You’ve seen the threads. Every few weeks, another "leak" pops up on Reddit or a sketchy Twitter account claiming they know the exact release date for ff7 Part 3. It's exhausting. Honestly, if you’re waiting for Cloud and the gang to wrap up this decade-long journey, you need to separate the corporate roadmap from the wishful thinking.
We are currently sitting in early 2026, and the landscape for Square Enix has shifted. Hard. The days of PlayStation exclusivity being the only thing that matters are basically over. Square Enix’s recent pivot to an "aggressive" multi-platform strategy means the development of the final chapter isn't just about finishing the story; it’s about making sure it lands on everything from the PS5 to the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X at (hopefully) the same time.
The Reality of the Release Date for FF7 Part 3
If we look at the math—and the devs love their math—a 2027 launch is the only thing that actually makes sense. Why? Because January 31, 2027, is the 30th anniversary of the original 1997 Japanese release. Square Enix is a company that breathes nostalgia. They aren’t going to miss that marketing layup.
Creative Director Tetsuya Nomura and Director Naoki Hamaguchi have been surprisingly chatty lately. In late 2025, they confirmed that the main scenario is finished. That’s huge. It means the writers are done, and the "bricks and mortar" of the world-building are in full swing. Hamaguchi even mentioned that the core gameplay experience is "almost complete" and they are moving into the "refining and polishing" phase.
Does that mean a 2026 release is possible? Kinda. But it’s unlikely. Polishing a game of this scale—especially with the Highwind (the airship) promised as a fully flyable vehicle—takes a massive amount of time. You don't just "polish" an airship mechanic that has to traverse a world map three times the size of Midgar in a few months.
What’s Happening Right Now?
- January 22, 2026: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally hits the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X.
- The "Streamlined" Patch: Also on January 22, PS5 and PC players are getting a free update that adds a "God Mode" (9,999 damage, max HP/MP) to help people blast through the story before Part 3 arrives.
- Title Reveal: Hamaguchi and Nomura narrowed the title down to two options at the end of 2025. We are essentially waiting for the logo drop any second now.
Why 2027 is the Magic Number
Three years. That’s the gap the dev team is aiming for. Remake launched in 2020. Rebirth followed in 2024 (a four-year gap, but remember there was a pandemic and a DLC expansion in the middle). Without a dedicated DLC for Rebirth, the team has been able to roll straight into Part 3.
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If they hit a three-year dev cycle, that puts us right at early 2027.
There’s also the competition factor. Everyone and their grandmother knows GTA VI is looming over late 2025 and 2026. Square Enix isn't stupid. They want a clear runway where they can dominate the conversation. Launching in the "dead zone" of early 2027 gives them that. Plus, they can spend all of 2026 building hype with trailers at Summer Game Fest or a dedicated State of Play.
The "R" Title Theory
Everyone is guessing the name. Return? Reunite? Revive? Retrograde? Hamaguchi recently joked that the title is "reflective of the gameplay." If the Highwind and returning to the planet are the focus, Return feels like the safe bet. But this is Nomura we’re talking about. It could be called Final Fantasy VII: Remnant of the Sky for all we know.
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What You Should Actually Do
Stop checking the countdown clocks on "leak" sites. They’re just guessing.
Instead, look at the ports. The fact that Remake is just now hitting Switch 2 and Xbox this month (January 2026) tells us that Square is currently in "audience expansion" mode. They want to make sure the millions of people on those platforms have time to play Remake and Rebirth before the finale drops.
If you haven't finished Rebirth yet, you've actually got plenty of time. That game is a 100-hour beast if you're a completionist.
Your 2026 Checklist:
- Watch the 30th Anniversary Announcements: Expect the full reveal and a "Coming 2027" teaser around June 2026.
- Play the "Streamlined" Update: If you want to refresh your memory on the plot but don't want to grind through the sewers again, use the new 9,999 damage toggles starting January 22.
- Monitor the PC Ports: Square hinted that the PC version of Part 3 will arrive much closer to the console launch this time. If you’re a Steam deck user, this is the first time you might not have to wait a year to finish the trilogy.
The wait is annoying, sure. But considering how massive the finale needs to be—Wutai, the Northern Crater, the Underwater Reactor, and the freaking Highwind—taking that extra year to hit the 2027 anniversary is probably the best thing for the game's quality.
Go play the Remake demo on Switch 2 if you want to see how the engine is holding up on new hardware. It’s a decent indicator of the visual fidelity we can expect for the grand finale.
Keep an eye on the official Square Enix social channels around mid-2026. That's when the "Coming 2027" marketing machine will officially kick into gear.