Nomura locks FF7 Remake Part 3 reveal timing as Kingdom Hearts 4 stays on schedule

20 September 2025
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Nomura locks FF7 Remake Part 3 reveal timing as Kingdom Hearts 4 stays on schedule

Summary:

Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura has finally given us a clean, confidence-boosting update on two of the biggest RPG projects in the pipeline. During Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis’ second-anniversary broadcast, he said FF7 Remake Part 3 is “going very smoothly,” with the announcement timing already decided and locked in. On Kingdom Hearts 4, Nomura kept it tight but reassuring: development is progressing well and according to schedule. Put those remarks against Square Enix’s broader shift to an “aggressively” multiplatform strategy—including Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC—and the picture sharpens. The company is moving away from narrow, single-console launches that hampered reach for Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, aiming to meet players where they are without watering down ambition. For us, the message is simple: expect a planned, stage-managed reveal for FF7R3, steady but quiet steps forward for KH4, and a release environment that increasingly favors simultaneous or near-simultaneous launches across more systems. No wild promises here—just deliberate progress, a clearer strategy, and a better chance we can all play where we prefer.

Nomura breaks the silence during Ever Crisis’ second-anniversary stream

We finally heard from the person who matters most for these two projects. During the second-anniversary broadcast for Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, Tetsuya Nomura stepped in with a concise but meaningful check-in. For FF7 Remake Part 3, he emphasized smooth development and, crucially, a locked announcement timing. For Kingdom Hearts 4, he said progress is on schedule. That’s not marketing fluff—it’s project governance. When a lead declares a reveal window is set, it means internal milestones, publishing plans, and cross-team deliverables have aligned. It also suggests there’s enough runway to build trailers, capture assets, and coordinate platform partners without brinkmanship. In other words, the gears are turning in sequence, and we’re no longer in the era of ambiguous silence where speculation fills the void.

FF7 Remake Part 3: announcement timing locked—and why that matters now

Putting a stake in the ground for reveal timing tells us more than a date ever could. It signals that narrative beats are settled, vertical slices are playable, performance targets are realistic, and the marketing calendar is set to crescendo rather than scramble. For a finale, that stability is vital. Part 3 has to thread a needle: honor the original’s climax, integrate new arcs introduced in Remake and Rebirth, and land technical performance across multiple platforms. When Nomura says the announcement schedule is fixed, it implies internal demos are doing their job and that localization, audio, capture, and platform certification teams have a plan. For us, it means to expect a smarter drip of information instead of long droughts followed by a firehose the month before launch.

What that timing signals for marketing beats and reveal cadence

A locked reveal window usually comes with a build-up of signposts: a teaser trailer to anchor the window, a full trailer that frames story stakes, and a gameplay segment spotlighting new or returning systems. Expect follow-ups like developer notes, soundtrack teases, and regional previews that target different audiences without spoiling the finale. We should also anticipate a cadence that dovetails with major calendar beats—think a September showcase, a winter trailer to carry momentum, and a spring deep-dive. The key is consistent visibility. Rather than surprise drops, we’ll likely see a layered plan that warms up fans, aligns press, and leaves room for technical showcases closer to release. All of that flows from one phrase: the announcement timing is decided.

Kingdom Hearts 4: on schedule, steady progress, and realistic expectations

KH4 updates have been rare, so “on schedule” lands like a glass of water in a desert. It doesn’t mean “around the corner,” but it does mean teams are clearing gates without backsliding. Think script lock, performance capture sessions, environment grayboxing maturing into art-complete zones, and systems getting iterated instead of reinvented. A project like KH4 also depends on external approvals and cross-brand assets; “on schedule” suggests those processes are behaving themselves. We should keep expectations tethered: another round of screenshots, a trailer that clarifies combat flow and world traversal, and clearer platform language as Square Enix’s multiplatform stance takes hold. No gimmicks needed—just a steady march, with surprises held back for the home stretch.

Reading the tea leaves: production milestones we can watch from the outside

There are tells we can look for without insider access. Casting and voice-over breadcrumbs often surface first, hinting that story scenes are locked enough for recording to proceed. Ratings board entries arrive later, closer to launch, while regional storefront metadata quietly flips flags for features and languages. On the technical side, expect engine branch chatter to calm down as teams freeze features and shift to performance work. If the marketing cadence stays disciplined, we’ll likely see a clear line from teaser to gameplay to hands-on impressions, rather than mixed messaging. All of these signposts add up to a simple question: are the teams stabilizing? Nomura’s wording implies yes.

What we should and shouldn’t expect next

We should expect clarity, not full disclosure. A proper trailer with platform confirmation is reasonable; a blowout of endgame twists is not. A peek at combat refinements and traversal? Likely. A complete systems atlas? Not yet. We should also expect platform partners to amplify reveals in their own showcases, aligning with Square Enix’s wider distribution approach. What we shouldn’t expect is a sudden pivot in tone or genre. Both projects have found their voice; the goal now is polish, performance, and a reveal that sets expectations without locking the teams into immovable dates too early.

Square Enix’s multiplatform pivot: why the strategy is changing

Square Enix has publicly committed to “aggressively” pursuing a multiplatform strategy that includes Nintendo platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. That language isn’t accidental; it’s encoded in the company’s medium-term business plan, with a shift from “quantity to quality” and an emphasis on meeting players where they are. The reality: narrow launch footprints capped reach for recent flagship entries, and the market punished that choice. Moving forward, the company wants major franchises—new and catalog—to show up in more places sooner, with PC no longer treated as a distant afterthought. For us, this means broader day-one conversations, healthier communities, and fewer platform-locked debates that drain oxygen from the games themselves.

The exclusivity hangover: how PS5-only launches shaped recent sales

Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth landed first on PlayStation 5, and internal commentary has since acknowledged that performance and profits fell short of expectations. Correlation isn’t causation, but the pattern is hard to ignore: narrower availability limits word-of-mouth and dampens long-tail sales. That reality doesn’t erase the advantages of platform deals, but it does force a recalibration. Square Enix choosing multiplatform isn’t about abandoning quality bars; it’s about aligning audience size with investment scale. If FF7R3 and KH4 ride this new approach, more players can join the conversation earlier, and support work—patches, DLC, PC features—can be planned with a wider base in mind.

Platform outlook: PlayStation first, but PC and Xbox moving in step

Given history, PlayStation will remain a frontline destination for both series. The change is the tempo at which other platforms join the party. Expect PC to be treated as a core audience rather than a late port, with graphics settings and input features that feel native, not stapled on. Xbox should see steadier support than the staccato presence of prior years, especially for headline RPGs that benefit from a broader console footprint. The goal isn’t to water down scope; it’s to widen the funnel so more of us can play where we prefer, without waiting a year for the conversation to reach our platform.

The Switch 2 question: when “Nintendo platforms” becomes practical

Square Enix’s plan name-checks “Nintendo platforms,” which matters once we consider the Switch successor’s capabilities. No one’s promising miracle ports, but a modern Nintendo system with stronger CPU, GPU, and storage pipelines changes the math. That opens the door for bespoke versions of big RPGs or smart hybrid solutions that preserve image quality and performance. If FF7R3 is too far along to target a simultaneous Nintendo release, future mainline entries and related projects could still land there. The point isn’t to chase parity for parity’s sake; it’s to deliver a version that feels considered, not compromised, so Nintendo-first players feel invited instead of sidelined.

What this means for development scope, polish, and day-one parity

A multiplatform stance puts pressure on tools, pipelines, and QA, but it also enforces good habits. Asset budgets must be set early; shader and streaming strategies need to be robust; and performance targets can’t be left to the last sprint. When teams plan for multiple platforms from day one, they can reduce whiplash, avoid last-minute cuts, and protect day-one stability. For FF7R3 and KH4, that discipline should translate into cleaner frame pacing, fewer immersion-breaking hitches, and PC features that are ready at launch. In short, a wider audience with a better first impression.

Fan expectations management: timeline ranges without overpromising

Nomura didn’t give dates, and that restraint is a strength. Announcing too early robs teams of flexibility; announcing too late leaves room for rumor cycles to spiral. With reveal timing locked for FF7R3, the safer read is a staggered, escalating communications plan rather than a sudden flood of details. For KH4, “on schedule” is the lighthouse. We should look for the next concrete beat—a trailer that clarifies platforms and reintroduces mechanics—before we start drawing release windows on the calendar. Patience isn’t fun, but it’s better than setting ourselves up for disappointment with guesses that were never promised.

The takeaway: planned reveal, steady progress, broader reach

Strip away the noise and we’re left with three clean signals. First, FF7 Remake Part 3 is on track, and its reveal is already circled internally. Second, Kingdom Hearts 4 is moving forward without red flags, with “on schedule” doing the quiet work of reassurance. Third, Square Enix is retooling around a multiplatform future so more of us can play where we want, sooner. That combination—confidence, cadence, and distribution—sets the stage for healthier launches and longer tails. No lofty promises, just a plan. We’ll take that every time.

Conclusion

We’re at the point where silence has given way to structure. FF7R3 has a reveal plan, KH4 has a steady heartbeat, and Square Enix has a distribution strategy that fits the market we actually live in. That alignment won’t magically solve every challenge, but it does reduce avoidable risk and invites a larger, louder audience on day one. For fans, the move is simple: stay tuned to the next official beat, keep expectations reasonable, and get ready to meet these worlds on the platform you prefer.

FAQs
  • Did Nomura confirm dates?
    • No. He said FF7R Part 3’s announcement timing is decided and that KH4 is progressing on schedule, but he did not share release dates.
  • Does multiplatform mean no more PlayStation partnerships?
    • Not necessarily. It means Square Enix plans to bring major franchises to more platforms; existing agreements may still govern specific titles.
  • Will FF7R Part 3 and KH4 launch on PC and Xbox at the same time as PS5?
    • That’s the direction the company is moving toward, but specifics will depend on each project and any prior deals.
  • Is a Nintendo release realistic?
    • Square Enix’s plan explicitly includes “Nintendo platforms.” Feasibility hinges on each game’s requirements and the target hardware’s capabilities.
  • Why did Square Enix change strategy?
    • Recent results and limited reach from single-platform launches pushed the company toward a wider, multiplatform approach to meet players where they are.
Sources
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