Although the year is far from over, it's already safe to say that Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a Game of the Year contender. The re-imagining of the seminal 90s RPG amazed thousands when it dropped back in April, bringing brand new combat, wonderfully enhanced visuals, and a host of significant narrative changes to one of gaming's most iconic stories. However, the remake didn't offer the entire experience of the original, settling instead to craft an intricate and much longer re-imagining of the classic RPG's early Midgar section.
In turn, fans are clamoring to find out when the next chapter of Cloud Strife's story will debut, and thanks to The Guardian, they now know a little more about the development of the anticipated follow-up. Speaking to the publication, the remake's co-director Naoki Hamaguchi and producer Yoshinori Kitase discussed how the production of the game is currently progressing amidst the ongoing pandemic, with the pair being very open about the sequel's development.
"When we set the release date for the game, nobody could have predicted a global pandemic like this, and the release of the game happening during this unprecedented situation has blindsided us," Kitase admits, revealing that "at this current time, the team are still making the next game via remote working." The producer doesn't seem to think that it will affect too much, however, claiming "our performance will temporarily drop below 100% efficiency because of this, but I do not think there should be a big impact in the long term." While the answer definitely says a lot about how the virus is affecting Kitase, Hamaguchi, and the entire team behind Final Fantasy 7 Remake, it also confirms that development on the next entry in the franchise is well underway.
This isn't all when it comes to interesting details revealed by the interview, with Kitase also being asked whether the polarizing ending of Final Fantasy 7 Remake will mean the sequel will veer off significantly from its source material. According to the producer "I am not able to tell you the answer to that now. I understand that there is a lot of speculation among the fans; that is what we wanted and we’ve really enjoyed seeing these theories and guesses of what the ending means."
Evidently, the sequel is already a big focus over at Square Enix, with the team getting ready to deliver a thrilling second chapter regardless of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Kitase finished the interview by sending a touching message to fans, with the producer hoping "Final Fantasy VII Remake can provide those who are forced to endure the stress of living under lockdown a moment of relief and enjoyment in these trying times."
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 is currently in development.
Source: The Guardian