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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is coming next month and will bring the next chapter in the three-part remake of the original Final Fantasy 7. Part two of the remake trilogy, Rebirth follows on from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, continuing the story of Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII on their mission to save the planet.
Like Remake before it, Rebirth gives Final Fantasy 7 the full modern graphical treatment, with eye-watering cinematics and astounding graphical fidelity. The game also makes use of a hybrid combat system, which combines real-time action with strategic role-playing game (RPG) elements, letting you pause to give orders to your party and execute attacks on the fly. I was very impressed with my hands-on with an early build of the game, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the full release.
Should the quality of the title as a whole be up to the standard of the preview, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could be one of the best RPGs and best JRPGs of the year. With the title less than two months away, there are plenty of details out there about the game, too. We’ve gathered them all in one place for your convenience and reading pleasure. Read on to find out everything there is to know about this keenly anticipated upcoming game.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: cut to the chase
- What is it? The sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- When is it coming out? February 29, 2024
- What can I play it on? PS5
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release date and platforms
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is due to release on February 29, 2024 for PS5. This was revealed during a brand new showing at a Sony State of Play event that aired September 14, 2023, alongside a new release date announcement trailer.
Will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth come out on PS4 or Xbox?
Unfortunately for PS4 owners, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth won’t be a cross-gen release like part one of the trilogy. We expect, however, that like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth will also arrive on PC at a later date once its PlayStation exclusivity deal runs out. Though, it’s worth noting that this hasn’t been confirmed yet. Conversely, the game is unlikely to come to Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, given the fact that Final Fantasy 7 Remake still hasn’t made the trip to Microsoft‘s consoles.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer
The latest trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth may be short, but it packs plenty of tantalizing tidbits, including a few jaw-dropping frames from the Nibelheim Incident – one of the most important set pieces in the game. We also get to see more of Zack, as well as Shinra’s military parade in Junon.
We also see the villainous Doctor Hojo make an appearance, alongside a deadly-looking lizard creature that just might be a Zolom – a famously tricky boss from the original Final Fantasy 7.
We also saw the release of a trailer for the game’s theme song, No Promises to Keep, which was revealed in December 2023. The trailer shows off scenes from the upcoming game as well as its tear-inducing theme song. We advise bringing tissues for this one.
Those keen for more Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth content can find the 2023 Summer Games Fest trailer as well as the Release Date Announce Trailer and the first-look trailer on Final Fantasy’s official YouTube channel.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gameplay
The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailers have all shown off the game’s combat mechanics. At a glance, we seem to be in for more of what we got with Final Fantasy 7 Remake: a satisfying action RPG with slick swapping between characters and a pause mechanic to help with decision-making.
As you carry out normal attacks, you’ll build up an action gauge which can be cashed in for more complex techniques through the command menu. These might be spells or more specialized attacks tied to your character’s weapon. Just like in Remake, every character in Rebirth handles differently, each with their own sets of abilities and approaches to battle.
During our hands-on with an early build of the game, we got to experience Rebirth‘s battle system first-hand. More polished than its predecessor, the responsiveness of the controls and freedom of movement gave the likes of Devil May Cry 5 and Final Fantasy 16 a run for their money.
What’s more, improving on systems tentatively introduced in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth introduces powerful synergy attacks – special moves performed by two characters at once. In addition to run-of-the-mill tag team moves you can use by spending action points as usual, you also have access to a suite of more powerful synergy attacks that not only offer strong effects but also show off the emotional dynamic between the two party members using the technique.
Off of the battlefield, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth introduces new Chocobo riding mechanics as well as a range of new minigames, all of which were teased in the release date trailer.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth story and setting
In terms of story, we don’t know much about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. If it were more of a straight-up remake, then we’d have a far clearer idea about where the narrative is headed. Though Final Fantasy 7 Remake mostly stuck to the script of its original counterpart, there were a few significant differences that could signal a radical shift for the plot. Either way, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be taking us out of the sprawling dystopian city of Midgar, across lush forests and foreboding badlands on a quest to pursue the villainous Sephiroth.
The Whispers, ghostly antagonists keen on preserving the original Final Fantasy 7 timeline, were a key element in Remake. According to a blog post in which co-director Motomu Toriyama spoke about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, these ethereal meddlers aren’t going to be around to keep the timeline in order this time around.
“As it says at the end of the game ‘The Unknown Journey Will Continue’, and Cloud and his friends will be on that journey for a while yet,” co-director Motomu Toriyama says in the final installment of Square Enix’s FF7 Remake blog series. “From here on in the Whispers cannot act to maintain the destined timeline, so fans can look forward to seeing what kind of future awaits the team.”
Since Final Fantasy 7 Remake ended with the defeat of the Whispers, this narrative decision by Toriyama makes a lot of sense.
The Theme Song Announcement Trailer from the 2023 Video Game Awards has given us plenty more tidbits, too. Not only does it give us a proper look at Vincent and Cid, but it also gives us a sneak peek at Zack and Biggs’ roles in this new canon. In the original timeline, both characters perished tragically, but it looks as though these two will be joining forces after the events of Remake. We also see Zack looking after a sleeping Cloud later on in the trailer. This means that the two will have a reunion of their own in Rebirth – a meeting that could have big ramifications for both of their character arcs.
We also know from an interview with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth co-director Naoki Hamaguchi that Zack’s role in the story will allow players to “experience and understand more of the Final Fantasy 7 worldview” including the “policies and rules governing [the] world.” This likely means that Zack’s sections in the game will deal with yet unseen aspects of the Final Fantasy 7 setting. We can’t wait to see what this entails.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth news
New story trailer shows off iconic Nibelhiem scene
A new trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth shows off some tantalizing frames from the Nibelheim Incident, one of the key moments of the story. In the trailer, we see Cloud prone on the floor as Sephiroth burns down our hero’s hometown. We’re also treated to clips of many of the game’s central protagonists, including Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Yuffie, and Red XIII playing over a dramatic arrangement of the Final Fantasy 7 battle theme.
Zack will help players ‘deepen their understanding’ of the game’s world
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth co-director Naoki Hamaguchi has revealed more about what we can expect from Zack’s arc in the game. “Through him, players will be able to experience and understand more of the Final Fantasy 7 worldview and it will deepen their understanding of the Final Fantasy 7 world.” This includes the “policies and rules governing [the setting],” too.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth features a scene that makes the director want to cry
Creative director Tetsuya Nomura remarked that there’s a scene in Rebirth that brings him to tears. “There’s a scene where I truly want to cry when I see it,” he said hinting at the work he’d done “not only [on] Aerith’s arc for Rebirth, but even other characters like Dyne [Barret’s childhood friend and biological father to Marlene].”
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will include “totally new cities,” says game director
Game co-director Naoki Hamaguchi has revealed that “totally new cities” not featured in the original Final Fantasy 7 will be making an appearance in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. These new locales are designed to encourage players to embark on “different adventures and [to] go on their own journeys according to their [own] interests,” he elaborated.
Making Sephiroth playable will help you “understand his point of view”
In a recent interview, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s co-director Naoki Hamaguchi made it clear that he wanted fans to “feel more empathy for Sephiroth” during his playable segments. “We believed that making him playable was the best way to create a bond with the user,” he continued. “Having Sephiroth as a playable character is the best way to allow the player to understand his point of view, and thus adds an additional emotional layer to all future encounters with the character.”
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has “violence” and a “bodacious beach bod”
The ESRB has given Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth an official ‘Teen’ rating while also revealing some of what we can expect from the upcoming sequel. In particular, the rating mentions that characters will be “impaled or slashed by swords” causing many to speculate that Aerith’s iconic death scene from the original will be taking place in Rebirth. The rating also tells us that one of the characters boasts about their “bodacious beach bod” – a quote which we feel speaks for itself (via GamesRadar).
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 already has a “tentative first draft”
Producer Toshinori Kitase revealed at the 2023 Tokyo Game Show that a “tentative first draft” has been composed for the third part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. That said, Kitase also made it clear that “although we’ve gotten some work done, there will still be parts we create by combining players’ responses and reactions and going over that feedback.”
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth won’t have Chocobo breeding
Though the title will include Chocobo racing and Chocobo Customization, the classic Chocobo breeding minigame from the original Final Fantasy 7 will not be making an appearance. All of this was confirmed in an interview with game co-director Naoki Hamaguchi, where he said that, in place of a breeding system, there would be an “enhanced new Chocobo capturing feature”.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is available for preorder
As of September 1, preorders are available for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Amazon.com and Best Buy in the US. Readers in the UK can preorder the title from Game. Despite preorders being available, however, there is still no word on an exact release date for the title.
Microsoft states that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth may not come to Xbox consoles
While we do know that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will only launch on PS5, it was also hoped that the game could then head to Xbox. However, according to comments by Microsoft (via Eurogamer), Sony has “entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the ‘exclusion’ of Xbox.” The report then goes on to offer examples of what games Microsoft is talking about, which includes Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
For now, there’s been no confirmation as to whether these ‘exclusion’ agreements are real. It’s worth noting, however, that Final Fantasy 7 Remake still hasn’t come to Xbox platforms, despite releasing back in April 2020.
Here’s our list of the best upcoming games for you to check out while we wait for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as well as our run-down of the best PS5 exclusives.
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