Excitement is building for fans of the *Final Fantasy 7* series as the long-awaited Part 3 of the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* trilogy has now completed its story. In a recent interview with Famitsu, director Naoki Hamaguchi and producer Yoshinori Kitase shared promising updates about the development of the third installment, ensuring fans that the project is moving forward without any delays.
Development On Schedule, No Delays For Its Upcoming Release
Image from Famitsu
As *Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth* gears up for its PC port launch, Hamaguchi and Kitase provided an optimistic outlook on the third game's progress. 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 a relief to fans eager to see the trilogy's conclusion.
Kitase added that the main scenario for Part 3 was completed by the end of 2023, following his earlier comments before *FF7 Rebirth's* PlayStation 5 release in February 2024. He expressed satisfaction with the completed story, which was crafted by Tetsuya Nomura, the Creative Director of *FF7 Rebirth*. "I gave it \[the storywriting\] to 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," Kitase said. He believes the final installment will offer a fulfilling conclusion to the trilogy.
Team Admits That They Were Worried About Rebirth’s Release At First
The release of *Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth* in early 2024 was met with worldwide acclaim, yet the development team initially harbored concerns about its reception. Kitase shared with Famitsu, "I was worried about how it would resonate with players and game fans because it was a remake and the second in a trilogy." However, the positive feedback from critics and fans alike alleviated these concerns, boosting the team's confidence for the upcoming finale. Hamaguchi noted, "In that sense, I think we have done our job of creating a good atmosphere for the third installment."
The success of *Rebirth* can be attributed to its compelling storyline and engaging gameplay, which Hamaguchi attributes to a "logic-based approach" to development. In an interview with Automaton, he explained the team's method 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 interview also touched on the growing trend of PC gaming. Kitase noted the shift in the gaming industry, saying, "It’s the trend of the times, and from a manufacturer’s point of view, development costs are rising, hence the need to deliver to a much wider market." He highlighted the global reach of PCs, 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."
Responding to this trend, the team prioritized the PC port of *FF7 Rebirth*. Hamaguchi mentioned, "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 the experiences gained from the first two releases, anticipation for the grand finale of the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* trilogy is high. Fans can expect the third installment to be available on PC sooner, broadening the accessibility of the complete Remake Project.
*Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth* is now available on PC via Steam and on its original platform, the PlayStation 5. For those yet to embark on this epic journey, *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* is accessible on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
