Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy advances with Square Enix’s development update

The development of the third and final installment in the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy is progressing smoothly, according to recent statements from Square Enix leadership. The update comes following the successful launch of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Development efforts for the trilogy’s conclusion kicked off with pre-production in June 2022, transitioning into full production after Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s February 2024 release. Game director Naoki Hamaguchi expressed optimism about the project’s current state during an interview with Famitsu, noting that development is proceeding “very well” and maintaining its intended schedule without major obstacles.

Series producer Yoshinori Kitase joined Hamaguchi in the interview, sharing insights about the game’s narrative foundation. The story framework for the final chapter has been completed, with Kitase expressing high satisfaction with the creative direction. While both executives appear confident about the project’s trajectory, they have not yet committed to a specific release timeframe.

Square Enix streamlines development process for trilogy finale

The development timeline for the series has shown consistent improvement throughout the trilogy. The first remake required approximately five years of active development, while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was completed in roughly four years, despite facing delays related to the global pandemic.

This increased efficiency can be attributed to Square Enix’s ability to repurpose assets from previous entries, potentially setting up a shorter development cycle for the final chapter. Following the pattern established by its predecessors, the concluding chapter is anticipated to launch initially as a PlayStation exclusive before expanding to PC and potentially other platforms. This approach mirrors the recent multi-platform expansion of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which made its PC debut on January 23.