Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake will, in fact, be a trilogy.
Announced earlier today, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth will be the second of three planned instalments, which will combine to re-tell the story of the seminal PlayStation One game. That is, in its own way, as fans will note that there were some differences in the first part of this remake trilogy.
Those behind the project have revealed that Rebirth is in full production mode, and say it’s progressing well. In fact, some members of the team have already started work on the third and final game.
“Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is being designed so that people can enjoy this game whether they know the original game or not,” creative director Tetsuya Nomura said in a statement following the game’s announcement. “In fact, new players might even enjoy starting their Final Fantasy VII journey with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Cloud and his friends embark on a new journey in this game, and I believe that the scenes that they witness after leaving Midgar will give players a fresh, new experience.”
“Three years may feel like a long time for all the fans who are eagerly awaiting the next game, but we want to offer the best experience possible and reassure everyone that development is proceeding at an astonishingly fast pace for such a large-scale HD title,” Yoshinori Kitase, Final Fantasy 7 Remake series producer, said in a statement. “Making the middle part of a trilogy has its own challenges, but there are plenty of classic second installments in the world of film that are defined by stunning story twists and deeper explorations of their characters. Often these second installments become a favorite amongst the fans. In the same vein, we are aiming to make Final Fantasy VII Rebirth an even more gripping and memorable experience than Final Fantasy VII Remake, so please wait a little longer while we finish up.”
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth will be released ‘next winter,’ with some thinking that this means a late 2023 or early 2024 release.