Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director defends yellow paint for guiding players in game design

Director Naoki Hamaguchi says yellow paint in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is sometimes necessary to guide players

The use of yellow paint to highlight climbable areas and paths in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has sparked renewed debate among players, with some criticising it as a distraction from the game’s visual immersion. Director Naoki Hamaguchi has now addressed the controversy, explaining why these markers are an intentional and sometimes necessary design choice.

Speaking to Gamesradar, Hamaguchi said he understands the ongoing debate around the visual cues. “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,” he explained.

“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 added that player navigation is a key consideration in design: “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. 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.”

The comments reflect Hamaguchi’s awareness of balancing realism with playability in large, visually detailed environments. While some fans prefer minimal visual aids for immersion, others have noted that such guidance can prevent frustration and improve pacing.