According to him, classic turn-based RPGs are not outdated, but players increasingly desire a combination of strategy and real-time reaction. This is why he highlights projects like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where turn-based combat is combined with real-time parries, dodges, and counterattacks.
Hamaguchi noted that he himself is not against turn-based systems, but they must evolve. As an example, he cited his game Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which uses a hybrid: real-time action combined with an ATB system and tactical pause.
Meanwhile, the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been remarkable — the game sold over 8 million copies and received five major "Game of the Year" awards.
Some players believe that Square Enix is gradually moving away from classic turn-based combat, especially after Final Fantasy XV and XVI. New installments are increasingly shifting towards action RPGs.
It seems the genre is moving towards a hybrid model — not a complete return to classics, but also not pure action, rather a more complex blend of strategy and real-time dynamics.
https://youtu.be/o9KQ4rlymEQ