On the heels of revealing a new trailer and release date during today’s State of Play, Square Enix has revealed more information about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, confirming that the anticipated follow-up to Final Fantasy VII Remake will contain 100 hours of gameplay. .
Producer Yoshinori Kitase wrote a letter to fans on the game’s social media pages promising an “extensive world map” among a host of other details. He also teased what is arguably the original film’s most iconic moment by hinting that “fans are dying to see one scene in particular.”
SPOILER WARNING: This article contains mild spoilers for the original Final Fantasy VII and the Remake.
To celebrate today’s announcements, we’re sharing messages from the development team behind Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, starting with producer Yoshinori Kitase. (1/3) #FF7R pic.twitter.com/tDm5w1Grl7
– Final Fantasy VII (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2023
Director Naoki Hamaguchi also commented on the project, calling it a “labor of love” while saying the follow-up includes “free exploration.” He also said that it will contain “compelling stories, fun mini-games, and much more.” The trailer shown during State of Play showed off the golden platter with a boxing mini-game featuring the familiar style of the original game.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi has a special message for everyone looking forward to the game. (2/3) #FF7R pic.twitter.com/gd2Vk8B93k
– Final Fantasy VII (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2023
Finally, director Tetsuya Nomura said that “many elements have been carefully selected for this title” and that it will include commentary from the 2020 Final Fantasy VII Remake. He also teased some potential changes from the original game.
“There is also the looming question of what fate awaits him,” Nomura wrote. “Whether you’ve experienced the original title or are starting this adventure with fresh eyes, we hope you’ll experience the end of this work on your terms.”
Square Enix reveals where Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will end
Elsewhere, a new, lengthy PlayStation blog goes into the upcoming follow-up, confirming in the process that it will expand into Forgotten Capital, although some scenes will take place out of order. What happens in the forgotten capital? Final Fantasy VII fans will know the scene well. How Rebirth will handle this iconic scene is one of the biggest questions, as Remake has shown every tendency toward going off the rails.
In the blog, the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth development team came together to explain what was shown in the new trailer while providing more details. The interview includes discussions about Red XIII, who will make his debut in Rebirth, as well as Cait Sith and Vincent. It also offered hints about whether the party will expand.
“The original party members are all present in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,” Nomura said. “In the previous title, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Red Officials in the party at the following address.
It is currently unclear whether Cait Sith and Vincent, the latter of whom was a secret character in the original game, will be playable in the remake.
Speaking about the many mini-games in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Hamaguchi confirmed that the team is planning to expand on the exposition game set in Junon. He also said that Square Enix “went all the way and created a huge number of mini-games on a scale that surpasses even the original game.” He also said that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will feature “a lot of unique gameplay and challenges” that unlock as you explore the world.
Hamaguchi claimed that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will contain a “double” amount of side content compared to the original game, and players will be able to return to any area of the world after moving the main quest from that area. Each region will also contain its own type of chocobo, though Hamaguchi did not clarify whether the mini-chocobo breeding game will return in this version.
There’s just one caveat: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth won’t let you carry your save file.
“We announced that the Final Fantasy VII Remake project will be a trilogy and that each entry will be a standalone game in its own right,” Hamaguchi said. “Because of this, each game is balanced independently and player levels and abilities will not carry over from one game to the next. However, we have created some special rewards for fans who played the previous game, allowing them to start the game with a little something extra.”
The adventure continues
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth follows on from 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, which carried the story through the team’s departure from Midgar.
“Final Fantasy VII Remake’s combat is top-notch, its enemy variety kept me constantly entertained, and seeing this snippet of the story fleshed out with real emotional arcs and the previously hidden humanity behind Midgar filled me with pure joy,” we wrote in our review.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled to be released on February 29 for PlayStation 5.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s news director and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Do you have any advice? Send her a direct message at @the_katbot.