I do sometimes shudder at the thought of how big Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth actually is, especially as someone who made a beeline for the main story on my playthrough for the most part. Its size does also allow for a lot of smaller details though, like one background (and I really do mean background) plot that follows the romantic relationship of a lesbian couple across the game’s various locales. And according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi, the choice to depict characters like this was all in the name of enhancing realism.

Speaking to TheGamer in a recent interview, Hamaguchi explained that for the dev team, “what matters is the feeling of a diverse group of people inhabiting this world in an authentic manner. Rebirth is a game where you encounter many towns, cultures, and relationships throughout your journey. In my view, the presence of diverse, authentic relationships within that journey also enhances the world’s realism.”

Hamaguchi went on to explain that for him the goal wasn’t necessarily to add a same-sex couple “just for the sake of adding it, but to portray the stories of those inhabiting this world with sincerity and care.” He noted that the development team felt “incredibly happy” at how people would hone in on even the “subtle interactions and shifts in relationships.”

When asked specifically about whether he felt LGBTQ+ representation in Japanese games has become more authentic in recent years, Hamaguchi referenced Rebirth itself noting how it’s a game where you travel all over the place to meet all sorts of people from different cultural backgrounds. “This is why I believe the atmosphere of the world – where such individuals simply exist and go about their lives – ultimately enhances its realism. In truth, my impression is that players also pay close attention to not only whether these depictions are there, but also their detailed nuances, like the emotional distance and conversational tone between characters.”

Final Fantasy 7 has long had a queer following in no small part thanks to its complex characters and, of course, Cloud and the section of the game he wears a dress, not to mention the Honey Bee Inn. The original game remains imperfect, as does the Remake trilogy in some ways, but I’m appreciative of Hamaguchi highlighting the importance of representing the world as it is. Hopefully we’ll see more of that in Revelation!