Lex
Administrator
UPDATE 26-FEB-2019
Claymore has indexed all relevant info up to this point. Big thanks to him for doing so:
OK, I see a nightmare down the line with us going "I've heard that before, I've read that before, where did I see that". Since we like to collect interviews on the front site, please post all interviews which mention the remake here from now on. This thread will be stickied.
Try to follow this format where possible:
1. Interview with [Whoever]
2. Link to the source
3. DATE.
4. Copy and paste the entire interview behind spoiler tags (so if the link dies, we've still got a copy of it). Try to format it in a readable way.
This is for the purpose of keeping everything in one place in a nice, linear format. If this thread is updated with an interview I'll add it here.
Tetsuya Nomura
Gamespot
16/06/2015
Tetsuya Nomura
Eurogamer
17/06/2015
Tetsuya Nomura
Kotaku
17/06/2015
Tetsuya Nomura
Engadget
17/06/2015
Shinji Hashimoto (Executive Producer)
IGN Article | IGN Video
18/06/2015
Tetsuya Nomura
Kotaku (from Weekly Famitsu)
24/06/2015
Claymore has indexed all relevant info up to this point. Big thanks to him for doing so:
- First post with several snips here
- IGN 18.6.15 E3 2015: Final Fantasy 7 Is A Remake, Not A Remaster
- 4gamer 19.6.15
- Kotaku 19.6.15 Keeping The Final Fantasy VII Remake A Secret
- Gematsu 23.6.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake Won't Have New Characters
- Dengeki 20.6.15
- Wired 23.6.15 Remake Wont Be A Direct Upgrade
- IGN 17.6.15 FF7 Director Wants To Remake More Final Fantasy Games
- Kotaku 24.6.15 How The Final Fantasy VII Remake Came To Be
- Gamesradar 30.7.15 Dramatic Changes and Advent Children Will Help Shape The Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Playstation Official UK Magazine July Edition 2015 Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Gematsu 25.8.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake battle system in trial-and-error phase
- Siliconia translation of Famitsu 7.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake Details On Its Action, Midgar Exploration, And Cross-Dressing
- Hian's translation of Famitsu here
- Hian's translation of Dengeki here
- Yoshinori Kitase - Dualshockers 11.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake Producer Yoshinori Kitase Explains Why The Game is Multi-Part
- Dualshockers - Famitsu 15.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake: First Part's Scenario Is Already Complete
- Gematsu 15.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake part one scenario complete [Update]
- Hian's Scans of Mag here
- Nova Crystallis - Nomura, Kitase talk Final Fantasy VII Remake development progress 18.12.15
- Dualshockers 21.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake Gets New Information On Minigames, World And More
- Nova Crystallis 21.12.15 Final Fantasy VII Remake will be fully voiced; staff discusses world map, mini-games
- Hian's Translation of 21.12.15 Interviews here
- Playstation Official UK Magazine Cover February Edition Finally, The Fantasy Becomes A Reality
- Gamespot / Nova Crystaliis 6.4.16 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Will Be Multiple Full-Sized Games / Final Fantasy XV detailed in Game Informer
- The Know 6.4.16 Final Fantasy VII A Rip-off?
- Game Informer 6.4.16 10 Questions And Answers About The Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Dengeki 13.4.16
- Videogamer.com 12.5.16 Kingdom Hearts 3 & Final Fantasy 7 Remake Won't Be Out Before April 2017
- Gematsu 15.6.16 Tetsuya Nomura discusses Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8, III, and more
- Nova Crystallis 10.6.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake, Kingdom Hearts III still a ways off; Nomura hopes to share more this year
- Final Fantasy Network 13.1.17 Tetsuya Nomura Shows Famitsu Video Of Final Fantasy VIIR During Interview!
- NA Square Enix Blog January 17? Mobius / VIIR Crossover - Utilizing Actual Assets From Remake
- Sculpture here and here
- Key Art Visual here and here
- Mobius Crossover here
- Nova Crystallis 1.2.17 Yoshinori Kitase talks Final Fantasy VII Remake progress, battle system and more
- Famitsu pages here and here
- India Today 3.2.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake might not take 10 years in development, but don't expect it to be out anytime soon
- Aibo - Twitter 22.2.17 Voice Acting For Main Story Completed
- Siliconera 22.2.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake’s Voicing Of Its Main Story Is Pretty Much Completed
- KH13 26.2.17 Tetsuya Nomura interviewed by Final Fantasy Dream at Magic 2017 - continuity with the Remake
- Gematsu 9.3.17 Tetsuya Nomura further discusses recent Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy VII Remake screenshots'
- Gematsu 26.5.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake and Kingdom Hearts III to launch “in the next three years or so”
- Nova Crystallis 29.5.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake shifts toward internal development
- Gamespot 29.5.17 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Undergoes A Big Development Change
- Gematsu 3.7.17 Final Fantasy VII Remake battles are action-based, cover optional
- Dualshockers 16.7.17 Nomura Talks Challenges of Working On Kingdom Hearts III & Final Fantasy VII Remake At The Same Time
- Gematsu / Siliconera 18.7.17 Kingdom Hearts III has less Disney worlds than Kingdom Hearts II; Final Fantasy VII Remake further along in some areas
- WCCFTECH 14.8.17 FFVII Remake & Kingdom Hearts III Dev Explains Why It Is Difficult To Give Precise Info To The Fans
- Creative Village 20.7.17 New Challenge Starting With Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Dualshockers 4.10.17 Nomura Teases Many Things In Store
- Game Revolution & Tabata 4.10.17 Square Enix’s Hajime Tabata Would Turn Down Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Hashimoto 27.11.17 Announcement Of Future Announcements. Please Be Excited?
- Dualshockers 10.1.18 Remake's Development Is Going Well According To Yoshinori Kitase
- Gematsu 10.1.18 Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exhibition to include never before seen Final Fantasy VII Remake image boards
- Miraculous Maku 21.4.18 Search For Planners / Going Beyond The Original
- New Job Listings Spotted here
- Dualshockers 23.4.18 FFVII Remake Art Director Explains That It Isn't Just A Matter Of Improving The Graphics
- Rumours From Reddit About The CC2 Split here
- Twitter 13.5.18 Nobuo Involved In Remake?
- Hian's Translation Of Above Twitter here
- Kotaku 29.5.17 Square Enix Moves Final Fantasy VII Remake Development In-House
- TLS - Remake Delayed Controversy here
- Miraculous Maku 4.6.18 That Background Tease
- IGN 14.6.18 E3 2018: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Has Moved Beyond Early Concept Stages
- Verge 14.6.18 Kingdom Hearts III's Director Says He's Putting Equal Effort Into Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Pop Bastion 20.6.18 Final Fantasy VII Remake Director Says Development Is Progressing Further Along Than Expected
- KH Insider 22.6.18 Nomura Discusses Work On Kingdom Hearts & Dealing With Leaks & Rumors
- Siliconera 2.8.18 Final Fantasy VII Remake Is Being Made As An Action Game According To New Job Listing
- ^ Announced back in July 2017 here
- Eurogamer 20.9.18 Legendary Final Fantasy Composer Nobuo Uemastu Ceases Work Due To Illness
- Edamame Arcade Channel 11.10.18 FF Legends Interview - Remake Meant To Have Been Released In 2018?
- Miraculous Maku 6.11.18 Various Developments To Accompany VII Remake
- ^ Hian's Translations & Thoughts here
- Siliconera 16.11.18 Nomura Reassures Final Fantasy VII Remake’s Development Is Fine, More To Be Shared After KHIII
- Old G-Bike Twitter Account Renamed here
- Miraculous Maku 19.12.18 Remake's Development Going Well
- DKHF 19.12.18 Keyword 'Seven'
- Hian's Translation Of GB.Wantedly here
- NeithOF Addiontal Translation Of GB.Wantedly here
OK, I see a nightmare down the line with us going "I've heard that before, I've read that before, where did I see that". Since we like to collect interviews on the front site, please post all interviews which mention the remake here from now on. This thread will be stickied.
Try to follow this format where possible:
1. Interview with [Whoever]
2. Link to the source
3. DATE.
4. Copy and paste the entire interview behind spoiler tags (so if the link dies, we've still got a copy of it). Try to format it in a readable way.
This is for the purpose of keeping everything in one place in a nice, linear format. If this thread is updated with an interview I'll add it here.
Tetsuya Nomura
Gamespot
16/06/2015
The Final Fantasy VII Remake, announced at Sony’s E3 press conference, could deviate from its source material.
When asked if the remake, in development for PlayStation 4, will follow the Final Fantasy VII narrative exactly or feature new elements, director Tetsuya Nomura gave GameSpot an ambiguous answer.
“We’ve announced an HD port version on the PlayStation 4, and then we have the remake coming to PS4,” Nomura said through a translator. “You’ll have this extremely, very, very pretty FFVII existing on the same plane. We feel that if that happens, it’s like, why have the same exact game?
“We think that if a game is on a certain platform and that platform becomes obsolete, then we’d recommend playing the new port version,” he added.
Currently, all we know about the Final Fantasy VII Remake is that it is now in production with key members of the original game’s staff on board, including producer Yoshinori Kitase and scenario writer Kazushige Nojima. Other developer details are unknown.
When asked if the remake, in development for PlayStation 4, will follow the Final Fantasy VII narrative exactly or feature new elements, director Tetsuya Nomura gave GameSpot an ambiguous answer.
“We’ve announced an HD port version on the PlayStation 4, and then we have the remake coming to PS4,” Nomura said through a translator. “You’ll have this extremely, very, very pretty FFVII existing on the same plane. We feel that if that happens, it’s like, why have the same exact game?
“We think that if a game is on a certain platform and that platform becomes obsolete, then we’d recommend playing the new port version,” he added.
Currently, all we know about the Final Fantasy VII Remake is that it is now in production with key members of the original game’s staff on board, including producer Yoshinori Kitase and scenario writer Kazushige Nojima. Other developer details are unknown.
Tetsuya Nomura
Eurogamer
17/06/2015
Final Fantasy 7's remake, announced during Sony's show at this week's E3, captured a fair amount of attention, and a few questions snatched at the end of a roundtable about Kingdom Hearts 3 with its director Tetsuya Nomura revealed a bit more.
Nomura, who was a character designer on the 1997 original, is clearly excited about the prospect. "The talks about making this remake, internally it's been mentioned on and off," he told Eurogamer's Aoife Wilson in the interview. "Sometimes we think we can do it, and then sometimes we think maybe we can't. Considering some of the original staff, like Kitase, he's acting as producer, and [Kazushige] Nojima, he's doing the script - we're all getting older! If we keep going like this, the thought occurred to us that we might have to pass this on to a younger generation, without the original developers taking part. It doesn't seem like such a grand intention, but we wanted to do it with the original members."
So why has it taken 'til now for it to happen - especially as it comes relatively soon after Square Enix disappointed fans by setting up a reveal last December before announcing the PC port of the original was coming to PlayStation 4?
"When we announced the HD port, the PC port on the PS4, we weren't sure when we wanted to announce the remake," Nomura said elsewhere in the interview. "The production was underway then, so there's no real connection between the timing of the two FF7s coming to PS4. We've announced several different titles coming to the PlayStation 4 like World of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts 3."
The slow uptake of new consoles in Japan seems to be a concern, and Square Enix is making a concerted effort to make sure the PlayStation 4 is more attractive to the audience in its home country. "There's more and more titles being introduced for the platform, and we're hoping that announcing the remake of Final Fantasy 7, it'll give a boost to people wanting to buy this current generation of console. If we announced the remake after all those titles have been sold, it wouldn't have created such an impact, so that's why we decided on this timing. We wanted to reassure players that PlayStation 4 is coming out with great titles including Final Fantasy 7. That's why we decided to announce the remake."
How the new, slightly darker aesthetic sits with some of the crazier elements of the original game remains to be seen, but it seems they'll be intact. Can't wait to see the delicious sight of Cloud in a dress in glorious HD? "Please look forward to it," said Nomura as the interview came to a close.
Nomura, who was a character designer on the 1997 original, is clearly excited about the prospect. "The talks about making this remake, internally it's been mentioned on and off," he told Eurogamer's Aoife Wilson in the interview. "Sometimes we think we can do it, and then sometimes we think maybe we can't. Considering some of the original staff, like Kitase, he's acting as producer, and [Kazushige] Nojima, he's doing the script - we're all getting older! If we keep going like this, the thought occurred to us that we might have to pass this on to a younger generation, without the original developers taking part. It doesn't seem like such a grand intention, but we wanted to do it with the original members."
So why has it taken 'til now for it to happen - especially as it comes relatively soon after Square Enix disappointed fans by setting up a reveal last December before announcing the PC port of the original was coming to PlayStation 4?
"When we announced the HD port, the PC port on the PS4, we weren't sure when we wanted to announce the remake," Nomura said elsewhere in the interview. "The production was underway then, so there's no real connection between the timing of the two FF7s coming to PS4. We've announced several different titles coming to the PlayStation 4 like World of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts 3."
The slow uptake of new consoles in Japan seems to be a concern, and Square Enix is making a concerted effort to make sure the PlayStation 4 is more attractive to the audience in its home country. "There's more and more titles being introduced for the platform, and we're hoping that announcing the remake of Final Fantasy 7, it'll give a boost to people wanting to buy this current generation of console. If we announced the remake after all those titles have been sold, it wouldn't have created such an impact, so that's why we decided on this timing. We wanted to reassure players that PlayStation 4 is coming out with great titles including Final Fantasy 7. That's why we decided to announce the remake."
How the new, slightly darker aesthetic sits with some of the crazier elements of the original game remains to be seen, but it seems they'll be intact. Can't wait to see the delicious sight of Cloud in a dress in glorious HD? "Please look forward to it," said Nomura as the interview came to a close.
Tetsuya Nomura
Kotaku
17/06/2015
These days, HD remakes are pretty common! They usually are the same games, but with spiffy new graphics and, often, optional and updated controls. The big question is whether or not this is a straight-up remake. From what Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura tells Famitsu and Dengeki Online, it’s not.
“I can’t get go into details,” Nomura said, “but this is not a simple remake. Let’s say for argument’s sake that we only pretty up the graphics for current gen hardware, I don’t think that would surpass the original version.”
(Note: Here Nomura actually said “next gen hardware,” but he is referring to the current gen.)
It seems that if the game only featured better graphics, then the difference between this remake and the upscaled port would merely be cosmetic.
“The original version is a game that came out in 1997, and if you look at it today, you can feel how dated the graphics and the game system are,” Nomura told Famitsu. “However, that’s also part of Final Fantasy VII.” Nomura added that even today, the game continues to get support and that is unlikely to change.
However, it sounds like like the remake will feature evolved gameplay. Again, here’s Nomura:
“We haven’t shown any gameplay yet, but since we’re updating them quite a bit, please look forward to that,” Nomura told Dengeki Online. (Note: The word Nomura used, 進化 or “shinka,” can also mean “evolution” or “progress.” He didn’t say 変化 or “henka,” which means “change” or “variation.”
For a title like this, even if you only redo the graphics, I don’t think you get something that’s exciting.”
So, what does that mean?
“Since we now formally revealed Kazushige Nojima’s name for the scenario, there will be more plot devices in the story, so I think you can also look forward to that.”
Ah, perhaps maybe they’ll be adding to the story, fleshing certain parts out or adding more backstory? That I can see making this more than a simple high-def remake with pretty graphics. I hope this doesn’t mean certain parts of the original story, however, will be written out...
“So,” Nomura told Famitsu, “if you are going to do a full remake, you have to take a different approach and make something that suits the times.”
According to Nomura, Square Enix is planning to reveal more about this remake later this winter—at the very least, the game’s formal title. So, yes, yes, look forward to that, too. Expect it.
“I can’t get go into details,” Nomura said, “but this is not a simple remake. Let’s say for argument’s sake that we only pretty up the graphics for current gen hardware, I don’t think that would surpass the original version.”
(Note: Here Nomura actually said “next gen hardware,” but he is referring to the current gen.)
It seems that if the game only featured better graphics, then the difference between this remake and the upscaled port would merely be cosmetic.
“The original version is a game that came out in 1997, and if you look at it today, you can feel how dated the graphics and the game system are,” Nomura told Famitsu. “However, that’s also part of Final Fantasy VII.” Nomura added that even today, the game continues to get support and that is unlikely to change.
However, it sounds like like the remake will feature evolved gameplay. Again, here’s Nomura:
“We haven’t shown any gameplay yet, but since we’re updating them quite a bit, please look forward to that,” Nomura told Dengeki Online. (Note: The word Nomura used, 進化 or “shinka,” can also mean “evolution” or “progress.” He didn’t say 変化 or “henka,” which means “change” or “variation.”
For a title like this, even if you only redo the graphics, I don’t think you get something that’s exciting.”
So, what does that mean?
“Since we now formally revealed Kazushige Nojima’s name for the scenario, there will be more plot devices in the story, so I think you can also look forward to that.”
Ah, perhaps maybe they’ll be adding to the story, fleshing certain parts out or adding more backstory? That I can see making this more than a simple high-def remake with pretty graphics. I hope this doesn’t mean certain parts of the original story, however, will be written out...
“So,” Nomura told Famitsu, “if you are going to do a full remake, you have to take a different approach and make something that suits the times.”
According to Nomura, Square Enix is planning to reveal more about this remake later this winter—at the very least, the game’s formal title. So, yes, yes, look forward to that, too. Expect it.
Tetsuya Nomura
Engadget
17/06/2015
After announcing that the PC version of FFVII was coming to PS4, why announce the remake now?
Tetsuya Nomura​: The PC port, honestly, wasn't really on my radar. I thought it was already on sale. Regardless, there's really no relation between the PC version and this remake. Why now? This week at E3 we announced several titles coming to the PS4: not only FFXV, Kingdom Hearts 3, and World of Final Fantasy, but [also] a new Star Ocean and more. Rather than announce the remake after those titles went on sale, we wanted to give gamers something that would make them happy -- open them up, perhaps, to buying into the PS4.
You've called it a remake, but what's going to change? Will the story change?
TN: Hah! Well, that's something that literally... [He gestures to his open laptop].
The trailer was vague; it felt like it could well be a sequel, or even a prequel.
TN: That's exactly why I wanted to have the word "Remake" into the trailer -- precisely to clarify that. At this point, I can't talk to specifics. Or at least, I'm not allowed to talk about the specifics. But the original is out again: The "HD" PC version is coming to PS4 already. We don't need two of the same thing. Even if we beautified and upgraded the visuals -- something that's bound to happen. If it's a full remake, then of course, we want to take a different approach. If we actually just upgraded the visuals -- there'd be no need for me to direct it.
Well, I can't honestly say. But things will change.
Just the price?
TN: [Laughs] We can't comment on pricing. We haven't even mentioned the true title of the remake.
Is there a comparable remake in gaming, movies?
TN: If I say anything, then that could reveal too much. If I say, "It's a bit like this," you'll suddenly think: "Ah well, then that's going to turn out just like that." In the trailer, at the end, I try to reference that: "The reunion at hand may bring joy, but it may bring fear. But let us embrace whatever it brings."
People will wonder how far the game will change and exactly what is going to change. Sure, at first there's the joy that the game's returning, but then the concern that what you liked in the original may change or disappear completely. People have different demands. But if we take everything literally the same, we're turning into the HD port again.
So you could flip the genders of say, Yuffie?
TN: Nothing that drastic! But there will be changes. More than me, [Producer Yoshinori] Kitase and [scenario writer Kazushige] Nojima are more concerned about what gets changed. I'm not too worried about that. I'm often happy to cut out parts. Before meetings, the pair of them often discuss what's happening. It's very likely that not everyone is going to like everything.
The trailer seemed pretty serious in tone. Will the occasional humor the original game carry through?
TN: The comedy or the lighthearted parts -- I like those. I don't want to change it that much. But we can't have these upgraded, beautiful 3D models of Cloud and Barrett, still lining up in a row, jumping forward to attack an enemy, then jumping back to wait for their next turn. That would be bizarre. Of course there will likely be changes there. But if we took away parts like the lighter moments of the game, then it would no longer be FFVII.
Tetsuya Nomura​: The PC port, honestly, wasn't really on my radar. I thought it was already on sale. Regardless, there's really no relation between the PC version and this remake. Why now? This week at E3 we announced several titles coming to the PS4: not only FFXV, Kingdom Hearts 3, and World of Final Fantasy, but [also] a new Star Ocean and more. Rather than announce the remake after those titles went on sale, we wanted to give gamers something that would make them happy -- open them up, perhaps, to buying into the PS4.
You've called it a remake, but what's going to change? Will the story change?
TN: Hah! Well, that's something that literally... [He gestures to his open laptop].
The trailer was vague; it felt like it could well be a sequel, or even a prequel.
TN: That's exactly why I wanted to have the word "Remake" into the trailer -- precisely to clarify that. At this point, I can't talk to specifics. Or at least, I'm not allowed to talk about the specifics. But the original is out again: The "HD" PC version is coming to PS4 already. We don't need two of the same thing. Even if we beautified and upgraded the visuals -- something that's bound to happen. If it's a full remake, then of course, we want to take a different approach. If we actually just upgraded the visuals -- there'd be no need for me to direct it.
Well, I can't honestly say. But things will change.
Just the price?
TN: [Laughs] We can't comment on pricing. We haven't even mentioned the true title of the remake.
Is there a comparable remake in gaming, movies?
TN: If I say anything, then that could reveal too much. If I say, "It's a bit like this," you'll suddenly think: "Ah well, then that's going to turn out just like that." In the trailer, at the end, I try to reference that: "The reunion at hand may bring joy, but it may bring fear. But let us embrace whatever it brings."
People will wonder how far the game will change and exactly what is going to change. Sure, at first there's the joy that the game's returning, but then the concern that what you liked in the original may change or disappear completely. People have different demands. But if we take everything literally the same, we're turning into the HD port again.
So you could flip the genders of say, Yuffie?
TN: Nothing that drastic! But there will be changes. More than me, [Producer Yoshinori] Kitase and [scenario writer Kazushige] Nojima are more concerned about what gets changed. I'm not too worried about that. I'm often happy to cut out parts. Before meetings, the pair of them often discuss what's happening. It's very likely that not everyone is going to like everything.
The trailer seemed pretty serious in tone. Will the occasional humor the original game carry through?
TN: The comedy or the lighthearted parts -- I like those. I don't want to change it that much. But we can't have these upgraded, beautiful 3D models of Cloud and Barrett, still lining up in a row, jumping forward to attack an enemy, then jumping back to wait for their next turn. That would be bizarre. Of course there will likely be changes there. But if we took away parts like the lighter moments of the game, then it would no longer be FFVII.
Shinji Hashimoto (Executive Producer)
IGN Article | IGN Video
18/06/2015
The PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII isn't just a simple remastering of the original, but instead will be an entirely remade version of the beloved PS1 game.
In an IGN interview, executive producer Shinji Hashimoto told us that the team tasked with bringing the JRPG classic to Sony's modern console is looking back at the original to see what needs to be changed.
The game will be more than just an update, in other words. It will be a full-blown remake. "We're putting in a lot of careful thought to meet" the expectations of fans, Hashimoto told us.
When asked why the time for a remake was now, Hashimoto said conversations had happened over the years, but schedules of key figures, including director Yoshinori Kitase and character designer Testuya Nomura, conflicted.
However, Hashimoto said "timing worked for this now."
In an IGN interview, executive producer Shinji Hashimoto told us that the team tasked with bringing the JRPG classic to Sony's modern console is looking back at the original to see what needs to be changed.
The game will be more than just an update, in other words. It will be a full-blown remake. "We're putting in a lot of careful thought to meet" the expectations of fans, Hashimoto told us.
When asked why the time for a remake was now, Hashimoto said conversations had happened over the years, but schedules of key figures, including director Yoshinori Kitase and character designer Testuya Nomura, conflicted.
However, Hashimoto said "timing worked for this now."
Tetsuya Nomura
Kotaku (from Weekly Famitsu)
24/06/2015
In an interview with Weekly Famitsu, remake director Tetsuya Nomura stated, “Actually, quite a while ago, I tried to start up the project [to remake FFVII], but at the time it didn’t come to fruition.”
According to Nomura, it was Square Enix Exec Shinji Hashimoto who approached Nomura and the original FFVII director Yoshinori Kitase about the new project. “Mr. Hashimoto was involved with the advertising and marketing of the original, so like [Mr. Kitase and myself], VII has a strong place in his heart.” Nomura explained.
Nomura is currently helming Kingdom Hearts III, so it’s surprising that he would take the reins of another high-profile project when the one he’s still developing as of yet has no release date. It turns out Nomura himself was surprised by the fact that he was directing the FFVII remake.
“As preproduction went along and I offered my opinions on what I thought should be done, Mr. Kitase would asked me how the individual elements should be adjusted in fine detail.” Nomura recalled. “It was very perplexing. Then one day, as I was checking the internal company presentation video it said ‘Director Tetsuya Nomura’ at the end.”
Apparently this was news to Nomura who had assumed that Kitase would be reclaiming the director’s chair for the remake of his game. “So I called up Mr. Kitase and said, ‘It says that I’m the director for some reason.’ To which he replied, ‘If course it does.’” Nomura said with a nervous laugh.
The “’I thought you were going to direct!’ ‘Well I thought YOU were going to direct!’” episode was something that happened in the initial stages of the project’s inception and Nomura has stated that he is presently well aware of and well into his position as director.
According to Nomura, it was Square Enix Exec Shinji Hashimoto who approached Nomura and the original FFVII director Yoshinori Kitase about the new project. “Mr. Hashimoto was involved with the advertising and marketing of the original, so like [Mr. Kitase and myself], VII has a strong place in his heart.” Nomura explained.
Nomura is currently helming Kingdom Hearts III, so it’s surprising that he would take the reins of another high-profile project when the one he’s still developing as of yet has no release date. It turns out Nomura himself was surprised by the fact that he was directing the FFVII remake.
“As preproduction went along and I offered my opinions on what I thought should be done, Mr. Kitase would asked me how the individual elements should be adjusted in fine detail.” Nomura recalled. “It was very perplexing. Then one day, as I was checking the internal company presentation video it said ‘Director Tetsuya Nomura’ at the end.”
Apparently this was news to Nomura who had assumed that Kitase would be reclaiming the director’s chair for the remake of his game. “So I called up Mr. Kitase and said, ‘It says that I’m the director for some reason.’ To which he replied, ‘If course it does.’” Nomura said with a nervous laugh.
The “’I thought you were going to direct!’ ‘Well I thought YOU were going to direct!’” episode was something that happened in the initial stages of the project’s inception and Nomura has stated that he is presently well aware of and well into his position as director.
Last edited:
Like the good old TLS translation days.
