Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth team aim to create a ‘happy ending’ this time

While the original Final Fantasy 7 is filled with happy moments, it’s a game that ends on quite a dour note. Yes, Sepiroth is defeated and the world is saved, but the loss of characters such as Aerith cannot be undone.

While Final Fantasy 7 Remake teased that the fates of these characters may change, including Aerith’s death, nothing is confirmed. However, a recent interview with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth producer Yoshinori Kitase reveals that the team is hoping for a “happy ending” for the series’ remakes.

Speaking to Vandal, via Shinra Archaeology Department, Kitase explained that the remake gives fans a chance to see a happier, alternate version of the iconic RPG’s story. However, while he wants “to make them happy and give them a happy ending” there are other members of the team that must be “taken into consideration”.

So, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy will see some drastic changes, but according to Kitase “it won't just be happiness and rainbows”.

Sweeping changes from the original PlayStation game have already occurred in the first entry of this blockbuster remake trilogy, and they’ll likely continue when Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth releases later this month. For example, the ending of the first game revealed that Crisis Core’s Zack Fair - Aerith’s should-be-dead boyfriend - is alive and well.

This means that there is a chance that Aerith could be saved by Zack in the second part of this remake trilogy, likely resulting in a new battle with Sepiroth at The Forgotten Capital. With that confrontation being the end point of this trilogy’s middle entry, the final game will be able to introduce even bigger changes in the future.

After the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s final entry, Square Enix may be moving onto pastures new. The studio has already rejected the idea of a Final Fantasy 8 Remake, as well as a remake of Final Fantasy 6 as it would take 20 years to develop.

However, multiple leaks have stated that a Final Fantasy 9 Remake is in the works, even being leaked by Nvidia. However, this is expected to be a much smaller affair, even keeping the original game’s turn-based battle system.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 on February 29, 2024. The game’s PS5 exclusivity won’t last long with a PC version expected by the end of the year.