Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Queen’s Blood & Snowboarding Return in Next Installment

Fans of the ongoing Final Fantasy 7 remake project have received new insights into the development of the third installment. Director Naoki Hamaguchi recently discussed the game’s progress and features in an interview, confirming the continuation of popular minigames and hinting at expanded content.

Expanding a Beloved World

The third part of the remake trilogy will build upon elements already introduced, notably the card-based minigame, Queen’s Blood. Hamaguchi stated the team intends to “expand on Queen’s Blood so that we are enhancing it, and giving you a more powered-up version” for players. This suggests a deeper integration or more complex mechanics for the tactical card battles.

Did You Know? Queen’s Blood involves players collecting cards and building decks for use in tactical-grid battles.

Minigames Remain a Priority

Beyond Queen’s Blood, Hamaguchi emphasized that minigames will continue to be a significant component of the experience. The team is also addressing the snowboarding minigame from the original Final Fantasy 7, which occurs after the events of Rebirth. He indicated they aim to move beyond a “simple snowboarding minigame” and integrate it more meaningfully into the story.

Expert Insight: The commitment to expanding minigames suggests a deliberate design choice to offer players engaging diversions within the larger narrative, potentially deepening immersion and providing opportunities for character development or world-building.

Development Progress

Hamaguchi revealed that the project is “coming along very smoothly” and that the development team is currently on schedule to meet its milestones. He also noted that, technically, the game is currently playable, though still undergoing polishing to reach the desired quality for release. This suggests the project may be further along than some fans anticipate, given the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth just two years prior.

The discussion took place alongside the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X, with a port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also in development for those platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Queen’s Blood be significantly different in the third installment?

The team intends to enhance and expand upon Queen’s Blood, delivering a “more powered-up version” to players.

What is known about the snowboarding minigame?

The developers aim to incorporate the snowboarding minigame into the story, moving beyond a simple recreation of the original version.

How far along is the development of the third installment?

The game is currently playable, though still undergoing polishing to meet quality standards, and the development team is on schedule.

As the final chapter of this ambitious remake trilogy takes shape, what aspects of the original Final Fantasy 7 are you most hoping to see faithfully recreated and expanded upon?