Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developers Visit Square Enix Final Fantasy Office for Creative Idea Exchange

Collaborative Insights: Developers Meet at Square Enix

In a notable development for both Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the Final Fantasy franchise, key personnel from Sandfall Interactive recently visited Square Enix’s headquarters. This meeting, which included members from the celebrated Final Fantasy team, was confirmed by Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Hamaguchi shared a memorable photo of the two teams together alongside a Cloud Strife standee, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the encounter.

A Rich Exchange of Ideas

Hamaguchi-san described the meeting as a ‘creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas, ’ which undoubtedly reignites excitement among Final Fantasy enthusiasts. This interaction raises speculation about whether Square Enix might reconsider its traditional approach to combat mechanics, particularly in response to fan desires for turn-based systems.

Shifting Combat Dynamics in Final Fantasy

The recent titles in the Final Fantasy series have decisively moved away from classic turn-based gameplay, favoring action-driven systems. Games like Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth exemplify this trend. Notably, producer Naoki Yoshida highlighted in 2022 the challenges posed by increasingly realistic graphics, suggesting that these visuals create hurdles for players to accept the less realistic nature of turn-based combat.

Market Viability for Turn-Based Games

However, the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 indicates that there remains a viable market for games employing different combat methods. While Sandfall Interactive has opted for real-time dodges and parries rather than traditional turn-based mechanics, the positive reception showcases player demand for diverse gameplay styles. Furthermore, the acclaim received by Baldur’s Gate 3—a Western cRPG that successfully integrated turn-based combat with realistic visuals—suggests that players may still embrace such mechanics.

Future Collaborations on the Horizon?

This leads to thoughtful questions: Did Square Enix seek insights from Sandfall Interactive on their gameplay success? Could there even be discussions about a potential collaboration on a new project? The notion of co-development has become increasingly popular within the gaming industry, and collaborations could yield exciting results.

Looking Ahead: Hope for Turn-Based Options

Even if these discussions are taking place, any resulting projects would likely be a long way off from release. Nonetheless, the meeting has sparked hopes that Square Enix may one day provide fans with an option to engage in turn-based combat in future titles, catering to a broader spectrum of player preferences.

Source & Images