Naoki Hamaguchi said there's "definitely a need" for yellow paint and other forms of environmental guidance. Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi seems to have an affinity for guiding players with yellow paint, as he expressed in a recent interview that this style of environmental markings is necessary. Speaking to GamesRadar, Hamaguchi explained that there is "definitely a need" for environmental guidance in video games. Whether that be yellow paint or not isn't really the point for him; sometimes, you just need a little assistance to figure out where to go or what to do next. Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Now Playing: FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH | PC FEATURES TRAILER "I get there is a debate about that, whether that fits with that world or not, whether some people want it, some people don't," Hamaguchi said via a translator. "I think as a game, there is definitely a need for that kind of thing in a lot of ways. I think obviously different developers experiment, try different things about what works best, what fits best, the right way of doing that in their game." He understands how contentious yellow paint--or other forms of environmental guidance--can be online. Still, without them, Hamaguchi believes players would find themselves frustrated and quit before things get good. "The need to guide players around from a gameplay perspective and show them what can be done, what they need to do, there are definitely times where that is needed," Hamaguchi told GamesRadar. "So I think obviously there is more of a debate about how it's done, what level and what works. And there'll still be people who say, 'No, that doesn't fit at all. We don't like that.' That's fine, but I think there is definitely a need there, and it's something that is definitely worth looking at." Naughty Dog's Uncharted series really popularized the environmental guidance we see in games today, with the likes of Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider franchise, the Watch Dogs games, and more adopting this form of--dare I say--player hand-holding. The debate has been fraught for years at this point, with some games, such as Star Wars Outlaws, giving you the option to turn off guiding colors entirely for more free-flowing exploration. That said, it's hard to admit how much of an accessibility feature yellow paint and other forms of environmental guidance are. I can only speak for myself, but as someone who suffers from an eye condition that essentially renders me blind, yellow paint is a boon for players like me. For that reason, I go hard in the paint. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launched in February 2024 for PlayStation 5, with a PC release following in January 2025. Part 3 of the trilogy, which is currently unnamed, doesn't have a release date right now. However, Hamaguchi and the Square Enix Creative Business Unit I team are hoping to drop the game by 2027. Latest in Final Fantasy VII Remake All The Nintendo Switch 2 Games (Confirmed And Rumored) So Far Final Fantasy 7 Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack Preorders Live At Amazon FF7 Remake Director Talks Progression "Cheats" And Why He's For Them