We know that part three is currently in development at Square Enix. Back in May, game director Naoki Hamaguchi told Nintendo Life in May that he had already completed “40 full playthroughs” of the third installment. He also suggested that players would not have to wait as long for part three, saying, “We want to capitalize on this cadence and moment to tie the experiences together without any gaps, from Remake to Rebirth to finally the third installment that lies beyond them.”
With the port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launching on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X on June 3, SGF week would be the perfect time to drop a trailer for the third game. While Final Fantasy has been a PlayStation console exclusive in years past, Hamaguchi announced back in September that the third part of the remake series will get a multiplatform launch, so it could happen at any one of this week’s major shows.
But what will the game be called? The editorial staff at Polygon has cooked up a few guesses, which I’ve ranked from least to most likely. We’re all pretty convinced that it’ll be a word beginning with “RE,” but Square Enix could always pull a fast one on us.
5
Final Fantasy 7 Rescendo
Barret fighting in the train during the FF7 Remake trailerSquare Enix
This one comes from our own Mike McWhertor, in the hope that “Square Enix will go with a made-up word.” It’s not impossible they do something along these lines. This is, after all, the company who gave us Bravely Default, Various Daylife, and Forspoken. “Rescendo” has two syllables and evokes the musical term “crescendo,” which refers to an upward surge in volume or intensity for a passage of music, fitting for an epic conclusion. While it’s very unlikely it will be “Rescendo,” there’s a non-zero chance of it being something totally whackadoo.
4
Final Fantasy 7 Recompense
She’s perfect, your honor.Image: Square Enix via Polygon
The word “recompense” refers to payback for a loss — it’s often used in legal contexts, which gives it a certain heft and gravitas. It’s the idea of being made whole when something bad happens. This certainly fits with the narrative of Final Fantasy 7, which centers on the loss of multiple beloved characters and a looming existential threat to the world. That said, though it’s a word that starts with “RE-”, it wouldn’t make the cleanest fit with the titles of the previous two games. “Recompense” is a three-syllable word, where “remake” and “rebirth” are only two.
3
Final Fantasy 7 Reunion
Image: Square Enix
To be clear, this should be the title of the last part of the FF7 trilogy. It fits perfectly with the game’s plot, broader themes, and the remake naming conventions. However, in 2022, Square Enix released a remake of the PSP Zack Fair spinoff and called it Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion. While it seems unlikely that Square Enix would reuse the title four or five years later for another game within the same franchise, it also doesn’t seem completely impossible. After all, the audience for the remake trilogy is a lot bigger than the audience for Crisis Core. And it is a very good title.
2
Final Fantasy 7 Revival
Image: Square Enix via Polygon
Will this reimagined story of Final Fantasy 7 bring Aerith and Zack back to life? You’ve already played two whole games without getting a clear answer to that question, so what’s stopping Square Enix from asking it again? This one seems too obvious to be possible, but the more you think about it, the more likely it seems.
1
Final Fantasy 7 Return
Image: Square Enix
This one doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it does work on a number of levels. On a narrative level, people in the world of FF7 “return to the planet” when they die. This latter third of the FF7 story is where we see a lot of characters contemplating their own mortality — not to mention quite literally entering the planet’s center at multiple points. It would also tease the potential comeback of Aerith and Zack, without being as literal (or potentially misleading) as “revival.” Plus, there’s a clear precedent for ending trilogies with a triumphant return — Return of the Jedi and Return of the King, anyone?
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