Naoki Hamaguchi once again We're talking to video game journalists about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. At this point I'm pretty sure the guy doesn't sleep. The series' co-director is hard at work on the as-yet-untitled third and final parts, but with both the first and second parts set to release for Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series
What's the latest news? In a conversation with German publication ntower, Hamaguchi commented on the hype for the playable Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine for Part 3. He also talked about summons and the possibility of DLC, especially if FF7 Rebirth doesn't have it.
When it comes to stupid rumors, it might also be the nail in the coffin
Before we get into the meat of the matter, let me note that there are incredible rumors going around about a remake part 3. I did not report it directly because it is very unlikely and the source is unknown. But there are posts on ResetEra that I honestly don't even intend to link to (among many other things). three A new playable character in the finale. Cid and Vincent are the obvious two, considering they are the last OG Final Fantasy 7 party members that players cannot directly control, but there is also a mysterious third member.
Of course, I don't think Naoki Hamaguchi will spoil that here and now before Square Enix lifts the lid on Part 3 and begins its marketing campaign. But to remind longtime fans that Ntower actually has two more people to add to the party roster, he doubled down on the hype factor for Cid and Vincent in particular by saying it was very much a confirmation of expectations.
“And I can't say too much (laughs), but in the final game, both Vincent and Cid are designed with incredibly compelling combat abilities. They're characters that everyone really wants to try out.” -Naoki Hamaguchi
As Hamaguchi himself acknowledged shortly before commenting here, Yuffie Kisaragi, who was originally designed as a “standalone protagonist” for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Episode Intermission DLC, is “incredibly versatile.” He, like me, usually includes Yuffie in his active parties. It seems possible that both Cid and Vincent will be great additions, as the retelling of the trilogy elevates the plot of the original Final Fantasy 7 to the highest level. (There really is. too much There are still some left to draw.)
As we all know, when it comes to DLC, Remake got a big one while Rebirth got nothing. Why did Rebirth get nowhere? Some may cynically (but with some real justification) point out that launch sales for the second part were noticeably down compared to the first. Square will certainly want to rush things. And while that makes sense, it's worth noting that Hamaguchi and others have repeatedly emphasized that Rebirth's own sales have turned around significantly in the two years it's been on the market. Well then, bye. If there was a crisis, it was avoided.
Here's what he said himself in the same interview:
“With regard to FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, we seriously considered the possibility of developing story DLC right before the project officially entered the planning stages. However, we concluded that in the context of a long-term trilogy, proceeding with DLC development for the second installment in parallel with the third would inevitably impact the schedule and overall quality of the third game.”
Remake's DLC is also designed for clever, compelling reasons to encourage owners of early PS4 versions to switch to PS5 via the Intergrade port. FF7 Rebirth exists in a variety of situations. It's entirely possible that there will be a PS6 port at some point, but no such next-level leap was made between the release of Rebirth and Part 3. But what for Part 3? So can we see the DLC? maybe:
“As for DLC beyond Part 3, we believe it will ultimately depend on how strongly fans continue to support FINAL FANTASY VII, both the title and the franchise. If there is significant demand, we will certainly be able to actively explore that possibility.”
My amateur analysis is a pleasant way of saying that Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Grand Finale sales would have to be relatively high for SE to justify its cost. How high is it? Who knows? If they can at least keep things somewhat stable with Rebirth's slow rise into successful territory, that might be enough. However, things are always changing and this does not guarantee Part 3 DLC. So just because it doesn't come to fruition doesn't necessarily mean the game is some kind of commercial dud.
Lastly, ntower's interviewer deftly asked Hamaguchi about whether fans will see the beloved Knights of the Round summon in Part 3. (My money is on that.) Without direct confirmation, Hamaguchi's answer was close enough to my belief.
“There are a lot of elements that are iconic to FINAL FANTASY VII, and I definitely think the visual effects of the Knights of the Round and Sephiroth's Supernova are the most iconic, but at this point I can't be specific about how these elements will be handled in the trilogy or what decisions will be made. […] That said, I'm personally very curious, both as a developer and as a fan of the original, to see how we can best recreate that iconic moment for today's audiences.”
If you're really curious, Mr. Hamaguchi, from now on… uh, whenever Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is actually released, I'm sure we'll be seeing KOTR with awesome remake graphics. Hopefully we'll get a nice big trailer at Summer Game Fest.
Take-Two Boss admits Civilization 7's massive changes make it a “bridge too far”
But changes are afoot that will help Civ 7 stand the test of time.
