hundreds and thousands of viewers, but this is Especially dangerous for story-focused games like Final Fantasy. If you think watching a cutscene compilation on YouTube is the equivalent of actually playing a game, Hamaguchi and every other developer are asking you to reconsider.