Final Fantasy 7 Remake director explains why the third game will still use Unreal Engine 4

January 26, 2026 - 23:34

In a recent discussion, the director behind the Final Fantasy 7 Remake project has clarified the strategic decision to continue using Unreal Engine 4 for the upcoming third and final game in the trilogy. This choice comes despite the availability of Epic Games' newer Unreal Engine 5, which has been adopted for other major titles within Square Enix.

The development team confirmed they had evaluated a potential shift to the more advanced engine. However, after careful consideration, they determined that maintaining consistency with the established technology was paramount for the project's successful and timely completion. Switching engines mid-series would have necessitated rebuilding core assets and systems from the ground up, a process that would significantly extend development time.

The priority, according to the director, is to ensure a cohesive experience across the entire trilogy while delivering a high-quality conclusion to the epic saga. By leveraging the fully mastered and optimized pipeline built for Unreal Engine 4 over the past several years, the team can focus its full creative and technical efforts on crafting a compelling narrative finale and polished gameplay without the overhead of migrating to new tools. This decision underscores a commitment to a stable development cycle, aiming to bring the beloved story to its long-awaited conclusion efficiently.