Square to explore FFVII remake possibility

By Tom Bramwell Published 23 March, 2010

Pondering whether or not and what system.

Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada has said that the company may consider remaking Final Fantasy VII after all.

"Right now we don't have a clear direction, but many fans have requested we remake Final Fantasy VII," Wada told Siliconera.

"We're going to explore the possibility - whether or not we're going to do it, if we're going to do it, and the platform."

Developers at the Japanese company have surged hot and cold on the idea for many moons, ever since a PS3 tech demo of the opening Midgar sequence was produced for Sony's conference at E3 2005.

"If we were to recreate Final Fantasy VII with the same level of graphical detail as you see in Final Fantasy XIII, we'd imagine that that would take as much as three or four times longer than the three-and-a-half-years it has taken to put this Final Fantasy together!" FFXIII's Yoshinori Kitase said recently. "So it's looking pretty unrealistic to happen!"

Final Fantasy VII was originally released for PSone but is also available for PSP and PS3 via the PlayStation Network.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (58) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Rizo #1 2 years ago

    Get on with it already!!

    I love everything FF7

  • GamesConnoisseur #2 2 years ago

    Can see it doing well if the remake is done to reinterpret the world of FFVII to similar the scale as in FFXIII but with preservation of the successful ingredients. The explorations, side quests, and most of all materia focussed combat and levelling up.

    I for one is quite interested.

  • neonxaos #3 2 years ago

    Seriously, why are they wondering so much? This would sell by the bucketload, even if they mess it up completely.

  • Concrete #4 2 years ago

    How about they make another game of the same gameplay quality and depth, rather than just concentrating on graphics?

  • ZuluHero #5 2 years ago

    Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not. Yes we are. No we're not...

    Repeat ad finitum.

    I've never seen so much carrot dangling in my life. Call me cynical, but sometimes I get the feeling that they only do this to sell some of their newer games...
    Edited by ZuluHero at 23/03/10 @ 08:26

  • Slipstream #6 2 years ago

    Square knows this project has 'Golden Throne with propellers' written all over it. As for platform...lol its temporal exclusitivity will undoubtedly be sale to the highest bidder, wont it Square?

  • Danno #7 2 years ago

    If this happens, I hope they include the option to mute the voices. I already know how everyone sounds in my own head.

  • InfiniteFury #8 2 years ago

    How many news story have we had recently on FF7 being remade, not remade, possibly remade, and now wondering what systems, if any, FF7 should be re-made or not re-made on.

    This is turning into a logic puzzle. Next Tuesday: "Square Enix re-make FF7 but only on a Thursday afternoon and never on an Xbox 360"
    Edited by InfiniteFury at 23/03/10 @ 08:36

  • CosmicFuzz #9 2 years ago

    I still don't understand why it would take 12 years to make. Either do it or shut up about it.

  • Softie2k #10 2 years ago

    Let's face it, even though many people consider FFVII their all-time favourite game, redoing it (in my opinion) would cause it to lose a lot of its charm.

  • reality_cheque #11 2 years ago

    Surely it would take a damn sight less time than a new game, on the grounds they've already got the story, level design and game balance already sorted? All that needs sorting is the graphics and voice acting...

  • munki83 #12 2 years ago

    I'm pretty sure they could do a remake in a year or 2. Why not replace the models in the original game with higher definition ones and redo the cut scenes using the tech from AC and XIII.

  • SaucyGeoff #13 2 years ago

    I agree with softie, I love this game in all it's 32bit glory. Just leave it be.

  • andywilkie35 #14 2 years ago

    @Danno

    Spot on son - the biggest blight on JRPGs is when they include voice acting. Just leave it to words in boxes and let me read it in my head, like the good old days

  • The_Inquisitor #15 2 years ago

    If it takes 3-4 years to remake FFVII, then that is 3-4 years longer I will have to wait for a new Final Fantasy game... which is what I want. Leave the past in the past is what I say.

  • TeaFiend #16 2 years ago

    Games are not made by the public, it is not for them to demand what a company makes. It is up to the company. It is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship.

  • Zidargh #17 2 years ago

    I think this is the THIRD article Ive heard about a FFVII remake this year. Quite frankly, its boring now. As many have said, they seem to be either so indecisive, or just milking their IP for publicity. Based on how they produced Advent Children ( I did enjoy it), they're only going to fuck this one up for those that have great nostalgia around the original.

  • Lionheart #18 2 years ago

    I thought this was going to take "14 years" ¬_¬

  • TeaFiend #19 2 years ago

    @Lionheart:
    3.5 * 4 = 14

    They are saying it will take three or four times longer to make than FFXIII which took three and a half.

  • JimWest #20 2 years ago

    @TeaFiend

    But surely a good company understands what it is that a consumer is wanting and will try and work more towards that?

    Note the word "good" in front of company there ;)
    Edited by JimWest at 23/03/10 @ 09:25

  • TeaFiend #21 2 years ago

    @JimWest:
    A company should work towards pleasing customers in an efficient manner, but they also have to satisfy the corporate people at the top who resemble the Monopoly guy. Taking the example here, in a decade we are likely to be into the next generation of consoles. What happens then to all the work that has happened so far, the amount of money that has been put into the game? Will it sell enough to turn over a profit? Because even if you satisfy customers, would spending that much time and effort be worth it?

  • Lusterpurge #22 2 years ago

    Make it for the Wii and it wouldn't take as long to make.

    But... that would make a lot of people angry.

  • OnlyMe #23 2 years ago

    I think the locations in FFVII is actually rather small. Name one location that's bigger than Rabanastre from FFXIII. Even the world is relatively small. I can't imagine it being that hard making in 3D. Especially if they don't merge the zones into one huge area, which could probably make for some bigger problems. Would be nice to see one big seamlesss Midgar though.

  • JimWest #24 2 years ago

    @TeaFiend

    I always like the idea that every company has a man who looks identical to the monopoly man, he just sits around occassionaly riding a train around the offices and throwing shoes and irons at the employees.

    ....Anyway, i think the fact that Sqenix bring this game up so much is a telling sign that they will probably remake it. If it had just been once or twice that would be fine, but it is virtually everymonth. If they didn't wish to discuss it, the company would have put a veto on comments to the media about it. Also the fact XIII has just come out, and been the best selling game in the series, in the UK, shows the market is still there for VII and if anything is growing.

    I saw kids as young as 10 buying the game when i was in the shop picking up my copy, they probably have never played VII, yet have heard many things about it so would love to play it, but are unwilling to do so, with the version that is currently floating about. Plus people that probably don't play as many games again more (shocking i know!) would possibly be willing top pick it up for nostalgic reasons. I know i would pick up the remake! So in theory the game possibly would end up running a profit, obviously i don't have all the figures so it is pure conjecture.
    Edited by JimWest at 23/03/10 @ 09:38

  • Cyclone #25 2 years ago

    Good news. As much as I'd like to see it on the PS3 (and Xbox 360) I'd think that handhelds are more likely to get it. Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers did disappointing numbers on the Wii, so it MAY be out. In contrast the DS games have done far better numbers, as have the PSP titles. Another important point is that handheld development is also far, far cheaper than console development; dev teams can be smaller and can punch out titles faster.

    As has been widely reported, the next gen DS is believed to be released in Japan towards the end of this year or beginning of next, with the PSP2 possibly coming next year as well. There are already games rumoured to be in the works for both machines. If they do decide to release on the portables they'd probably go for the next gen machines, seeing as it'd still probably take them at least 18 to 24 months to make the game. Both machines would be powerful enough to do a remake justice. The DS2 is reckoned to be in excess of the Gamecube powerwise; personally I couldn't object to a version of FFVII that could match RE4 graphics wise.

    A few sources to back up my argument before anyone accuses me of making things up and/or trying to start a flame war ;):
    [link url=http://www.siliconera.com/2009/11/15/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-crystal-bearers-not-flying-off-store-shelves/
    ]http://www.siliconera.com/2009/11/15/fin...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.siliconera.com/2009/11/12/final-fantasy-gaiden-the-four-warriors-of-light-sells-out-in-japan/
    ]http://www.siliconera.com/2009/11/12/fin...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=2829
    ]http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?c...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.finalfantasyunion.com/news/final-fantasy-titles-do-better-on-psp-than-ds--94.html
    ]http://www.finalfantasyunion.com/news/fi...[/link]
    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digita...

  • Whitster #26 2 years ago

    Do a upgrade of FFVI for DS first please Square.

  • Beerduck #27 2 years ago

    You neglected to mention that FF7 also came out for Windows. And that's where it shone and still shines. Just can't ignore stuff like that.

    I've been hoping for a remake for a long time, but I'm more scared that the remake won't be truthful to the original. FF7 was great the way it was. They can't change anything except the graphics or they'll ruin it.

  • TeaFiend #28 2 years ago

    @JimWest:
    Squeenix sound like nobody is discussing it as a group. Different people are saying yes or no, but nobody is giving a straight answer. If they were to do it they would likely not mention it until a year or so before release, otherwise all they will get for however long it takes to make it is the impatient child going "is my cake ready yet?"

    And people picking it up twenty years after the initial release would be interesting, to see how their memories compare. Obviously games that are rather old are still iconic. Pong, Space Invaders, Tetris. Many. Will there be a "retro resurgance" of PS1 games in a decade or two?

  • JimWest #29 2 years ago

    @TeaFiend

    I think the fact it is constantly being mentioned could well be that sqeenix doing there own sort of market research, see what the consumers reactions to it is. If that is the idea, YES PLEASE!

    I think the surge of retro games from PS1 & N64 has already started, look at the popularity of perfect dark on XBLA since it has been released. Ok it has been remastered but still i know many people who still pull out there N64's for GoldenEye and MarioKart every now and then. Clearly only the greatest will get re-released, re-mastered, which clearly FFVII is. Coming up with new, successful, IP's can be tricky for any company to do and is risky.

    I think the expansion of XBLA/PSN and digital downloads in general means we will see many more of these "classics" getting remastered and re-released. It is more often a safer bet to earn money on, rather than creating a brand new IP.

  • Antaios #30 2 years ago

    Remake it, don't remake it. Just do something and shut up about it. All this speculation and half-made promises have already grown old years and years ago.

  • des #31 2 years ago

    Obviously on 3DS...much cheaper to make

  • sfp_noodle #32 2 years ago

    SE seriously need to STFU about it already. they are so indecisive its laughable. either say ull do it, or say u wont. one answer only please. one answer tht will last at least a fucking year coz ive read at least 3 articles on an ff7 remake in the past 3 months and its the same song of 'we will we wont we will we wont.' there was a time where id jump at an ff7 remake. now if it was announced they'd probably destroy it they've been toying with it for tht long.

    edit - spelling etc
    Edited by sfp_noodle at 23/03/10 @ 10:20

  • retr0gamer #33 2 years ago

    I think there's a lot of rose tinted glasses on when it comes to FFVII. The game has been surpassed and even before it we had much better JRPGs. The story is ludicrous and the battle system terrible and over simplified. I'm not saying it's a bad game, it's loads of fun despite it's many flaws but I'd just rather see square enix make good games like they used to instead of a remake of a game that blind fanboys will rejoice at and anyone else with taste will have their rose tinted specs slapped off by.

  • conorkc #34 2 years ago

    Actually playing this on the oul PSP atm, one word Fantastic. Would love to see this in HD with next gen graphics. and It would not take four times longer just hire fore times more staff lol ....Simple

  • Phishfood #35 2 years ago

    They gotta be kidding that it would take about 12 years to recreate FFVII in current gen standards.

  • Dylbot #36 2 years ago

    I really wish that "news" articles like this would stop being posted, because it's pretty fucking evident by now that it's never going to happen.

  • curtlikesmeat #37 2 years ago

    If they remake it and it's crap, we'd still have the original....

  • Antaios #38 2 years ago

    @sfp_noodle: "edit - spelling etc"

    Wait, you already corrected spelling on that? Oh dear.

    @ retr0gamer: Agreed! FFVII was great, but not THAT great and I'm glad I'm not the only one in thinking so.
    Edited by Antaios at 23/03/10 @ 12:05

  • Zidargh #39 2 years ago

    @sfp_noodle: Don't plagiarise.

  • Bahumet #40 2 years ago

    I'd just be happy if they gave me the option to use the joysticks for movement and had 'run' as the default!

  • markymark22 #41 2 years ago

    Wow that would be one way for microsoft to dent the ps3's dominance in japan to try get that exclusive. Lets pray square dont get swayed by the cheque book!

  • markymark22 #42 2 years ago

    Wow that would be one way for microsoft to dent the ps3's dominance in japan to try get that exclusive. Lets pray square dont get swayed by the cheque book!

  • Daryoon #43 2 years ago

    Christ, just remake it for the DS already, Square.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #44 2 years ago

    Didn't CVG cover this over a month ago with the comments of 'it's always poping up in conversation but it's unlikely'?

    The ironny is that many have already played FFVII to death and the 'remake' would be for the 'diehard' anyway, and even those would probly scream if it was in the £50 range to buy new with 'It's a ripoff it's just in HD' FFVII 'finished' with Crisis Core, SE's money is better spent finishing off the projects they already have.

  • Korumera #45 2 years ago

    That would be awesome. But well they said this for 5 years now. So first wanna see it and then i'll believe it.

  • Aradiel #46 2 years ago

    I still play the PC version each year, so it's not a case of rose-tinted specs for me. I'd buy it. Totally.

    But, yeah, their estimate of around 14 years seems a bit much, since they have the story, level design, game mechanics and most of the music done already.

    Maybe they've been working on it in secret for years, and this is their (poor) attempt at a teasing release announcement.

  • Gaol #47 2 years ago

    For all those retards moaning at Squaresoft talking too much about this, what else do you want them to say when games 'journalists' keep asking the same question over and over? These articles are sourced from interviews that EG have spotted on the web, they are not fucking announcements or press conferences.

  • Zebula77 #48 2 years ago

    Just do it already! I don't know anyone that doesn't want this. They could even keep the old cartoony characters - just add some detail and facial animation and wham - instant success. :p

  • Gaiduku #49 2 years ago

    They don't need to make it look as good as FFXIII.... that would just be overkill. All i'm asking for a is slightly revamped graphics - perhaps on par with FFX or FFXI and some voice acting. The game is already a classic and it doesn't need to be as beautiful as FFXIII to show that.

  • space_ace #50 2 years ago

    there must be a whole department dedicated to the ff7 wondering.

  • webcider #51 2 years ago

    "there must be a whole department dedicated to the ff7 wondering. "

    That comment made me laugh i mean how many times have we heard about this already. "Imagines square-enix dedicating a whole department which goal is to have a philosophical discussion about how FF 7 remake might be possible...

  • laharl80 #52 2 years ago

    I'm pretty sure Sony has some say in the publishing rights of all things FFVII so at least if this did happen it would probably be PS exclusive.But i'm not in favour of a remake.A classic in any creative medium should be left alone.

  • messiahtj #53 2 years ago

    "We're going to explore the possibility - whether or not we're going to do it, if we're going to do it, and the PLATFORM."

    They will announce FFVII at E3 as a 360 exclusive.....you know, just for the lulz.

  • wittynic #54 2 years ago

    If they had started the damn thing back when it was first suggested for the PS2, they'd be half done by now.

  • Slipstream #55 2 years ago

    Considering the plot, location, cast and world is sitting on a golden platter for them, this talk of 4x longer is a load of bull.

  • JeroenZM #56 2 years ago

    Our userbase is dying, Cloud!

  • RandomTerrain #57 2 years ago

    I would so buy a remake of this on day one. But I won't be surprised if they say no to the idea again tomorrow. Talk about messing the fans about.
    They should have expected this reaction with their tech demo so many years back.

  • garadex #58 2 years ago

    I'd hate to get anyone's hopes up but if you look at the timeline, the fact that it would take longer than a normal game to make, that they have kept interest alive instead of denying it and flat out refusing to talk about it and that if the "technical demonstration" in 2005 was the start of them beginning to make it. It could mean that they will announce a remake any time now (or at some point in the future depending on whether they've actually been making it or not)