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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is getting closer and closer. The follow-up to Square Enix’s gorgeous cinematic remake of the original Final Fantasy 7 is less than 100 days away now, and we couldn’t be more excited to get our hands on the second part of the trilogy.
Following on from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth continues the story of Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII in their attempt to thwart Sephiroth’s apocalyptic schemes as well as the nefarious Shinra Corporation that brought him into being. Like its predecessor, Rebirth is a hybrid action RPG where battles happen in real-time but can be paused for decision-making and strategizing.
We were very impressed with our hands-on with an early build of the game, too. Should what we saw be emblematic of the game’s quality overall, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could turn out to be one of the best RPGs and best JRPGs of 2024. Fortunately, there are plenty of details out there about the upcoming game. Read on to find out everything there is to know about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
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 dropped at The Game Awards 2023 and it’s full of tantalizing tidbits. The Theme Song Announcement Trailer gives us a look at Rebirth‘s take on several key setpieces from the original game, including meeting Dio at the Gold Saucer, Barret’s confrontation with his old friend-turned-enemy Dyne and the party’s meeting with Red XIII’s grandfather, the sagely Bugenhagen.
We were also given glimpses of fresh content, too. The preview featured numerous scenes involving Zack – cloud’s mentor who perishes in the original Final Fantasy 7 timeline. We are also treated to the game’s theme song, a moving ballad entitled No Promises to Keep. The trailer is well worth a watch, but we advise having tissues on hand.
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 powerful effects but also show off the dynamic between the two party members using the move.
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 above.
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.
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 which could, in turn, have big ramifications for both of their character arcs.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth news
Making Sephiroth playable will help you “understand his point of view”
In a recent interview, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s co-director Haoki 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 Rebirth trailer confirms the return of Vincent
On September 14 2023, the PlayStation State of Play showcase gave us a juicy new trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth which not only showed off plenty of thrilling scenes from the game but also confirmed that fan-favorite party member Vincent will be making a return. A mysterious, vampire-like figure with a tragic past, Vincent is a staple of the Final Fantasy 7 story. We can’t wait to see how his quest for revenge shapes out in Remake (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 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.