Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, and the game’s upcoming third entry is in development for the handheld. While the new port isn’t as shiny as the game on PC or PS5, director Naoki Hamaguchi says large-scale RPGs can “thrive” on the handheld.
Speaking to Japanese outlet Famitsu, Hamaguchi explained that the smaller gulf in power between handhelds and home consoles means that major AAA titles should be more than possible on the Nintendo Switch 2.
“In the past, there was an assumption that ‘the gaming experience’ was completely different for home consoles and handheld consoles,” the director said. “But I think that’s starting to change completely now.”
Hamaguchi said that we’re in “the era now in which large-scale RPGs like “FFVII Rebirth” can thrive in environments like the Switch 2”. While many believe that the handheld can’t play some titles, Hamaguchi believes everything is possible on Nintendo’s latest handheld. “I feel that the idea of ’this is as far as a handheld can go” is becoming quite outdated,” he said.
Of course, that doesn’t mean every game can just jump onto the handheld. While the handheld-console hybrid can run almost every experience, it still needs specific tweaks for great performing ports.
“Gamers aren’t just playing games with the mindset of ‘this is a handheld version [anymore]’,” Hamaguchi told the outlet. “They want to be fully immersed in the world with the same level of enthusiasm, regardless of the environment.
“Therefore, I think we’ve entered an era where developers must consider from the outset not ‘what to cut,’ but ‘how to make it work.’ Multi-platform development isn’t just about expanding sales channels. I feel it’s a manifestation of the entire industry beginning to adapt to a change in the very concept of the gaming experience itself.”
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is currently in development with Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck as a hardware target. Primed for a multi-platform release, the game will wrap up the current Remake storyline, although it may receive DLC expansions if players want.
