Square Enix wants Final Fantasy 7 to be an ‘IP with an ever-evolving future’, which is strange to say about a franchise that’s already ever-evolving

Final Fantasy 7’s remake trilogy has, at the very least, given us a trio of pretty solid RPGs—I had a great time with the first, and I’m soon to buckle up and finally give Rebirth a go. But I can’t help but wonder, quietly, whether or not Final Fantasy has fallen into the same ‘fear of new IP trap’ as other games.

That’s not to say that the FF series isn’t getting new games. Final Fantasy 16 came out in 2023 and snagged a solid 79 from us in our Final Fantasy 16 review. And yet, a small part of me wonders what new and exciting games we might’ve gotten if Square Enix had devoted the Remake team to making new final fantasies, rather than spending three entire big-budget titles and over half a decade rehashing a classic.

And yet, Square seems reluctant to release its grip over the FF7 cast. That’s per a PAX West panel (thanks, GamesRadar+) wherein director Naoki Hamaguchi said (via translator): “We want to make this a work that creates new fans 20 or even 30 years from now,” a game that can “move beyond being a classic of the past and shape it into an IP with an ever-evolving future.”

And listen, I don’t want to be a grumpy old git about this, but… that’s just what Final Fantasy is in general, surely?

It does seem weirdly backwards that Square Enix has invented a franchise that allows for the best of both worlds—a recognisable, strong brand with recognisable mainstays and iconography that, nonetheless, allows the developer to make a new world with a new cast of characters with every entry.

In other words, Final Fantasy is… already meant to have an ever-evolving future. Will there be other ever-evolving futures within that ever-evolving future? Like a constantly ever-evolving matryoshka doll?

That’s not to say Square Enix isn’t going to stop trying or making new FF games, obviously. But after three full-length remakes following Cloud, I can’t help but feel bone-tired at the idea that we’ll be hearing more out of him in the immediate future. Let the blonde twink rest, for heaven’s sake.