Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy is rapidly heading toward its much-anticipated conclusion. Following the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake in 2020 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in 2024, expectations are higher than ever for the next entry in the series.
Square Enix previously also teased a transition to Unreal Engine 5 for the trilogy’s conclusion, but in a new interview, the team has confirmed that it has decided against shifting to Unreal Engine 5.
Speaking to GameSpot, director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 will be powered by Unreal Engine 4, the same engine used for the first two entries of the trilogy.
The director confirmed that this decision was made based on the team’s experience with the technology. Hamaguchi said that the team modified Unreal Engine 4 to fit its specific needs, making this customized version ideal for the last game as well.
Although Unreal Engine 5 would have offered more cutting-edge features like Lumen and Nanite, the team ultimately found the trade-off between efficiency and new technology worth retaining the already familiar Unreal Engine 4.
“We’ve been using Unreal Engine 4. It’s more beneficial to have something we’re already familiar with and have customized to fit our needs.” – Naoki Hamaguchi
Generally, Square Enix has done a solid job on the technical elements of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth. Therefore, going by its own track record, the team should be able to deliver striking visuals and gameplay, even with an older version of Unreal Engine.
In the same interview, the director confirmed that a title for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 has been decided. Hamaguchi also touched upon potential AI use within the trilogy’s finale, noting that he does not mind letting AI take over mundane tasks like QA testing to free up resources for other, more important tasks.
