Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s director weighs in on the real-time versus turn-based debate, saying that younger players ‘increasingly favour more real-time experiences in games’
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s director Naoki Hamaguchi has weighed in on the long-standing debate between real-time and turn-based combat systems in video games. Speaking to Game Informer, Hamaguchi suggested that younger players are increasingly favoring real-time combat experiences over traditional turn-based mechanics, indicating a significant shift in player preferences.
According to Hamaguchi, this trend reflects a broader industry transformation where action-centered games are becoming increasingly mainstream. He characterized traditional RPGs and JRPGs as “legacy genres,” suggesting they risk being viewed as outdated by modern audiences. This observation highlights how game design decisions are being influenced by evolving player expectations and demographic preferences.
The comments suggest that the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth development team’s approach to combat design is informed by market research and understanding of player behavior, particularly among younger demographics. The shift toward real-time mechanics appears to be a deliberate industry-wide strategy to remain relevant and appeal to contemporary gaming audiences.