Clair Obscur's Success Forces Square Enix to Reconsider Final Fantasy VII's Combat System

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth could significantly impact the future of the series. Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that hybrid combat systems, combining turn-based elements and action, have become an almost inevitable direction for the genre's development.

According to him, classic turn-based RPGs are not outdated, but players increasingly desire a combination of strategy and real-time reaction.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.

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