In a recent interview with Australian gaming publication Press Start, Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Remake, provided valuable insights into the technical process of bringing the celebrated title to new hardware platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S.
Final Fantasy VII Remake, developed by Square Enix, first debuted on PlayStation 4 in 2020, with enhanced editions like the PlayStation 5-only Intergrade edition following in 2021.
As the RPG continues to reach new audiences through additional ports, optimization for various hardware remains a critical aspect of development. Hamaguchi shared that porting the game for Nintendo Switch 2 proved less complex compared to the challenge presented by Microsoft's Xbox Series S.
While he commended the Xbox Series S as a capable digital-only console, the limited onboard memory required developers to push optimization efforts to their limits.
In his words, the team "had to work right up to the memory limits, from start to finish of development, to ensure the best possible experience." By contrast, the Switch 2 offered more flexibility due to its increased available memory, which allowed the developers to fully rebuild the rendering pipeline and integrate advanced features like NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). The Switch 2 and Xbox Series S versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake both use the PlayStation 5 edition as their foundation, including all enhancements from the Intergrade release.
This decision enabled the Square Enix team to leverage next-generation assets and technical improvements across both platforms.
Notably, for the Switch 2 port, the game's assets were specifically tailored to the console's hardware specifications, and the rendering pipeline was overhauled to guarantee optimal performance and visual fidelity. Hamaguchi clarified that while the Xbox Series S demanded substantial effort to work within its stricter memory constraints, such extensive adjustments as required for the new Nintendo hardware were unnecessary.
"Unlike our process for the Switch 2, where we rebuilt the entire pipeline, most of our work on Series S revolved around getting the most out of the available memory," he explained during the interview. Despite the technical hurdles, Hamaguchi affirmed that Square Enix remains dedicated to delivering high-quality gameplay across all platforms, stating that players on both Switch 2 and Xbox Series S can expect smooth and visually impressive experiences.
The developer’s commitment means that RPG enthusiasts, regardless of their preferred console, can look forward to an optimized and faithful rendition of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Final Fantasy VII Remake has consistently achieved critical and commercial success, with millions of copies sold and widespread acclaim for its modern reimagining of a classic.
Its ongoing expansion to platforms such as the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S underscores Square Enix’s intent to bring the iconic title to as broad an audience as possible. For further coverage on Final Fantasy VII Remake and the many new features arriving with these latest ports, tune in to future Nintendo Direct presentations and stay updated through the eShop and Square Enix’s official channels.
Final Fantasy VII Remake, developed by Square Enix, first debuted on PlayStation 4 in 2020, with enhanced editions like the PlayStation 5-only Intergrade edition following in 2021.
As the RPG continues to reach new audiences through additional ports, optimization for various hardware remains a critical aspect of development. Hamaguchi shared that porting the game for Nintendo Switch 2 proved less complex compared to the challenge presented by Microsoft's Xbox Series S.
While he commended the Xbox Series S as a capable digital-only console, the limited onboard memory required developers to push optimization efforts to their limits.
In his words, the team "had to work right up to the memory limits, from start to finish of development, to ensure the best possible experience." By contrast, the Switch 2 offered more flexibility due to its increased available memory, which allowed the developers to fully rebuild the rendering pipeline and integrate advanced features like NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). The Switch 2 and Xbox Series S versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake both use the PlayStation 5 edition as their foundation, including all enhancements from the Intergrade release.
This decision enabled the Square Enix team to leverage next-generation assets and technical improvements across both platforms.
Notably, for the Switch 2 port, the game's assets were specifically tailored to the console's hardware specifications, and the rendering pipeline was overhauled to guarantee optimal performance and visual fidelity. Hamaguchi clarified that while the Xbox Series S demanded substantial effort to work within its stricter memory constraints, such extensive adjustments as required for the new Nintendo hardware were unnecessary.
"Unlike our process for the Switch 2, where we rebuilt the entire pipeline, most of our work on Series S revolved around getting the most out of the available memory," he explained during the interview. Despite the technical hurdles, Hamaguchi affirmed that Square Enix remains dedicated to delivering high-quality gameplay across all platforms, stating that players on both Switch 2 and Xbox Series S can expect smooth and visually impressive experiences.
The developer’s commitment means that RPG enthusiasts, regardless of their preferred console, can look forward to an optimized and faithful rendition of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Final Fantasy VII Remake has consistently achieved critical and commercial success, with millions of copies sold and widespread acclaim for its modern reimagining of a classic.
Its ongoing expansion to platforms such as the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S underscores Square Enix’s intent to bring the iconic title to as broad an audience as possible. For further coverage on Final Fantasy VII Remake and the many new features arriving with these latest ports, tune in to future Nintendo Direct presentations and stay updated through the eShop and Square Enix’s official channels.
