One of the biggest changes introduced in Final Fantasy VII Remake and its sequel, Rebirth (which is setting out to be the biggest Nintendo Switch 2 game to date), is Zack Fair's role. While he only appeared briefly in the original game, his role has been vastly expanded in the remake trilogy, becoming a playable character in Rebirth with his own individual story segments. Despite what Rebirth's ending sequences may have suggested, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed to Nintenderos that Zack's story will continue in the final entry of the series.
"Zack's presence was part of the concept from a fairly early stage. Since the original game, Zack has become an enormously popular character through numerous FFVII spin-off titles," Hamaguchi-san said. "In this remake project, there are aspects where we've made significant changes compared to the original. Instead of conveying these shifts in worldview directly through dialogue or explanations, we've taken the approach of allowing players to intuitively perceive them through the character of Zack. Zack is a character whose mere presence naturally brings to the surface a different perspective on the world."
"That's precisely why, in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, we've incorporated him into the story in a way that maximizes his appeal. And, of course, this approach is maintained throughout the entire trilogy. In that regard, we hope you'll continue to follow Zack's role in the story."
Although Zack is apparently returning in Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, it is very likely his ultimate fate won't change, nor will the fate of every other main character, as preserving the core of the original game is still a vital part of the project.
"Since we're telling this story as a trilogy, it's essential to keep players engaged until the very end. For that reason, we've structured the narrative so that the central question—whether the protagonists' fates will truly change—remains unresolved until the very end," Hamaguchi-san explained. "However, this doesn't mean that 'everything can change.' From the outset, we decided that we couldn't compromise the emotional core of the characters... or the fundamental themes the story poses to players."
While the changes were made to introduce unpredictability for fans of the original Final Fantasy VII, going too far with them simply "wouldn't work," according to the director. "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth... is a work in which we deliberately chose to make change and preservation coexist. While introducing changes to shake up expectations, we protect the core that must remain until the very end."
As the ending of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth introduced a twist to one of the most iconic sequences in JRPGs, it will be interesting to see how its ramifications fit into the preservation of the core experience. Sadly, we still don't know when we will get the first glimpse of Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, or of Vincent and Cid, who will reportedly "steal the show." Hopefully, the upcoming Summer showcases will reveal more about scale-defining Highwind gameplay and when the most ambitious remake project of all time will conclude.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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