Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Also Developing Kingdom Hearts 4

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi has confirmed that he is also working on Kingdom Hearts 4, adding another layer of development pressure to Square Enix's ambitious 2027 schedule. The announcement comes alongside a controversial move regarding the physical release of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, which is shipping in a physical format on all three major console platforms. Physical versions of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation require a separate download even though the game is available on disc. Series director Hamaguchi explained that the developers faced technical constraints when deciding to include the entire game on a single disc. "Each platform has limitations when it comes to physical media capacity, but we believed that compromising the quality of the final chapter in order to achieve a fully on-disc release would ultimately not be in the best interest of many fans," he stated in an online statement. He acknowledged that this approach may disappoint some fans, especially given that previous entries in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy launched on two discs combined. The decision reflects broader industry shifts. Sony has announced plans to cease producing new PlayStation games on physical discs starting in 2028, a move that has drawn criticism and created uncertainty within the company. Despite this backdrop, physical editions remain popular among collectors who value tangible ownership and premium packaging. Meanwhile, Hamaguchi continues his work on Kingdom Hearts 4, which is set for release on April 8th. The game shares platforms with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Kingdom Hearts 4 features a Disney world inspired by the film Coco, known as the Land of the Dead. The project is being developed in Hamaguchi's own studio, Creative Studio 1, which also handles Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. For fans of both franchises, the overlap suggests Square Enix is prioritizing scale and ambition over traditional release strategies. The combination of a physical-first approach for one title and ongoing development on another major property indicates the company is preparing for a crowded 2027 lineup. Players interested in either game should monitor official announcements for further details on release windows and platform availability.