Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 22
Hamaguchi Says 1 Same-Sex Couple Deepens Final Fantasy VII Remake Realism
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jun 22

Hamaguchi Says 1 Same-Sex Couple Deepens Final Fantasy VII Remake Realism

3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jun 22

Summary

  • Naoki Hamaguchi said queer romances in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy were included to make Midgar and the wider world feel more authentic, not to satisfy a representation checklist.
  • In an interview with The Gamer, he said Rebirth spans many towns, cultures and relationships, and that diverse, believable bonds strengthen the realism of that journey.
  • Players had already tracked 2 women in the game from an initial fight to a romantic relationship; Hamaguchi said that storyline was written with sincerity and care and he was pleased fans noticed.
  • The remarks mark a more inclusive stance from Square Enix than criticism aimed a few years ago at Final Fantasy XVI director Naoki Yoshida over that game's lack of diversity.

Insights

With director views on diversity differing, what is Square Enix's real strategy for representation in its biggest games?
Beyond background characters, will Final Fantasy VII's 2027 finale make its new inclusive storylines central to the main plot?