Final Fantasy 7 producer Yoshinora Kitase shares his top 3 Xbox games right now — as FF7 free demo hits Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC

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The demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is now available on Xbox Series X|S, giving players a taste of the game before its release in early 2026.

As an analyst, I’ve observed a rather inconsistent history between Square Enix and Xbox. While we’ve seen *Final Fantasy* titles appear on Xbox consoles from time to time, it hasn’t been a consistent presence like we’ve seen with PlayStation and Nintendo over the years. It feels like a relationship with peaks and valleys, rather than a steady commitment.

Because of this, Xbox hasn’t attracted the same level of fans for Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) and other popular titles from Japan as its competitors. It also hasn’t gained as much popularity in Japan itself. It’s a difficult situation for both Microsoft and Square Enix: Microsoft wants to grow its audience for players who enjoy these games, while Square Enix wants to reach new players on different platforms.

Recently, Square Enix has been very responsive to opportunities to highlight their games on Xbox. We recently spoke with Final Fantasy director Naoki Hamaguchi, who discussed why the Final Fantasy series is back on Xbox and shared some of his favorite Xbox games. Today, Square Enix also provided us with a video from Final Fantasy 7 producer Yoshinora Kitase, where he also praised the Xbox platform.

As a developer, I’m excited by platforms that let us explore new possibilities, and Xbox is definitely doing that. That’s why we’re thrilled to release Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrate on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Ally.

I’d like to share three games that I think really highlight what makes Xbox hardware special.

Kitase highlighted the realism of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, explaining that it accurately recreates the entire world. He described it as more of a true simulator than a game, and shared how the game inspires him. He often imagines emergency scenarios while flying as a passenger, like those seen in movies where someone without piloting experience has to take control of the plane, and plays the game with that in mind.

Kitase spoke highly of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, recalling how much the original films impacted him in the 1980s. He, like many viewers, was deeply touched by the game’s faithful recreation of Indiana Jones and the iconic opening scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark. He also praised the franchise for pioneering many gameplay elements common in modern video games. According to Kitase, ‘treasure hunting, traps in dungeons, and puzzle-solving… the roots of those ideas can be found in Indiana Jones.’

Kitase also highlighted the recent release of *Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles*. He described it as a strategy game within the Final Fantasy universe, overseen by the original creator, Yasumi Matsuno, and praised its complex and compelling storyline.

Can Xbox build a bigger fanbase for Japanese games?

Xbox hasn’t been very successful, especially in Japan, and its performance in Western markets isn’t much better. Sales of Xbox consoles have been declining for a while, and a series of questionable choices this year have further damaged its reputation.

Recently, Japanese game developers have been increasingly supporting the Xbox platform. Popular series like Yakuza, Persona, and Final Fantasy are now being released on Xbox around the same time as on other consoles, though games like Fortnite and Call of Duty still remain the most popular titles played on it.

Xbox is trying to reach more players by offering games on PC, as many have been choosing Steam lately. Xbox Game Pass has been a great way to offer a wide range of games, but a recent price increase has made it less of a bargain.

Microsoft has opportunities to excel in new gaming areas like PC gaming with Xbox PC, handheld devices such as the Xbox Ally, and cloud gaming with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming is particularly well-suited for Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) like Final Fantasy Tactics, Persona, and the latest Dragon Quest remakes. These games also work great on devices with limited battery life, like the Xbox Ally, because they can be played with reduced power settings.

As a researcher, I believe Xbox has the potential to attract a wider audience with experiences like these. Over time, these kinds of games could really expand their reach. However, it’s difficult to say definitively whether they’ll be able to break out of being considered a niche interest.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is available for preorder now on Xbox Series X|S, and comes with some cool extras! You can also download and play a new demo version.

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2025-12-17 04:40