The development of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy now prioritizes the PC platform, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi. This shift marks a significant change in the series' approach, traditionally favoring consoles.
PC as Lead Platform
Naoki Hamaguchi announced that the PC is the "lead platform" for the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. The development team creates high-quality 3D assets on PC, which are then scaled down for less powerful platforms. This approach has resulted in noticeable graphical improvements in the PC version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Market and Technical Considerations
Hamaguchi noted that PC gaming is expanding in Japan and growing rapidly worldwide. The team develops assets with the broad PC market in mind, leading to successful sales on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store. Despite this focus, PC releases have historically lagged behind consoles, such as the 19-month delay for the first Final Fantasy VII Remake on PC.
Platform Differences
Technical differences between platforms are significant. The PS5 and PS5 Pro are considered "mid-range platforms" compared to high-end PCs, requiring reduced texture sizes and polygon counts. The Steam Deck operates at less than half the PS5's baseline, while consoles like the PS4, Switch 2, and Xbox Series S face CPU limitations affecting frame rates and NPC counts. The development of the trilogy's third installment is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule.
