Square Enix Optimized Rebirth for Switch 2 Using PC and Steam Deck Experience
- ⚡Xe⚡
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
In a recent interview with VGC, Naoki Hamaguchi discussed Square Enix’s progress in bringing the second chapter of the remake trilogy to Switch 2. He said fans can expect a version “just as high quality as the first game,” citing the team’s technical groundwork and experience optimizing across multiple platforms.
Hamaguchi explained that the studio’s earlier work on the PC and Steam Deck versions helped prepare them for Nintendo’s hardware. Their internal system, inspired by Unreal Engine’s Nanite technology, automatically adjusts visual elements like polygon count and resolution to balance performance and image quality. The team also added manual tweaks to stabilize the frame rate on the new console.
“Obviously, we are working very hard to make sure that [fans are similarly impressed by Rebirth on Switch], and that people are going to get that high quality they are looking for.”
Hamaguchi said the Steam Deck version served as a crucial test case for optimizing Rebirth on lower-spec hardware.
“I think we have kind of proved that concept to the world already, in some ways, with the release of Rebirth on Steam Deck. I think we saw a similar kind of reaction there, where people said, ‘Wow, it’s actually running on Steam Deck, it looks really good, it’s a quality much higher than I thought they could get on Steam Deck.”
Those experiments helped the team understand how to adapt high-end console games to hybrid platforms.
“In that sense, that was where we did the experiments to work out how to get these high-level games onto a mobile platform. Obviously, there is a bit of a difference in the specs and capacity between Steam Deck and Switch 2 and various other handheld systems. But I think we managed to get such a good result there, and that really helped with the planning and understanding of how to do that going forward in the series.”
He said his engineering background influences his focus on ensuring each version of the trilogy runs well across platforms, from PC to Nintendo hardware. Square Enix’s early PC work gave the team the experience to handle different hardware capabilities while maintaining consistent quality.
“I think we got a really good response to the first game on PC, and that’s really helped us and given us the know-how and the ability to keep that going, reflect on that, and maybe even push it further in Rebirth and in the third game in the series going forward.”
Hamaguchi ended by assuring Nintendo players that the studio’s technical efforts will deliver a satisfying experience on Switch 2.
“So what I want to say is, because of all that experimentation we’ve done on the PC to make sure of that, Nintendo players in the future really don’t need to worry at all. They’re going to get a version that is just as satisfying and just as high quality as the first game, if not higher.”
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About FINAL FANTASY VII
First released in 1997 on the PlayStation® computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY VII celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022. The game is universally regarded as a hallmark title of the RPG genre. The original title received high praise for its epic storyline, unique characters, and movie sequences that utilized the most cutting-edge technology of the time. Since then, the game revolving around iconic hero, Cloud Strife and his pursuit of the antagonist Sephiroth has sold over 15.3 million copies worldwide and continues to receive widespread acclaim from critics and fans around the world. The popular game has even expanded into spin-offs, films and merchandise.
Now, Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY VII remake project created by a team of original and new developers, retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct, and standalone games. The first game of the trilogy, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE is now available on the PC and the PS5® and PS4® consoles, will be available on Jan. 22, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Nintendo Switch™ 2 platforms. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, the second game in the trilogy, has been praised by both players and critics across the globe, earning more than 125 perfect scores from media and 40 Game of the Year awards, and is available now for PC and the PS5® console.
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