WhyFinal Fantasyis now targeting PC as its “lead platform”

For years, PC gamers have often felt like an afterthought in the realm of the Final Fantasy series, which has primarily catered to console enthusiasts. However, recent comments from director Naoki Hamaguchi indicate a significant shift in strategy, as the PC has now been designated the "lead platform" for the development of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. In a recent discussion with Automaton, Hamaguchi elaborated on the development process, explaining that the team commonly starts by creating visual assets optimized for high-end environments. This approach allows them to then downscale these assets for less powerful systems. "Our 3D assets are crafted at the highest quality level, based on PC as the foundation," he stated, highlighting the enhanced graphical fidelity that PC players have already experienced with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Hamaguchi further emphasized that this philosophy will remain consistent for the third installment of the trilogy. While he acknowledged that the PC gaming scene is only slowly gaining traction in Japan, the rapid expansion of the international PC gaming community has prompted the company to develop assets with a global PC audience in mind. The strong sales of recent PC releases of Final Fantasy VII Remake on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store also suggest a promising future for PC adaptations. However, it remains uncertain whether PC gamers will face extended wait times for upcoming titles. Historically, the first Final Fantasy VII Remake did not reach PC until 19 months after its PS4 debut, and Rebirth launched on PC 11 months post its PS5 release. Additionally, both Final Fantasy XVI and XV saw their PC versions released over a year after their console launches, raising questions about future timelines.