Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Director Kept Coming Back To The Witcher 3 For Inspiration
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi has revealed that The Witcher 3 has been a major source of inspiration driving the game’s development approach. In an interview with GameSpot, Hamaguchi explained how CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed action-RPG significantly influenced his vision for game creation, particularly in crafting cinematic storytelling that feels authentically native to interactive media rather than relying solely on cinematic presentation.
Alongside Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3 helped shape the development team’s vision for delivering meaningful player agency through robust customization options and scalable world exploration systems that adapt to player preferences and playstyle. Hamaguchi noted that while Final Fantasy 6 had a profound impact on him during his childhood, The Witcher 3 has become the defining inspiration in his professional capacity as a game director overseeing this major remake project.
The director’s comments underscore how contemporary open-world and action-RPG titles have significantly influenced the creative direction of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series. By closely studying the narrative techniques, world-building, and player freedom mechanics found in modern gaming’s best examples, the team has worked to successfully blend the original 1997 game’s legacy and iconic story with current industry best practices for interactive storytelling and meaningful player choice.