Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Warns That Limited Choices in RPGs Create a ‘Crisis’ for Viewers Watching Streamers

Injustice: Gods Among Us was a solid fighting game that delivered an engaging comic-book narrative. For those who weren’t keen on shelling out full price, waiting for the cutscenes to hit YouTube was a viable option. Streaming on platforms like Twitch has become a staple in gaming culture, yet some developers remain wary of fans who might prefer watching others play instead of diving into the game themselves.

Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, recently shared his thoughts on the potential risks of streaming for certain games during an interview after the unveiling of Final Fantasy VII Revelation at Summer Game Fest. He noted, “One thing RPGs like Final Fantasy need to be careful about today is the possibility that people might simply watch a stream and feel satisfied without ever playing the game themselves. This is a bit of a crisis for the work itself, or rather, it’s not something game creators can wholeheartedly celebrate.”

To combat this issue, he emphasized the importance of providing players with enough agency and meaningful choices, encouraging them to engage with the game rather than just passively watching. Hamaguchi added, “If people watch a stream and it makes them think, ‘What would I do in that situation?’ or ‘How would I experiment with that?’ then hopefully they’ll be inspired to try it themselves.”

This philosophy is evident in how the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy enhances gameplay mechanics and narrative elements, moving beyond the more linear experience of the original PS1 title. It stands in contrast to the approach of Final Fantasy XIII, which felt more like a linear movie interspersed with challenging turn-based battles until exploration opened up later in the game. Even Final Fantasy XVI leaned towards a linear structure, prioritizing real-time combat and cinematic flair over open-ended gameplay.

While I appreciate that aspect of the game, it does highlight the vulnerability to the “crisis” Hamaguchi mentioned. Some titles have attempted to navigate this tension by banning livestreams at launch. When Persona 5 debuted, strict guidelines were enforced, with the threat of copyright strikes looming to prevent spoilers. RPGs like Tales of Zestiria and Tales of Berseria also faced similar restrictions.

Fortunately, the industry has largely shifted away from this restrictive approach, and the rise of gameplay videos and livestreams hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for RPGs, even those with linear designs. In fact, it seems to have contributed to their recent resurgence.