With the story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ending on a deliberately confusing cliffhanger, anticipation for part 3 of Square Enix’s Remake trilogy is already running high.
While Square Enix has confirmed that the game’s plot and overall concept are complete and development is progressing smoothly, many details remain under wraps. Still, by looking closely at what the developers have already said, and by looking at how Remake and Rebirth set the stage, we can try and speculate about the title, gameplay, story direction, and title for Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3.
Title
Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi had confirmed that the official title would be finalized in 2025. As such, while it has yet to be announced, the title has already locked in.
Both previous entries follow a clear naming pattern, beginning with “Re” i.e. Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and the prequel Crisis Core is subtitled Reunion. As such, it’s highly likely that Part 3 will continue this trend. Hamaguchi described the third installment as a culmination that will unify every story thread into a conclusion designed to leave a lasting impression.
The title of “Reawakening” would align with the idea unifying every story thread into a conclusion, particularly surrounding Cloud’s fractured psyche and the true nature of Sephiroth’s plan. Meanwhile, the title of “Requiem” feels thematically appropriate for a finale, especially given the heavy emphasis on loss, memory, and emotional resolution that the developers have highlighted when discussing Rebirth’s ending. On the other hand, the title of “Retribution” could serve to reflect the final confrontation with Sephiroth and the consequences of the events set in motion across multiple timelines.
Story
From a story perspective, the developers have repeatedly clarified that the Remake trilogy will not betray fans of the original. According to Yoshinori Kitase, while the ending of Rebirth was intentionally confusing, the original game has always been kept firmly in mind. The confusion is meant to reflect Cloud’s perspective, his inability to accept loss, his fractured memories, and his emotional turmoil, rather than signaling a complete narrative departure.
A key unresolved element is the Black Materia. At the end of Rebirth, Cloud is shown in possession of it, with the Materia absorbed into his Buster Sword before the party heads north. In the original game, this leads to Cloud eventually delivering it to Sephiroth under Jenova’s influence, allowing Meteor to be summoned. Aerith’s vow to stop the Meteor in Rebirth strongly suggests that this chain of events is still central, though the developers have hinted that things may not play out exactly as before.
Aerith’s role remains one of the biggest questions heading into Part 3. While she appears to die in Rebirth, the game deliberately ends with multiple potential interpretations. Did Cloud truly save her, creating a new timeline? Or was this a manifestation of his deteriorating mental state, exploited by Jenova and Sephiroth? Aerith’s promise to stop Meteor, even after her apparent death, suggests that her influence on events is far from over, whether through the Lifestream or some altered version of reality.
Gameplay
On the gameplay front, combat director Teruki Endo has explicitly stated that the goal for Part 3 is to offer players “even more freedom” than Rebirth, which already significantly expanded exploration, combat variety, and player choice compared to Remake. One noteworthy contributor to this freedom will be the Highwind airship. Unlike the Tiny Bronco, which only allowed limited traversal, the Highwind will let players fly freely across the world map. Hamaguchi has stressed that the team is not “cheating” this system, and that players will genuinely be able to explore the world from above, experiencing it from an entirely new perspective.
The battle system is also set to evolve further. Rebirth introduced synergy skills and abilities, refined aerial combat, and gave each character a more distinct playstyle. Part 3 will build on this foundation with new combat mechanics, including an undisclosed new gameplay system tied specifically to Tifa. Hamaguchi has stated that Tifa will be portrayed as a “new and strong” version of herself, distinct from her roles in the first two games. Perhaps the development team will also add a jump button to improve traversal and to give players more control during aerial combat. Furthermore, Cid, Vincent, and perhaps even Cissnei, will both join the party of playable characters in Part 3, complete with their own synergy abilities.
