FF7 Rebirth Development Is ‘Going Extremely Well’
▼ Summary
– Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth are coming to Switch 2 and Xbox, with the Switch 2 port focusing on optimizing lighting and effects to match the PS5 version’s quality.
– The development team found the Xbox Series S to be “quite high in terms of specs” and encountered only minor memory issues, while the Switch 2 port was considered feasible early in the hardware review process.
– Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is already in a “working state” on Switch 2, and the team aims to make the entire trilogy available on all platforms, though a day-one multiplatform release for the third part is unconfirmed.
– Development on the third and final part of the remake trilogy is progressing well, with much of the content playable and the team now focused on refinement.
– Director Naoki Hamaguchi cited the live-action Beauty and the Beast remake as an inspiration for reinterpreting FF7’s story, and he expressed personal interest in remaking Final Fantasy 6 after completing the current project.
The development of the highly anticipated third chapter in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is reportedly progressing smoothly, according to project director Naoki Hamaguchi. With the first two parts now available on PlayStation and PC, and ports for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox platforms confirmed for the future, the team is focused on delivering a consistent experience across all systems.
A significant technical challenge for the team was adapting the game for the Nintendo Switch 2. Hamaguchi explained that the key to a successful port lay in meticulously recreating the lighting and character expressions to match the quality of the PlayStation 5 version. By carefully balancing post-processing effects and atmospheric elements like fog, the development team aimed to minimize noticeable differences for players. He noted that the possibility of a Switch 2 version became apparent early on, once Square Enix received the initial hardware specifications from Nintendo.
Interestingly, work on the Xbox version was already underway before the team began its work on the Switch 2 port. Hamaguchi addressed potential concerns about the less powerful Xbox Series S, stating that while some memory limitations were encountered, he still considers the console’s specs to be “quite high.” The plan extends beyond just the first game; the more graphically intensive Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is also in a “working state” for the Switch 2. Hamaguchi expressed a strong desire to make the entire trilogy available on all platforms, though he stopped short of confirming a simultaneous multi-platform release for the final installment.
Regarding the trilogy’s conclusion, Hamaguchi shared an encouraging update, revealing that development is going extremely well. A substantial amount of the game’s content is already in a playable state, with the core direction and structure firmly established. The team is now concentrated on the refinement phase, polishing the experience to meet fan expectations.
While the remakes have been largely praised, questions about Rebirth‘s sales performance and the narrative direction of the new storylines persist. Hamaguchi countered these concerns by stating that Rebirth has been “doing very well on both PS5 and PC.” He also drew an interesting parallel to his creative process, citing the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast as a major influence. He admired how that film retained the original story’s heart while deconstructing its presentation to captivate a modern audience, an approach he has applied to reinterpreting Final Fantasy 7.
Looking beyond the current project, Hamaguchi confessed that a remake of Final Fantasy VI, his personal favorite in the series, would be a dream project. After dedicating over a decade to the FF7 remakes, he also expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of eventually working on something entirely new.
(Source: kotaku)
