The Final Part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Will Run on Unreal Engine 4
Square Enix has decided not to change the technological foundation for the finale of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. The third part is still being developed on Unreal Engine 4, and the studio has a clear explanation for why they ultimately opted against Unreal Engine 5.
The first two games — Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — ran on the fourth version of the "Unreal" engine. Fans expected that the concluding chapter of Cloud and his friends' adventure would use the more current iteration of "Unreal" — the fifth.
This option was indeed considered. Back in 2024, game director Naoki Hamaguchi said the team was weighing all the pros and cons of an upgrade and considering whether UE5 would speed up development or, conversely, complicate the process.
In a new interview with GameSpot, Hamaguchi confirmed the final decision. According to him, over the years of work, Square Enix has modified Unreal Engine 4 so extensively for the project's needs that switching to another engine would be an unnecessary risk. The team knows "version 4" well and feels confident with it, which is more important than the nominal "novelty."
Hamaguchi noted that UE4 might look outdated today compared to UE5, but all the key tools have already been adapted for the specific tasks of the trilogy. This allows the game to be developed faster and without unnecessary losses for retraining and reworking the workflow.
In the same conversation, the game director confirmed that the third part already has an official title. The final choice was made by creative director Tetsuya Nomura at the end of last year, shortly after Paris Games Week. The title is still being kept secret, but it has been officially approved.
The decision to stick with Unreal Engine 4 could also play into the hands of Switch 2 owners. Square Enix previously promised to release the entire trilogy on the new Nintendo console. Final Fantasy VII Remake has already been released on Switch 2, and Rebirth and the third part, according to Hamaguchi, will also make their way to the platform.