Key developers from the upcoming RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently made a notable visit to Square Enix’s headquarters, where they met with the legendary Final Fantasy team. 
The encounter was publicly shared by Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi, who posted a group photo featuring both teams and a life-size Cloud Strife standee.
Hamaguchi described the meeting as a “creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas,” sparking speculation and hope among fans that Square Enix might revisit its stance on traditional turn-based combat. The franchise’s recent releases – including Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – have leaned heavily into real-time action combat, moving away from their turn-based roots.
Back in 2022, FFXVI producer Naoki Yoshida suggested that as game visuals become more realistic, it becomes harder for players to accept the less grounded nature of turn-based systems. But games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the massively successful Baldur’s Gate 3 seem to challenge that narrative. Both blend high-end visuals with strategic, slower-paced gameplay, showing there’s still a significant audience for it.
Though Clair Obscur isn’t strictly turn-based – it incorporates real-time dodging and parries – its success shows gamers still crave more thoughtful, tactical combat experiences. Could Square Enix have sought insights from Sandfall Interactive on how to bridge the gap between realism and turn-based systems? Or perhaps they discussed collaborating on a future project – not unlikely in an industry where co-development is becoming increasingly common.
While nothing concrete has been confirmed yet, fans are already buzzing. A partnership or even a shift back toward offering turn-based options in Final Fantasy games would be a nostalgic and exciting development for long-time players.