Final Fantasy 7 Remake director discusses how lost assets raised game preservation challenges

It seems that every week, gamers learn about a new remaster or remake of a classic title. However, as with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, missing assets can make reproducing these games more laborious. In a new Eurogamer interview, director Naoki Hamaguchi reveals how few documents from these Final Fantasy games exist.

When referencing the mid-1990s, Hamaguchi explained, “There's almost no documentation left over from that period at all, practically none”. According to the Square Enix stalwart, developers of that era often didn’t prioritize game preservation. With this poor data management, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake team frequently had to rely on their own memories.

The director of the original RPG, Yoshinori Kitase, is now a producer for the remakes. Hamaguchi can also draw on the experience of artists like Tetsuya Nomura or writer Kazushige Nojima. Yet, he would prefer to have archived resources available to him. In the interview, Hamaguchi emphasized that he didn’t want the new Final Fantasy games to be “fan fiction.”

Ports often aren't enough to create modernized remakes

Playable versions of the game were available before Square Enix launched its remake initiative. Yet, often, these releases are no substitute for having the original source code or visual assets. Older consoles may not have supported higher-resolution images and videos.

The company faced a similar scenario with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. Director Kazutoyo Maehiro confirmed that the source code had been overwritten with language updates. In some cases, third-party fan sites stored data used to fill in the missing blanks.

Critics would point out the dramatic alterations seen in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade and Rebirth. The titles have expanded storylines and new areas to explore. Not all the changes are appreciated by dedicated fans. Still, Hamaguchi strives to strike a balance between authenticity and offering new gameplay experiences.