Naoki Hamaguchi, co-director of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, has already completed over 40 full playthroughs of the game. That's not casual testing; it's the kind of obsessive refinement that turns a sprawling epic into something airtight. Speaking to Nintendo Life, Hamaguchi revealed this marathon amid assurances that development is progressing steadily, with Square Enix 'very excited' about the current state.

For lore enthusiasts, the real intrigue lies in how Hamaguchi plans to balance fidelity to the 1997 original amid the trilogy's expansions. 'For players familiar with the original game, I think what matters goes beyond the story arc itself – it's the relationships between the characters, and the emotions they felt upon discovering this world,' he explained. While modern visuals cater to newcomers, the emotional core and character bonds remain sacrosanct—elements that can't be rushed, no matter how many dozens of runs it takes.

The revelation has sparked a frenzy on X and Reddit, where fans dissect its implications: a polished finale perhaps rivaling Rebirth's length, or simply rigorous quality control on a story complete since 2024. Posts from accounts like @Genki_JPN amplify the hype, with threads in r/FFVIIRemake speculating on everything from release windows to minigame twists. Excitement tempers caution, but one thing's clear—Hamaguchi's endurance run signals a conclusion unwilling to compromise on narrative depth.

In a saga built on fateful twists, 40 playthroughs suggest Part 3 won't just revisit Midgar's ghosts; it'll haunt us with revelations we've only glimpsed.