Katarzyna Petru
Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, admitted in an interview with Easy Allies that Square Enix is facing difficulties in working on the game's version for Xbox. The biggest problems arise from the Series S, whose limited RAM forces additional optimization. This is not the first time this cheaper console has become problematic – we have heard similar comments regarding Baldur’s Gate 3 and Diablo IV.
Remake That Changed Everything
The Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy is not just a simple refresh of a classic, but a full reinterpretation. The first part (2020) presented events in Midgar, the second – Rebirth (2024) – opened up the world and significantly developed the plot. Now the third installment is being created, which is meant to be the culmination of the entire story and at the same time the first part debuting simultaneously on all platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
A New Vision of an Iconic Story
The original from 1997 is considered one of the most important games in PlayStation history, and the remake takes it a step further - the battle system combines dynamic action with classic ATB, characters like Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith receive deeper storylines, and the plot deliberately takes unexpected turns. For some, this is a betrayal of the original; for others, it’s an opportunity to rediscover the same legend.
Technical issues, but Square Enix reassures fans
Hamaguchi openly talks about memory problems on Xbox, which almost certainly refers to the Series S. The console has only 10 GB of RAM, some of which operates slower than in more expensive models. Compared to the PS5 and Series X (both have 16 GB of faster memory), the difference is evident. This forces developers to create separate solutions for Microsoft's smallest console.
Despite the difficulties, the developer assures that work on the third installment is proceeding as planned. Separate teams are focused on optimization for specific platforms, and the multiplatform release is still scheduled for the same day.
Final Fantasy VII Legacy
The original game sold over 14 million copies and is still one of the most important titles in the history of JRPGs. Sephiroth has become an icon of villains in pop culture, and subsequent spin-offs and adaptations – such as Crisis Core: Reunion – show that the FF7 universe is more than just a game.
The question that remains is: will the Series S prove to be the weak link in the grand finale of the saga, or will Square Enix manage to demonstrate that a true next-gen experience can be made even on limited hardware?
