Naoki Hamaguchi “Would Love” To Make a Game With the Scope of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has shared his admiration for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, calling it not only his pick for Game of the Year but also an inspiring example of focused, double-A game design. In an interview with GamesRadar, Hamaguchi expressed that he “would love” to create a game with a similar scope and concentrated development philosophy.

Hamaguchi explained that while triple-A productions such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demand high quality in every direction, smaller-scale games can narrow their focus and perfect a single aspect. “Whatever direction you look at it, whatever element you take, it’s a very high quality,” he said of triple-A titles. “But double-A games can pick one aspect of one element and really push that and take it to a high level.”

He went on to say, “I would love to try and make a game like that, which is really focused on one area, pushing the boat out, and making that one aspect as fun as possible.”

However, Hamaguchi acknowledged that his current role at Square Enix makes this kind of project difficult to pursue. “That would only work if I completely ignored the reality of it—the position I have in the company, what they want me to make, the requirements of my position and that kind of thing,” he admitted.

Given the scope of Square Enix’s major franchises and the significant budgets behind them, Hamaguchi’s wish for a smaller, more experimental project may remain an aspiration for now. Yet his comments highlight a growing appreciation among top developers for the creative freedom and artistic focus found in the double-A space. A smaller-scale project led by Hamaguchi could provide an intriguing glimpse into what the director might achieve with fewer constraints and a more personal approach to game design.

Would you be interested in seeing Naoki Hamaguchi direct a smaller, more focused RPG outside the Final Fantasy universe?