FF7 Remake Part 3 is Now Story Complete, Smooth Sailing From Here

Exciting news for Final Fantasy VII Remake fans! The story for Part 3 is complete, and development is progressing smoothly, according to director Hamaguchi and producer Kitase in a recent interview. Let's dive into what this means for the highly anticipated trilogy conclusion.

Final Fantasy VII Part 3's Main Scenario Is Complete

Development On Schedule, No Delays Expected

Image from Famitsu

In an interview with Famitsu, preceding the PC release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that development on the third title is on track and the main storyline is finalized. Hamaguchi confirmed the project is proceeding without delays, building upon the momentum from Rebirth's completion. He 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."

Kitase previously announced the completion of the third game's main scenario before Rebirth's PlayStation 5 launch in February 2024, mentioning some polishing was still required. He's now confirmed its completion, expressing satisfaction with the result. He explained, "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's confident this conclusion will satisfy fans.

Initial Concerns About Rebirth's Reception

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, released in early 2024, was met with widespread critical acclaim and positive player feedback. However, Kitase and Hamaguchi admitted to initial concerns regarding its reception following the success of the first game. Kitase shared, "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 the positive response alleviated those worries. Hamaguchi added, "In that sense, I think we have done our job of creating a good atmosphere for the third installment." This positive reception boosted team confidence for the final installment.

The game's success is attributed, in part, to director Hamaguchi's "logic-based approach." In a separate interview with Automaton, he explained a development policy that prioritizes player feedback that enhances, rather than contradicts, the overall vision. As translated by Automaton, "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."

The Rise of PC Gaming

The developers also discussed the growing popularity of PC gaming. Kitase acknowledged the industry trend, noting the rising development costs and the need to reach a broader audience. He highlighted the global reach of PCs compared to consoles, stating, "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."

Hamaguchi explained that the team prioritized a swift PC port of Rebirth, aiming for a faster turnaround than the first game's PC release. He 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."

Based on the positive experiences with the first two installments, the final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy is highly anticipated. The possibility of a faster PC release for Part 3 is also exciting news for global fans.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available now on PC via Steam and PlayStation 5. Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.