Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, has voiced his support for the continuation of physical game releases, citing concerns that the cessation of disc-based media could lead to a cultural loss. His comments follow Sony's recent announcement that it will cease shipping new PlayStation 5 games on disc by January 2028, a decision that has drawn significant criticism from many players.
Speaking at a recent Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest, Hamaguchi shared his personal perspective as both a gamer and a creator. "As a gamer myself, I love them," he stated regarding physical editions, adding that receiving signed physical copies from fans is a source of happiness. "It would be a real shame for that culture to disappear," he continued, expressing a desire for physical games to persist in some form, potentially through download codes packaged in boxes. "I think physical games will still be sold in some form in the future... Moreover, I want physical games to continue — both as a creator and a game fan."
This is not the first time Hamaguchi has addressed the shift towards digital-only formats. He previously indicated that he is advocating for a physical release for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the forthcoming conclusion to the Remake trilogy. While the final part is slated for a spring 2027 release across multiple platforms simultaneously, decisions regarding its physical launch remain undecided. Hamaguchi reiterated his hope for "some kind of physical edition available" but could not offer firm promises, stating, "We are looking into what the best options are, but I hope we will be able to live up to your expectations."
Regarding Final Fantasy 7 Revelation itself, Hamaguchi expressed confidence in the game, noting that "as it's nearing completion, I can personally pick it up and say, 'this feels good, this feels satisfying'." He added, "I’m quite confident about it. Of course, the final judgement will be down to the players but I feel confident, I can see the end, and I can finally feel the pressure lifting."
Notably, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will mark a departure from its predecessors by launching simultaneously on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The earlier entries in the Remake series were initially PlayStation exclusives before expanding to other platforms. Hamaguchi sees this multi-platform approach as meaningful, drawing parallels to the series' historical transitions, such as its move from Nintendo to PlayStation and from cartridges to discs.
Other prominent Japanese game developers have also shared their thoughts on the diminishing presence of physical media. Sohei Niikawa, creator of Disgaea and former CEO of Nippon Ichi Software, commented that while Sony's decision might be commercially driven, it "may never have considered what physical editions mean to the people who value them." Hideo Kojima expressed sadness, stating, "I grew up with physical media, so I find it really sad." Similarly, Nier creator Yoko Taro encouraged consumers to support physical releases while they are still available.