Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi and other members of the development team conducted a dense interview about the final entry in the remake trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. The interview indicates that FFVII Revelation is not only meant to be the conclusion to the remake trilogy, it is also meant to bring together the broader FFVII Compilation into a more unified experience for fans. This interview does not reveal much new information in the way a trailer or release-date announcement would, but focuses on the development philosophy of the Revelation team, particularly how Revelation builds on the design philosophy established in Remake and Rebirth.

The claim that Revelation will bring together the FFVII Compilation is a big one, considering how many things fall under the collective banner. The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is a multimedia continuation of the original 1997 JRPG, including both prequels and sequels. It not only includes spin-offs like Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus, it also includes movies like Advent Children and even novels like Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile. This mindset is a continuation of what has been said in past interviews by Hamaguchi, but the fact that Revelation concludes the trilogy gives those comments added significance. It also reinforces the remake trilogy’s commitment to being different to the original game, given how much the Compilation recontextualized the classic JRPG. The developers describe Revelation as the culmination of a new interpretation of Final Fantasy VII, one that expands upon the original story with new gameplay systems, revised character arcs, and elements drawn from across the Compilation.

A good amount of the interview was spent on the development team talking about how Revelation will have larger environments, more exploration, and more player choice. The focus on these elements indicates that Revelation seeks to expand player freedom, building upon the wider world that Rebirth introduced to players. On the storytelling side of the project, it appears that emotion will continue to be a focus for the game’s writers. The interview states that, ultimately, gameplay systems are ultimately designed to support the story’s emotional moments. Iconic scenes from the original game were repeatedly discussed by developers, specifically how to recreate their emotional impact without needing to match the original’s presentation.

There was also an interesting acknowledgement from the developers concerning the game’s ending. Although the remake trilogy diverges from the original in important ways, developers have expressed running into difficulties when creating the ending for Revelation. For the ending to resonate with players, the development team will need to balance the concerns of long-term fans, the concerns of newcomers, the need to maintain continuity with the wider Compilation, and the need to maintain the remake trilogy’s own narrative changes. This makes the end to the trilogy a truly ambitious project, underscoring how important the finale is to both the development team and Square Enix.