‘Final Fantasy 7’ Mobile Video Game Could Be A Few Years Off
A Final Fantasy 7 mobile video game may be possible with today’s mobile technology, but don’t expect it for at least a couple of years.
Final Fantasy 7 was the role-playing game for PlayStation (before the console had a number attached to it) that led the charge for RPGs on consoles from then on to be rendered in full 3D animation. Mobile games for both Android and iOS have shown that the renowned RPG could be easily ported, but there is a minor problem that holds Square Enix back.
Most mobile games are less than a gigabyte in size to allow for other games to coexist. However, Final Fantasy 7 in its earliest form was a three disc monster. One CD, which was the format the original game came on, holds 700 MB. Three of those would be too large for a smartphone at 2.1 GB, which is past the 2 GB limit Apple puts on their software.
Now you might be thinking at this point that they could always retool it to use less storage, but consider the primitive level of 3D rendering used in the gameplay and how much it would need to be upgraded just to be up to today’s standards in on mobile, and Final Fantasy 7 could easily run past 5 GB.
Final Fantasy 7 incorporates a myriad of monsters, and a rather sizable party of characters by the end, not to mention real-time video cutscenes that would have to be updated, as well as weapons that visibly change as you trade them for something more powerful.
Final Fantasy 7 on iOS and Android isn’t impossible, but it’s a space issue says Square – http://t.co/XFz8Zv8KtY
— VG247 (@VG247) October 14, 2013
The reason the game has come into question is that a Final Fantasy 6 remake was announced for mobile devices, and gamers as well as Square Enix themselves are all wondering when the RPG sequel might get a remake for the same platforms.
Producer Takashi Tokita said of bringing Final Fantasy 7 to mobile devices, “Unfortunately, it’s not that it’s not impossible for us to develop Final Fantasy 7 for mobile. It’s that currently, space will be an issue. Phones won’t be able to contain the space it takes. It’s over a gigabyte. People are probably going to have to wait a few years.”
A Final Fantasy 7 mobile video game might be on its way, but we’re still going to have to wait a while for the platform to be able to handle it.
