Final fantasy vii remake part 3: director hints at key locations, gameplay shifts

Square Enix is accelerating development on Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, with the director revealing significant details about the highly anticipated installment. While a release date remains elusive, the game is reportedly playable internally and could arrive sooner than expected.

Cloud and co. return to familiar ground

Speaking to Bloomberg, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Hiroki Hamaguchi confirmed that the third part of the remake will revisit beloved locales from the original Final Fantasy VII. Expect trips to Wutai, Rocket Town, and significant exploration around Yuffie's homeland, promising a deeper dive into her character arc.

The iconic Highwind airship will also play a pivotal role, functioning not just as a narrative element but as a central, playable component of the open world. Hamaguchi emphasized that while building upon the foundation of Rebirth, the trilogy won't simply be a rehash. Structural and system changes are on the horizon, though specifics remain under wraps.

Fans can anticipate the reintroduction of classic mechanics like chocobo travel and potential underwater segments. The combat and progression systems are also being refined to leverage the experience gained from the previous games. The script for the entire trilogy is reportedly finalized, aiming for a balance of faithfulness to the source material and surprising twists.

The rapid progress stems from a significant personnel shift; 95% of the team that worked on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been reassigned to Part 3. While no concrete release window has been announced, Hamaguchi suggests the JRPG is “not too far in the future,” with some speculating a 2027 launch coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the original.

The Japanese developer is keen to avoid being outpaced by other studios in the JRPG space. The studio’s commitment to this flagship franchise is evident, and the pressure to deliver a memorable conclusion is palpable.