“Well, at this time it’s best not to say whether Cissnei will appear or not, but there is one thing I can tell you,” replied Hamaguchi. “This Final Fantasy 7 Remake series is not simply a recreation of the original work, but rather, our goal is to create a single, new Final Fantasy 7 that incorporates the settings and concepts of all the previous spin-off titles, such as Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, and Crisis Core. Therefore, the appearance of Cissnei and the inclusion of Dirge of Cerberus Soldiers in the DLC, all have that meaning.”

“So, since that concept will of course carry over into Revelation as well, not limited to Cissnei, for the last entry, there will be characters that have appeared in the various FF7 compilation games that I think will be there, and each of these characters has a large and dedicated fanbase, so we want to create a work that can satisfy the feelings of those people.”

He went on to talk about how Cissnei has a lot of fans. “Whenever I talk to the media or fans, they very often ask me if Cissnei will appear or say they like Cissnei,” he laughed.

Fans of the original Final Fantasy 7 and its spin-offs shouldn’t find this too surprising, since we’ve seen many references to these spin-offs and even cross-media stories like novels throughout the trilogy so far. Final Fantasy 7 Remake, for instance, featured an appearance of Leslie Kyle during its Wall Market sections. This character made his first appearance in Final Fantasy VII The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story – a story published in Japan back in 2011. The same game also features the main antagonists of Dirge of Cerberus – Weiss and Nero – as VR missions in its Episode INTERmission DLC, which eventually got included with the base game as Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth saw similar inclusions. Along with the appearance of Cissnei, the title also included smaller references to other stories in the same universe, such as Tifa having a cat.

Earlier this month, Hamaguchi also spoke about how he had played through Final Fantasy 7 Revelation around 40 times, and how a certain emotional scene always ended up leaving him in tears.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is being developed for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and will be coming out in Spring 2027. For more details about why Square Enix decided to call the third entry in the trilogy Revelation, take a look at what Hamaguchi had to say about potentially calling it Resolve.

Hamaguchi also noted that we will see more of his character arc evolve, especially with his tendency to talk too much when he finds a subject he is keenly interested in.

“We understand that many fans are fond of Chadley,” he said. “However, whether he’s become a playable character is something we’re unable to comment on at this time.”

“That said, Chadley will continue to play an important role even in the final installment of the trilogy. His strong curiosity and tendency to talk a bit too much – inherent traits that he’s aware of and somewhat self-conscious about – will be further explored in the third game, too. It’d make me happy if players could warmly follow how Chadley becomes involved in the story and what role he takes in supporting it.”

Chadley was introduced quite early in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, acting as the central hub for players to take on additional combat challenges through VR missions. Through him, players could also unlock new summon materia. Chadley also gave us additional side objectives that could be completed over the course of the game, like using the Assess skill on a certain number of enemies or causing specific enemies to get Staggered.

Through this, players could get their hands on powerful materia like Parry, First Strike, and Skill Master. Completing all of Chadley’s challenges also opened up a final optional boss fight—Bahamut—which rewarded players with the Bahamut Summon materia.

The character returned in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, frequently appearing in new towns that players traveled to and giving out more optional objectives to complete. Chadley, along with an AI he created named MAI, was also responsible for many of the game’s open-world activities. However, his presence in the game started to wear thin for many players owing to how often he would keep talking.

Chadley’s impact on the story in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 remains to be seen. However, Hamaguchi had previously said that the team has no plans to bring in large changes to the original Final Fantasy 7 story. He spoke about trusting the game’s writer, Kazushige Nojima, to not bring in large changes, since it was “one of the aspects of development we were most sensitive about.”

“When it comes to the overarching story, I place my trust in what Kazushige Nojima writes and have no intention of altering that based on my judgment,” he said. “However, with the significant increase in visual fidelity in these remakes, arranging events and the passage of time exactly as they were in the original game can sometimes result in scenes that feel implausible.

“When changes in time or dates don’t feel convincing, it also breaks the player’s emotional engagement.”

In the meantime, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S on June 3rd. For more details, here is everything you need to know about its Xbox Series X/S release.

Standalone Second Entry in a Remake Trilogy

First released in 2024, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second title in a planned remake trilogy of the revered 1997 action RPG. Following Cloud Strife and his band of eco-warriors, Rebirth picks up where Remake left off, taking you into the wider world en route to The Forgotten Capital following the collapse of Midgar. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, that’s really all you need to know. The developer has expanded the original game’s story sufficiently enough that dropping in midway shouldn’t hamper the overall experience – Rebirth is a standalone entry.

Mix of Real-Time and Turn-Based Combat

Unlike the 1997 predecessor, which featured exclusively turn-based combat, the Remake Trilogy uses a hybrid system, weaving real-time action into its original three-party-member design. Rebirth, however, introduces some refinement over Remake, making combat much more fluid and fast-paced: aerial manoeuvres, for one, are more common amongst characters, while many utility moves are now a part of a character’s standard moveset. Blocks and Parries negate damage whilst building Active Time Battle (ATB) Points, which can be spent in turn on special abilities, magic, or utility items. Whilst there’s a lot for novices to understand, FF7 Rebirth’s combat caters to a variety of skill levels. It can be as simple or as complex as you like.

Synergy Abilities Unlock Your Potential

That said, if you want to become a true master of Rebirth’s hybrid combat system you’ll need to execute Synergy Abilities, where two characters combine techniques to unleash more powerful attacks; made all-the-more devastating if you’ve worked your enemy into a “Stagger” state. Synergy systems, overall, have been expanded for Rebirth, supported further by a Party Levelling System which upgrades your chosen group simultaneously, reinforcing their bond and strengthening their combinable abilities.

Xbox Version Launches with Streamlined Progression

Whether you’re unconvinced by Rebirth’s combat, you’re desperate to engage with the story, or you simply don’t want to grind, then Streamlined Progression – launching with the Xbox version – will make progressing through fights a trivial breeze. When active, all hits deal colossal damage, while resources such as Materia Points – the magical weapon and armour augments – health, and ATB gauges will remain at their maximum. Limit Breaks – special moves ordinarily charged by taking damage, using specific Synergy abilities, or staggering enemies – will be freely available in Streamlined Progression mode too.

Enhanced Visual Modes on Xbox Series X

On Xbox Series X, FF7 Rebirth offers multiple visual modes, with the standout being a 4K-targeting Graphics Mode which will prioritise image fidelity, environmental detail, more defined character models, plus overall clarity. This mode, however, won’t operate at a consistent 60fps, so a Performance Mode is also available if smoothness is your preference.

VRR Support and SSD Optimisation

The game also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) which should help to smooth any performance friction during visually demanding sections. Combined with optimisation for the Xbox Series X|S SSD, load times are kept short, allowing for quick transitions across the ginormous open world, whether by fast travel or riding a Chocobo across the plains.

Spatial Audio and HDR10 Support

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Xbox Series X|S enhancements go beyond visual with full support for Xbox Spatial Sound. Bringing immersive 3D audio positioning, from enemies approaching from off-screen or environmental ambience breathing life into the world. Three formats are supported: the free Windows Sonic, and paid for Dolby Atmos and DTS Sound Unbound. Elsewhere, HDR10 support rounds out the overall presentation on Xbox Series X|S, improving contrast, brightness, and colour depth. Collectively, these Xbox-specific features bring richness and dynamism to players on Microsoft’s console platform.

Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and Cross-Save

Xbox Playwhere Anywhere support means a single digital purchase of FF7 Rebirth can be played across both Xbox consoles and PC at no extra cost. Sweetening the deal further, cross-save functionality ensures that your progress carries over seamlessly between platforms, ensuring that if you were to switch from console to handheld PC, for instance, your game will continue without losing momentum.

Returning Remake Players Can Access Exclusive Bonuses

If you have an existing save file from Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on your Xbox or PC you can unlock exclusive Leviathan Summon Materia bonuses in Rebirth. Now, this bonus isn’t found in the world, but accessed via the system’s DLC menu, and it’s worth doing as Leviathan is a powerful summoning option. Furthermore, if you’ve played through Yuffie’s Episode INTERmission DLC, and have a save file to back it up, then you’ll also be able to acquire a Summon Materia.

Xbox Velocity Architecture Support

Both Xbox Series X and Series S versions will take advantage of Xbox Velocity Architecture, which hastens storage and data streaming, significantly reducing loading bottlenecks by freeing up processing power otherwise reserved for CPU-related overheads. Together with other speed-related systems, like the game’s SSD optimisation, it allows for smoother world traversal by rendering detail quickly – a point especially crucial given the importance of expansive exploration throughout Rebirth.

Series X vs Series S Differences

While both consoles deliver the full FF7 Rebirth experience, there are, as expected, a handful of technical differences. Xbox Series X, of course, targets higher resolutions and more stable performance through the aforementioned Graphics and Performance modes, while Series S opts for a lower maximum pixel count in the region of 1440p at 30fps with Graphics enabled and 1080p at 60fps during Performance. Series S, however, also includes a “Balanced” mode, striking a middle ground between fidelity and performance, with a purported 800p at an unstable 60fps offering you more flexibility in how you experience the game.

Digital Deluxe Edition Overview

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game alongside a selection of bonus DLC content including Magic Pot Summoning Materia, a Reclaimant Choker accessory, and Orchid Bracelet Armour. Also includes access to Digital Artbooks; for the relatively light jump in price over the Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition could prove a worthwhile upgrade.

Release Date, Price, and Pre-Order Bonuses

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to release on Xbox Series X|S on June 3rd. Pricewise, you’re looking at $49.99 for the Standard Edition, and $64.99 for the Deluxe. There are a handful of bonuses if you pre-order, not least the 20% discount across the Xbox store running until release, but a pre-purchase DLC pack too. This contains: Moogle Trio and Posh Chocobo Summoning Materia, Shinra Bangle and Midgar Bangle Mk II armour.

No Game Pass Plans

For now, at least, presently there are no announced plans to bring FF7 Rebirth to Xbox Game Pass. However, the already-mentioned early purchase discount does make the game slightly more accessible if you’re planning to jump in at launch. Whether the game eventually lands on Game Pass remains to be seen.

Free Demo With Transferable Progress

If, after all this, you still need tipping over the edge there is a free demo available via Xbox’s online store, allowing you to play through an early portion of the game without committing to a purchase. What’s more, progress made during the demo can be transferred to the full release, while completing the demo entirely unlocks a bonus Kupo Charm and a set of consumables, including potions and ethers.

Director Naoki Hamaguchi previously said the trilogy won’t bring “large changes” to the original’s overarching narrative. So you can imagine his surprise at how far speculation has gone, especially for the third part of the remake. Don’t expect him to acknowledge or deny it anytime soon, either, since he obviously doesn’t want to spoil the surprise.

Speaking to Nintenderos (translation via GamesRadar), Hamaguchi said, “The moment we start doing that, the story ceases to be an experience to be received and becomes a search for the ‘right answer.'” If that sounds like there’s enough room for interpretation, that’s exactly what the team intended.

“The fact that this has generated so much discussion among fans is, to me, a clear sign that this design is working as we intended.” Of course, not all of it has been positive, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Hamaguchi accounted for this.

Otherwise, it’s the same old story – no release date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, much less an official title (though it has been decided internally). Announcement preparations are “steadily underway,” but when and where remains the big question. Thankfully, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 users can experience Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on June 3rd, at long last. Check out our review of the PS5 version to learn more about it.

“It wasn’t so much about ‘wanting’ to make it a trilogy – the accurate assessment is that, upon objectively evaluating the sheer volume of the story and the content that needed to be depicted, no option other than a trilogy was realistic,” he explained.

Among the changes made to Final Fantasy 7 to facilitate the trilogy was to heavily expand on the earlier parts of the story for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. While the city of Midgar served as a relatively small part of the larger RPG, the 2020 remake instead turned it into a dense, massive game in its own right. This level of density and sense of scale was the team’s intention with all of the locations of Final Fantasy 7.

“The Midgar segment of Final Fantasy 7 is a relatively short part of the original game, but it is incredibly dense with information regarding the game’s world, characters, and story,” he said. “It became clear early on that if we were to faithfully recreate this using modern techniques, we would need a substantial amount of content just to make it work as a standalone title.”

Hamaguchi also discussed the work that the team had to do in order to create clear breakpoints in the story of Final Fantasy 7, where each entry of the Remake trilogy could end. One example of this is the end of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

“In the original plan, the story didn’t clearly break at the forgotten capital and Aerith’s fate,” he said. “At that time, I suggested to producer [Yoshinori] Kitase-san, ‘Considering the narrative focus, wouldn’t it be better to treat Aerith’s fate as a natural break to this section?'”

Co-director Tetsuya Nomura added on to Hamaguchi’s statement by saying, “From there, the overall framework for the entire trilogy came together very smoothly.”

Just last month, Hamaguchi had also spoken about how the development team was avoiding making any large changes to the Final Fantasy 7 story, since it is “one of the aspects of development we were most sensitive about.” The few changes that were brought in, he said, were largely to better align the story’s emotional beats with the player’s own emotions and flow while playing the games.

“It wasn’t so much a matter of adding or changing the story, but rather adjusting things in a way that ensured that the player’s emotional pacing aligned with the flow of time,” Hamaguchi explained. “That process required revisiting scenes again and again, and honestly, it was one of the aspects of development we were most sensitive about.”

While no announcement has been made for a title or release date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, the studio is currently working on bringing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S on June 3rd. For more, check out our review of the Nintendo Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.

To achieve this, Hamaguchi spoke about having trust in the writer of the game, Kazushige Nojima. However, while there won’t be major changes to the story, he noted that the increased visual fidelity in the remake trilogy has led the studio to rearrange some of the story’s events, since they would “feel implausible” otherwise.

“When it comes to the overarching story, I place my trust in what Kazushige Nojima writes and have no intention of altering that based on my judgment,” he said. “However, with the significant increase in visual fidelity in these remakes, arranging events and the passage of time exactly as they were in the original game can sometimes result in scenes that feel implausible.

“When changes in time or dates don’t feel convincing, it also breaks the player’s emotional engagement.”

To help with this potential issue, Hamaguchi explained that the development team would have discussions to decide whether any given story beat would need more groundwork in order to hit the same emotional beats as the original Final Fantasy 7.

“It wasn’t so much a matter of adding or changing the story, but rather adjusting things in a way that ensured that the player’s emotional pacing aligned with the flow of time,” Hamaguchi explained. “That process required revisiting scenes again and again, and honestly, it was one of the aspects of development we were most sensitive about.”

While Square Enix has been largely quiet about Final Fantasy Remake Part 3, aside from confirmation that development has been progressing smoothly, Hamaguchi revealed in the same interview that the team has begun preparations to officially unveil the game.

“I’m unable to share concrete details at this time. What I can say is that development itself is proceeding on time and on schedule. We believe it’ll become a title we can deliver with confidence as the culmination of the trilogy,” he said. “We know many fans are eagerly waiting, and preparations toward the announcement are steadily underway. Please look forward to it just a little longer.”

This year saw the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, and June 3rd will see the second entry come to those platforms as well. In the meantime, a demo has been released on Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, giving players a taste of what they can expect from the massive second entry of the trilogy. In the meantime, check out our review of the Nintendo Switch 2 release, which we gave a score of 9 out of 10. Our only complaint was the fact that its frame rate is locked to 30 FPS.

Hamaguchi revealed that the difference in loading speeds when a game is pulling in data from the Switch 2’s internal storage is “roughly double” when compared to pulling it off a game cartridge. This is a big reason for the use of Game-Key Cards for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.

“There’s simply no way around key cards in certain respects,” said Hamaguchi. “If you compare loading directly from a game cartridge (containing all game data) to loading from the Nintendo Switch 2’s internal storage, the load speed difference is roughly double. Some have expressed concern that multiplatform development may impose constraints not only on graphics, but even on game design itself. However, this is precisely why we didn’t choose a cartridge.”

He went on to note that the game wasn’t built around the idea of loading in all of the required data right at the beginning. Rather, data is constantly loaded in and out in the course of gameplay, which means that the speed at which data can be loaded in becomes an important consideration for the developers. Along with this, Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges also offer lower storage than what the studio needs.

“Our game design isn’t built around loading all data upfront, with nothing further being loaded afterward,” Hamaguchi explained. “Even during gameplay, data is constantly swapped in and out, and given that premise, the loading speed from a game card would inevitably be insufficient, leading to stress for the player. In addition, with currently available cartridge capacity, there is the practical limitation that the full game data simply wouldn’t fit in the first place.”

“However, as long as we can secure the high-speed storage read speeds such as SSD or UFS (on Switch 2), the design we’re aiming for becomes achievable within the scope of optimization for each platform. For the third game in the trilogy, we’re proceeding with development with the goal of delivering a large-scale experience similar to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, so please rest assured on that point.”

Ultimately, Hamaguchi noted that Game-Key Cards are a major reason for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 at all. Load speeds and storage capacities simply weren’t high enough in the past. Now, however, the combination of Game-Key Cards lifting these restrictions and the Switch 2’s “impressive” performance has allowed the team to start bringing the trilogy to a new audience.

“In the past, when faced with practical issues related to load speed and storage capacity we couldn’t resolve, we had to decide not to release on Nintendo systems. However, Nintendo Switch 2’s performance is impressive, and with a key card format like FFVII Remake, releasing the games became possible,” he said.

Hamaguchi had made similar comments about Game-Key Cards back in October, noting that while he understands why some may not like it, the technology is simply not one that can be avoided. Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick, on the other hand, has called the system “disheartening” from a video game preservation standpoint.

In the meantime, check out our review of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the Nintendo Switch 2.

“That’s a good question, and also, a very difficult question [to answer],” said Hamaguchi when asked about whether he and his team have been savoring their final few months with the trilogy. “We want to see it through, and we want to meet, if not surpass, fan expectations with the final installment. But it would be a lie to say that I haven’t thought, ‘Oh no! There’s still more I have to get through!’ Especially when transitioning from the first to second game. But now that we are seeing the conclusion of the trilogy, there is no wavering. We are focused and want to see it through.”

Leaving behind something you might have worked on for over a decade can understandably be a challenging thing, especially when taking the context of Final Fantasy 7‘s popularity into account. Hamaguchi had spoken in the past, however, that he hopes to work alongside the same team again on future projects. Back in October, he spoke about how the team had bonded throughout their time on the project, and how this helped them improve quite a bit.

“I think once we have got out the third game in the series, and hopefully it’s a big success,” he said. “We’ll definitely move on to something else, and it’d be great to see what that team that we’ve managed to build up together produces. I don’t know if it’s the right way of talking about it, but the bonds, the relationship between the team has definitely improved a lot and strengthened that team.”

Whether this next project will be yet another game in the Final Fantasy series or whether it will be something new altogether is also currently unknown. Despite this, however, Hamaguchi noted that fans of the Remake trilogy can also look forward to the team’s next release.

“I can’t say at this point what that’s going to be, whether it’s going to be a completely new game, completely new IP, whether it’s gonna be something new within the Final Fantasy series, but I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I think fans who’ve seen what our work has been on the Remake series, the three games, will really look forward to this exciting, new gameplay experience. What we work on after that, I’m very much looking forward to working on that myself as well.”

The most recent entry in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy was 2024’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and development on the third game has been described as going well. In another recent interview, Hamaguchi also confirmed that the third game will feature a “powered-up version” of fan-favorite mini-game Queen’s Blood.

In the meantime, also check out our review of the recent Nintendo Switch 2 release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade.

What stands out instantly about Remake’s Switch 2 port is just how drop dead gorgeous it looks. The game has, of course, always been a technical showcase, even back when it first launched on the PS4, and on the Switch 2, it looks similarly breathtaking, to the point where it really has to be seen to be believed.

"During my time with this port, I also noticed some brief frame rate drops during cutscenes, but thankfully, they were far from major and didn’t really get in the way of the experience."

From the slums of Sector 7 to the dense, bustling metropolis of Midgar’s hubs of civilization, from the proudly over the top action sequences to the magnificent views of sweeping landscapes, Final Fantasy 7 Remake never stops flexing its technical and artistic muscles on the Switch 2. Whether you’re playing in handheld mode or in console mode, it genuinely does look good enough to go toe to toe with Intergrade’s PS5 release (for the most part).

There are, of course, some minor visual and technical issues here and there, as you would expect. Characters’ hair frequently has an uncanny translucent quality, while some textures (especially those off in the distance) can occasionally look muddy or take a second to properly load in. In terms of performance, the game is locked at 30 FPS, and especially for a game like this one, that’s a bit disappointing- FF7 Remake’s high octane, pedal to the metal, blistering action is obviously best suited to 60 FPS, and it’s disappointing that that isn’t at least an option in the Switch 2 version. During my time with this port, I also noticed some brief frame rate drops during cutscenes, but thankfully, they were far from major and didn’t really get in the way of the experience.

Barring those few minor technical hiccups – most of which are rather easy to ignore – Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a visual and technical marvel on the Nintendo Switch 2. On the gameplay front, meanwhile, it’s exactly as compelling of an experience as it always has been. The 2020 action RPG’s greatest strength has always been its combat, and that continues to shine through still.

"Every location you visit in Midgar feels unique, alive, and dense, and exploring every nook and cranny never loses its charm."

Each playable character is a joy to control, the ATB system perfectly balances turn based systems with real time action, and combining all the different mechanics – from Limit Breaks to the simple but effective progression and customization systems and more – to wreak havoc on enemies feels immensely satisfying. A particular highlight are the boss fights, which combine cinematic action with mechanical strength perfectly almost every single time.

Those who’ve played Final Fantasy 7 Remake before will, of course, tell you that outside of the combat, the game suffers from some design issues, such as linear and uninteresting level design, or unimaginative side quests that mostly feel like filler content. But while those issues do obviously persist (there’s little to no gameplay changes in this port, as you would expect, barring a new streamlined progression option to minimize grinding), personally, I continue to find them easy to forgive, given just how much the game does in other areas.

Every location you visit in Midgar feels unique, alive, and dense, and exploring every nook and cranny never loses its charm. Of course, the exploration is nowhere near as engaging as it is in Remake’s spectacular 2024 sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but in and of itself, FF7 Remake does more than enough to ensure that players can lose themselves in its wondrous, grimy, cyberpunk-esque setting.

The game is also a narrative tour de force. That’s not to say it doesn’t have flaws – it has pretty noticeable ones, in fact, from the excessive anime grunts in pretty much every cutscene in the game to long stretches that feel like they’re being dragged out more than they should – but just as it was when Final Fantasy 7 Remake first launched in 2020, it’s still incredible to witness it not only recreate the legendary original title’s story and its most iconic moments (in part, at least), but also add to them and twist and remix them in unexpected ways.

Especially after having played Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and knowing where the story is going, it’s a ton of fun to go back to Remake and see what seeds its planting and what future events it is cleverly foreshadowing- and it can be really clever about how it does all of it.

"If you choose to play it on the Switch 2, you’re absolutely not going to go wrong."

Prior knowledge of the original FF7 or of what happens next in Rebirth is by no means required to be able to enjoy Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but if that is how you choose to experience the game, you’re going to have a much fuller, more engaging experience. Even now, years on from its original launch, it’s impressive to see Final Fantasy 7 Remake simultaneously trying to be a remake and a sequel (of sorts) as well as it does.

For the last few years, it has seemed inevitable that Final Fantasy 7 Remake won’t be bound to PlayStation exclusivity for long, and now that it is finally making its way to other consoles, I can confidently say that it’s been worth the wait. The ambitious action RPG was a must play for new and returning fans alike back when it first released, and half a decade later, its Nintendo Switch 2 version is just as impressive.

Some minor technical concessions might hold it back from being the game’s definitive version – I’d say Intergrade’s PS5 release still holds that crown – but even if you choose to play it on the Switch 2, you’re absolutely not going to go wrong. This is an excellent port of an excellent game, and I cannot wait to see Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth inevitably following suit.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

“There’s not a huge amount of information I can share in terms of future games, but I can reassure players that we’re working on the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second game in the series, and the third game too,” said Hamaguchi, who also went on to note that development on the Switch 2 port of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is happening simultaneously along with other platforms. “They are being worked on for Nintendo Switch 2 alongside the other platforms right now.”

He also reassured fans of the series that the Switch 2 ports won’t be different from other versions from a gameplay standpoint, since he wants to avoid consumer confusion about which platform is the ideal place to play the games.

“One thing to reassure the fans who want to play these games on Nintendo Switch 2: I’ve got a personal policy where I don’t want to make any versions of my games different or offer a different gameplay experience just because they’re on different hardware,” he explained. “That might get confusing for players, and they might wonder which version of the game they should buy. That’s something I’d very much like to avoid. The Nintendo Switch 2 versions are being developed in a way that keeps the gameplay experience pretty much exactly the same as all the other platforms, so I hope this reassures Nintendo Switch 2 players.”

The Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, coming out later today, will bring with it a few new progression streamlining features. These are essentially “cheats” that can be enabled in the game, giving players options like constant max HP, MP, damage and Gil, among others. However, Square Enix has confirmed that the PC and PS5 versions of the game will also be getting these same features through a free update.

For Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 players that might not be sure yet about whether or not Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a game that they might enjoy, a demo is also available on both platforms. The demo largely consists of the opening chapter of the game, serving as an introduction to the setting of Midgar, our group of protagonists, and the combat system, culminating in a boss fight. If the demo sways you enough to pick up the full game, your progress can be carried right over.

Playing the demo also brings with it an added bonus in the form of the Survival Set and Revival Earrings that will make the earlier parts of the game a smoother ride for new players.

For more details about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, here are 15 things you need to know.