Exciting news for fans of the iconic Final Fantasy 7 series: the long-awaited Part 3 of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy has completed its story, and development is on track with no delays, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi and producer Yoshinori Kitase in a recent interview. Let's dive into what this means for the eagerly anticipated conclusion of the trilogy!
Development On Schedule, No Delays For Its Upcoming Release
Image from Famitsu
In an interview with Famitsu, ahead of the PC port launch of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, series producer Yoshinori Kitase and game director Naoki Hamaguchi shared some thrilling updates. They confirmed that the development of the third title is proceeding smoothly, with no delays, and the story has been fully completed.
Hamaguchi stated, "We are progressing without any delay from the schedule we planned when we launched the remake project, so we hope you will look forward to it." This assurance comes as they began working on the third installment right after concluding FF7 Rebirth's development.
Kitase had previously mentioned before the PlayStation 5 release of FF7 Rebirth in February 2024 that the main scenario for the third game was already complete, but some polishing was still needed. He provided an update, stating, "I gave it [the storywriting] to Nomura (FF7 Rebirth Creative Director, Tetsuya Nomura) as homework to conclude the remake project, while respecting the original and providing a sense of satisfaction that wasn't felt in the original. That was finally completed at the end of the year, and the scenario for the third installment was completed there." He expressed confidence that the conclusion will satisfy fans.
Team Admits That They Were Worried About Rebirth’s Release At First
The second installment, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, released early in 2024, received worldwide acclaim and highly positive reviews from critics, fans, and gamers. Despite its success, the development team had initial concerns about how it would be received.
Kitase and Hamaguchi admitted to Famitsu that they were worried about the game's reception as a sequel in the trilogy. Kitase said, "I was worried about how it would resonate with players and game fans because it was a remake and the second in a trilogy. [But] In the end, I was happy to receive such positive reviews that it overcame those concerns." The positive feedback boosted the team's confidence for the final installment. Hamaguchi added, "In that sense, I think we have done our job of creating a good atmosphere for the third installment."
The game's praise stems from its compelling storyline and engaging gameplay, thanks in part to Hamaguchi's "logic-based approach." In another interview with Automaton, he explained their policy for incorporating feedback: "If our goal is A, and we get an opinion like ‘I want B instead,’ we can’t do anything about it as it is just someone’s preference. However, if we get an opinion like ‘If you added B too, wouldn’t it be even better?’ then I’ll think about incorporating it, if possible."
PC Gaming Is Now The Norm
The duo also discussed the rising popularity of PC gaming. In recent years, many gamers prefer playing on their computers, a trend the video game industry has noticed. Games are now often released on PC from the start, and console exclusives eventually make their way to PC to reach a broader audience.
Kitase pointed out, "As for PCs, there are no borders, so I think it's inevitable that PC versions will be released in order to allow more people to play." He highlighted that development costs are rising, necessitating a wider market reach. Additionally, PCs are ubiquitous, even in regions where consoles might not be sold due to certain policies.
Given this trend, the FF7 Rebirth team prioritized a swift PC port release. Hamaguchi stated, "I feel like the flow of game users in the world has changed a lot there. That's why we focused on making the PC version of FFVII Rebirth shorter than the period when the PC version of FFVII Remake was released."
With all the experiences gathered from the first two releases, fans can look forward to an exciting grand finale for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. There's even the possibility of a quicker PC release to ensure the full Remake Project experience reaches fans worldwide.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is now available on PC via Steam and on its original console, the PlayStation 5. If you haven't yet embarked on this adventure with Cloud and his allies, the first installment, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
