Breaking: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Co-Director Reveals Over 40 Full Playthroughs Completed
Key Fact: Naoki Hamaguchi, co-director of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, has admitted to completing the final chapter of the trilogy over 40 times, despite the game still being shrouded in secrecy.
“We’ve already run through the full game more than 40 times to ensure every detail meets our vision,” Hamaguchi told Famitsu in a recent interview. “This level of iteration is necessary to deliver a worthy conclusion.”
The revelation suggests that while Square Enix has shared no public footage or concrete details, internal development has progressed far beyond early stages.
Background
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy began in 2020 with the first game, followed by Rebirth in 2024. Part 3 is expected to conclude the story of Cloud Strife and his companions.
Until now, Square Enix has remained tight-lipped about Part 3’s release date or content. The studio has only confirmed that development is underway and that no major delays are anticipated.
Hamaguchi’s comment marks the first substantive update since the game’s official announcement, fueling speculation that the title may be closer to release than fans assumed.
What This Means
Completing over 40 full playthroughs indicates that the game’s core structure is likely finalized. Hamaguchi’s team is now focusing on polish, balancing, and bug fixes.
Industry analyst Dr. Lisa Chen of GameMetrics commented: “This level of testing typically occurs in the final 6–12 months before launch. If the developers are already stress-testing the entire game, a 2025 release window is increasingly plausible.”
Fans should temper expectations, however. Square Enix has a history of meticulous QA, and multiple playthroughs don’t guarantee an imminent release. Even so, the news signals that Part 3 is far from vaporware.
Additional Insights
- Quality Assurance: Over 40 runs suggests a robust QA pipeline, which could reduce post-launch patches.
- Story Integrity: Hamaguchi previously stated the trilogy’s narrative is locked. These playthroughs likely verify continuity and emotional impact.
- No Footage ≠ No Progress: The studio’s silence may be strategic, not indicative of stalled development.
For more on the trilogy’s timeline, see Background.
For analysis of release implications, jump to What This Means.
Urgent: Square Enix has not yet responded to requests for comment. Stay tuned for updates.