Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi has clarified that the development of the third entry in the Remake project is progressing smoothly despite the franchise’s growing multiplatform approach. Speaking with Easy Allies during Tokyo Game Show 2025, Hamaguchi addressed concerns surrounding the game’s release schedule as the series expands to Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox platforms.
According to Hamaguchi, work is currently underway on both Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for the Switch 2 and the third installment of the Remake series. He emphasized that separate teams are assigned to each version to ensure there is no disruption to the overall timeline. “So those two are going in tandem at the same time. But as for the third installment, we do have designated teams working on each platform so that our multiplatform approach won’t impact the development whatsoever. So the development for both Nintendo Switch 2 Rebirth and the third installment are going very smoothly,” Hamaguchi said.
The director also acknowledged that the Xbox version presented some technical challenges. “As for the Xbox version, like many other publishers, I think we did see some issues with the lack of memory compared to other platforms,” he explained. However, his outlook on the Switch 2 was notably positive. He noted that the team devoted significant effort to the port and expressed confidence in the results. “As for the Switch 2 releases, we actually had the main dev team work really hard on it. And I think as a result, we’re pretty confident with the end product and we did get some great reviews for FF7 Remake Intergrade. So I hope the fans look forward to it.”
Looking ahead, Hamaguchi was also asked about the future of the combat system introduced in the Remake series. While he stated that he does not intend to reuse the battle mechanics in their exact form, he suggested that an evolution of the system could appear in his future projects. “To keep it fresh, you want to keep it surprising for our players. But I think it is very possible for me to kind of take the FF7 Remake battle system as a basis—have something that derives from that as an evolution,” he commented.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is set to be released on January 22, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S|X. Additionally, both Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Part 3 of the remake saga are planned for release on the Switch 2 and Xbox platforms. While Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is confirmed to launch first on PS5, it is currently unclear whether all platforms will have access to it on the same day.
