Name one modern game with the same scope as FF7, but delivered at the production value of a modern game.
The closest I can come up with is RDR2. Which even Rockstar took 7 years and a lot of crunch to make. And that game doesn't come close to delivering on the towns FF7 has. Witcher 3 is another contender, but again, tiny towns, and also not that many set pieces.
Older games could do a lot more. So since no one can do what old FF7 did to modern standards in one game, something's gotta give. Either you cut back on scope, production values, or release it in pieces.
Good point. But again, why does it need the production value of modern games? That's what I don't get here. If it's impossible to make FFVII in one game with modern production values then lower the production values. I think this is a fairly easy solution. Why does it need to be AAA? Why can't it be AA? or just A?