From the best version to the weakest
During an interview with Automaton, Hamaguchi returned to this question regarding Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3. And he repeats it: no question of aiming lower than expected on the technical side despite the multiplatform releasequite simply because the team has a way of working that would prevent this:
“ Nintendo Switch and Xbox versions [de Final Fantasy VII Remake] were both incredibly well received and generated a lot of buzz online. This interest also made me aware of the many concerns this issue raises. However, our decision to offer the FFVII Remake series on multiple platforms will not negatively impact the quality of the third installment. Our development structure simply doesn’t work that way. …I guess I’ll have to keep repeating it (laughs). »
He then explains why this will not have an impact, specifying for example that thanks to the Switch 2’s game-key card, there is no need to think about space limitations beforehand, while indicating that the RAM limit of each platform is examined on a case-by-case basis, without impacting performance on other consoles. Concerning the framerate, he explains that the studio rather plays on the density of elements on the screen for each platform (for example with fewer NPCs in town on Switch 2).
Hamaguchi also states that the PC version is very important since it is the most efficient :
“ The FFVII Remake series has been a huge success on platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store; so we expand our resources keeping in mind the vast PC market. Indeed, our 3D resources are created with the highest possible level of quality, favoring the PC. When FFVII Rebirth was released, some claimed that the PC version looked better than the PS5 version, and our philosophy remains unchanged for this third installment. Our fundamental principle is not to design resources to meet minimum requirements. We create them for the most demanding platforms first. We then apply what we call “shrinkage,” adjusting and optimizing resources for each platform. This means we avoid negatively impacting high-end platforms. »
In short, Square Enix first starts by creating the best possible version (therefore the PC version), before adapting it to less efficient consoles, and not the other way around.. Looking at the ports of the games in the saga, we could already be reassured, but the director does well to dot the i’s to calm any concerns. At least while we wait to see with our own eyes what it will look like Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3.