Final Fantasy VII Remake was one of 2020’s best games, but the ongoing remake series of Square Enix’s seminal 1997 classic is just getting started. The first entry is set in the smoggy metropolis of Midgar, where it stinks of Mako, expanding the first several hours of the original game into an epic 40-hour adventure. Much of the series’ future remains a bit of a mystery, but let’s dig into everything that we do know about Part 2 and beyond.
When will FF7 Remake Part 2 be released?
Square Enix has only offered a few vague promises on when the next game might be announced. In a January 2022 post celebrating the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 7, producer Yoshinori Kitase confirmed Square Enix would reveal Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 sometime this year.
“We just started the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII, so we want to celebrate and get fans excited, so within the next 12 months, we want to share some information,” Kitase wrote. “Look forward to more information!”
With the reveal slated for 2022, it seems that 2023 is likely the earliest we could see Cloud and friends again.
Will FF7 Remake Part 2 be a PlayStation exclusive?
Although originally released exclusively on PlayStation, FF7 Remake eventually came to PC with the release of Intergrade. More ports of the game could be coming to other consoles soon though, as the exclusivity branding for the game has been removed from its listing on the PlayStation store. FF7 Remake also no longer appears in the console exclusive section of the PlayStation storefront. It could be making its way to Xbox soon, maybe in time to announce that FF7 Remake Part 2 will be coming to PC and Xbox right out of the gate this time around.
What is the FF7 Remake Part 2 story?
Spoilers follow for the original Final Fantasy VII, so skip this section if you don’t want to know more.
FF7 Remake’s credits roll when the party leaves Midgar. In the original title, this is when Final Fantasy VII transitions to an open-world, globe-trotting adventure. The most likely possibility is that the second part of FF7 Remake will end where the original’s first disc concludes: the Forgotten City.
Right after Midgar, the party hunts down the Black Materia — a magic spell capable of destroying life on the planet. Disc 1 culminates with Sephiroth getting the Black Materia and then murdering Aerith at the Forgotten City while she’s praying to cast Holy magic to counteract Meteor.
However, we can’t expect the sequel to mirror FF7’s original story exactly.
In a July 2020 interview, Kitase suggested there will be narrative upheavals ahead: “I’m sure there are people who wish to experience the exact same story and relive memories,” he said. “However, if we were to do that, then all we would be doing is just adding to the original experience, which would cause the Remake to lose its significance.”
Expect future entries to pull heavily from the animated movie Advent Children and other spin-off games like Crisis Core, particularly after Part 1 grappled heavily with these characters defying “Destiny.”
Will FF7 Remake Part 2 have any new features?
Judging from the original saga, players will gain access to a host of new vehicles as Cloud’s journey unfolds. Players will almost definitely get Chocobos, the ridable avians that appear in every Final Fantasy game. There’s also a Buggy car along with the Tiny Bronco airplane that can only fly in shallow water. The player gets full control over an airship at one point, but that probably won’t happen until later entries in the Remake series.
Final Fantasy VII Remake changed up the original’s combat in significant ways, emphasizing combo-driven action and giving all four playable characters their own unique fighting styles. The addition of new party members will also likely mean more combat styles. The ability to synergize attacks from Intergrade could also add an extra level of complexity in the combat of Part 2 and beyond.
Who are the FF7 Remake Part 2 party members?
If this covers the story portions we’re currently expecting, you should meet all of the original party members by the end of FF7 Remake Part 2. Red XII, who only appears as a “guest character” in FF7 Remake, should join your party right at the beginning of the second entry as a full member.
Yuffie stars in a two-chapter sequence included in the PS5 Intergrade upgrade, and based on that game’s ending, it seems likely that she’ll meet up with the rest of the party very early in Part 2. Beyond that, players should encounter remaining party members Cait Sith, Vincent Valentine, and Cid Highwind in rapid succession. Based on Part 1’s ending its even possible Zack could join the party.
Will there be an FF7 Remake Part 3?
Almost certainly. The original Final Fantasy VII was released on three discs. The FF7 Remake Part 1 ends when the gang leaves Midgar, which occurs less than halfway through Disc 1. Part 2 will likely close out Disc 1’s narrative content, which leaves the many story events of Disc 2. The final disc of the PS1 original is mostly limited to optional endgame exploration and cinematic cutscenes.
Nomura believes that subsequent parts might vary in size. Producer Yoshinori Kitase knows that many suspect the story to be told over three parts, but debunked that notion in Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania, where he said there’s no firm grasp on the series’ endpoint. Nomura did say he wants future parts out “ASAP” and is considering altering the size of future installments based on what the covered story section requires.
For now, a Remake trilogy still seems to be the likeliest outcome, but if the series continues to be successful and the story demands it, it’s possible the series could swell to a fourth installment.
Is Zack alive in FF7 Remake Part 2?
In FF7 Remake’s closing scenes, Zack Fair is revealed to have survived his previously fatal attack. FF7 Remake Ultimania implies that this Zack is one from an alternate timeline, using the alternate representation of Stamp the dog as proof. Zack’s profile in the book refers to him in both present and past tense, further confusing the situation.
Another wrinkle was added to the mix when Square Enix revealed the logo for Final Fantasy 7’s 25th anniversary. The logo prominently features Cloud, Sephiroth, and Zack. There could have been any character featured on the logo, but the fact that it’s Zack seems to suggest that he’ll play a vital role in the story of Final Fantasy 7 going forward.
FF7 Remake Part 2 is currently in development.
