With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, more demanding games are getting ports for this hybrid console. Among the most notable examples is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which is also preparing for release on Xbox Series X|S after a period of exclusivity for PlayStation.
Previously, Final Fantasy VII Remake was released on Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S in January, and Rebirth is set to appear on both platforms on June 3. In a conversation with Crunchyroll, Square Enix director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the challenges the team faced during the porting process.
Stability is more important than compromises
According to Hamaguchi, the main challenge was to maintain the scale and sense of immersion that define Rebirth, regardless of the platform. The team reviewed rendering, data streaming systems, and the overall processing structure to better adapt the game to the capabilities of Switch 2 and Xbox.
The highest priority became a stable frame rate and a consistent gaming experience. At Square Enix, they believe they were able to carry over the feeling established in Remake into Rebirth without artificiality.
What was learned from the Remake experience and how it influenced Rebirth
For Switch 2, they specifically considered the balance of performance in handheld mode, and for Xbox Series S — the ratio of graphical data to memory usage. At the same time, the team kept one basic condition in mind: gameplay could not be sacrificed.
Hamaguchi says that the iterative process of making such decisions gave the team a lot of experience. According to him, this experience helps in the work on the final part of the remake trilogy.
What to expect from the third part of the remake
The director emphasized that from the very beginning, the project was built as a gradual expansion of the game's scale from part to part. While Remake focused on the story and characters, Rebirth was meant to provide a strong sense of traveling through the world.
He is not yet speaking specifically about the third game but notes that it is important for the team to understand how the experiences of Remake and Rebirth will converge in the finale and how the series will reach its full scale.
Hamaguchi also wants new players and longtime fans to see Rebirth not just as a narrative title. According to him, it is also a game about exploring the world, personal pace, and the feeling of journeying.
