Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Explains Engine Choice

The director of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has revealed a surprising technical decision for the trilogy's conclusion. Rather than upgrading to the latest technology, the team is choosing to continue with the same game engine.

This strategic choice prioritizes creative consistency and technical mastery over the pursuit of newer, more powerful tools. The decision offers a fascinating look into the development philosophy behind one of gaming's most anticipated sequels.

The development team behind Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is not abandoning its current technology. The director has confirmed that the third and final game in the trilogy will continue to be built on the same engine that powered Rebirth.

This engine is an older version of Unreal Engine, a choice that stands in contrast to the common industry practice of migrating to the newest available tools for major sequels. The decision was made to maintain a consistent technical foundation throughout the entire trilogy.

By sticking with a familiar engine, the team can leverage years of accumulated knowledge and custom tools. This approach avoids the significant time and resources required to retrain staff and rebuild systems from the ground up on a new platform.

The choice to remain with an older engine is not about resisting progress. Instead, it is a calculated decision based on specific creative tradeoffs that benefit the project's unique needs.

Working within the constraints of a known engine allows the team to focus on artistry and gameplay rather than wrestling with new technical hurdles. This stability can lead to more polished and ambitious content, as developers can push the existing tools to their absolute limits.

The director emphasized that the engine still offers powerful capabilities. The key is mastering the technology they already have, rather than constantly chasing the next big thing. This philosophy values deep expertise over superficial upgrades.

The gaming industry often sees studios switch engines for sequels to take advantage of new graphical features. However, the decision to stick with a proven engine is becoming more common for long-term projects.

For a trilogy like Final Fantasy 7, maintaining a consistent technical backbone ensures visual and performance continuity across all three games. This creates a seamless experience for players as they move from one installment to the next.

Benefits of this approach include:

• Consistent art style and lighting across the trilogy
• Streamlined workflow for the development team
• Reduced risk of unexpected technical issues
• More time allocated to content creation

This technical decision sets a clear precedent for the final chapter of the Final Fantasy 7 remake project. It signals a focus on delivering a cohesive narrative and gameplay experience without the disruption of a major engine overhaul.

Players can expect the same level of visual fidelity and performance they experienced in Rebirth, potentially with further optimizations and enhancements. The team's deep familiarity with the engine may allow for even more ambitious design choices in the concluding chapter.

The choice underscores a development philosophy that values stability and creative vision. By mastering their tools, the team is positioning itself to deliver a polished and memorable conclusion to the saga.