Final Fantasy 7 director Naoki Hamaguchi has admitted his regret over the Platinum trophy in Rebirth, and he’s promising the sequel Revelation will be easier to unlock. The director told Anime News Network that the trophy in Rebirth was designed to be difficult on purpose, but the response from players exceeded what the team expected.
“We wanted to make people go through all this content and perfect it,” Hamaguchi said. “It’s kind of by design that that would make it difficult.” He added that he doesn’t want to call the difficulty “a mistake in judgment,” but he does admit he has regrets after seeing the fan reaction.
The Regret Behind Rebirth’s Trophy
Rebirth’s Platinum trophy requires players to complete a vast amount of content. Only about 2.6% of players have unlocked it. That’s a tiny fraction of the player base.
Hamaguchi explained the reasoning behind the design. “There’s so much to do. There’s so much content,” he said. “We wanted to make people go through all this content and perfect it.”
He also noted that the team did not expect so many people to want the trophy in the first place. “We didn’t expect so many people to want the platinum trophy,” he said. “I think that was what we underestimated here.”
The battle director, Teruki Endo, shared the sentiment. “Oh, no! I feel bad – I have regrets,” Endo said.
Why Revelation Will Be Easier
For Revelation, Hamaguchi wants to change the focus from challenge to enjoyment. He said the team has learned from Rebirth’s experience.
“I think that’s one thing that we’ve learned from Rebirth: to make the battles themselves enjoyable rather than just challenging,” he said. “In comparison, for Revelation, the platinum trophy will be easier to get.”
He went further, offering a specific target for the sequel. “In terms of how difficult it will be, we’re expecting twenty percent of players or maybe even more than that to be able to obtain it,” he said.
That’s a dramatic shift. Instead of a trophy that only a handful of players can manage, Revelation’s Platinum trophy is being designed with a much lower barrier.
What Changed Between Rebirth and Revelation
The difference between the two games comes down to intent. Rebirth was built to reward perfection, while Revelation is being built to reward enjoyment.
Hamaguchi’s framing is telling. He describes Rebirth’s design as “by design” difficult, which means the team knew what they were doing. But the fan reaction showed that the design had consequences the team did not fully anticipate.
The team underestimated how many players would care about the trophy. That gap between expectation and reality is what prompted the regret.
The Numbers Behind the Trophy
The 2.6% figure for Rebirth’s Platinum trophy is striking. It means that a very small share of players completed everything required.
- Rebirth’s Platinum trophy: ~2.6% unlocked
- Revelation’s Platinum trophy: 20%+ expected
The comparison shows the scale of the change. Rebirth’s trophy was a niche achievement. Revelation’s is being designed with a lower difficulty threshold.
The Takeaway From Hamaguchi’s Admission
Hamaguchi’s admission is notable because it is honest. He did not defend the difficulty or blame players. He acknowledged that the design worked as intended, but the reaction showed a gap between intent and outcome.
The regret is genuine. Endo’s quote — “Oh, no! I feel bad – I have regrets” — carries weight because it is direct and unfiltered.
The promise for Revelation is a reset. The team learned from Rebirth, and they are applying that lesson to the next game.
What Players Should Expect
Players who enjoyed Rebirth’s challenge may need to adjust their expectations for Revelation. But the shift makes sense for a broader audience.
The key points are:
- Rebirth’s Platinum trophy was intentionally difficult, with only 2.6% of players unlocking it.
- The team underestimated how many players would want the trophy.
- Revelation’s trophy will be easier to get, with a target of 20% or more of players obtaining it.
- The focus has shifted from challenge to enjoyment.
Hamaguchi’s admission is a small victory for fans. He heard the feedback, acknowledged the issue, and is changing course.
The trophy in Revelation will be easier to get, and the team expects far more players to earn it.
Source material: “Final Fantasy 7 director says Revelation's Platinum trophy will be "easier to get",” Eurogamer.
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