Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches February 29th and has built up a massive, meteor-sized hype train in its wake. In February, PlayStation devoted an entire State of Play to the game, showing off 11 minutes of gameplay before announcing a demo.
The demo takes place during the infamous Nibelheim incident, giving players the chance to control both Cloud and Sephiroth before the silver-haired psychopath got into the matches. On February 21st, Square Enix updated the demo to add portions of the Junon region, the part of the game famous for when Cloud was able to brush up on his color guard routines. But one question yet remains: how will Rebirth handle one of the most infamous scenes in RPG history?
Here are all the news, reviews, and updates for FFVII Rebirth.
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a modern open-world RPG with the soul of 1997
Image: Square EnixHere’s something I never thought I’d say: the original Final Fantasy VII was too short. I’ve played through the classic RPG, which spans three discs and more than 30 hours, multiple times and always thought I largely understood it. And yet I now realize that various elements of its convoluted plot have actually escaped me. So here I am, a few decades later, and I finally understand (most of) what the hell is going on — and that’s because of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
It’s the follow-up to 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, and the second part in a planned trilogy that reimagines and expands upon the 1997 original. It’s a game that introduces a huge open world to the franchise and further fleshes out some key plot points and moments, while adding whole new elements to the experience. Not every addition is welcome — there’s definitely some filler here — but Rebirth fills out the middle of FF7’s story in a way that makes it deeper and easier to grasp.
Read Article >- Remember, no horny.
With the arrival of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PC January 23rd, Square Enix is once again asking players to be cool about mods. In an interview with Epic Games, director Naoki Hamaguchi asked that modders, “not to create or install anything offensive or inappropriate.” A similar ask was made on behalf of Final Fantasy XVI, and like that request, this one will likely be ignored as well.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s biggest twist is concealed in a tiny detail
Image: Square EnixI’m in awe of how smart the developers of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are. After seeing a post comparing Cloud during the Nibelheim flashback and his arrival at the city much later in the game, my mind is reeling from the subtle brilliance in how Square used the tiniest of animation details to convey one of the biggest, most shocking plot twists in Final Fantasy narrative history.
Spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to follow.
Read Article >Definitely don’t start your Final Fantasy VII experience with Rebirth
Image: Square EnixFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth is an excellent game and an important evolution for the franchise. It mashes together a traditional RPG with a large open world, managing to feel both modern and like it’s sticking to its 32-bit roots. What it is not, however, is a good place to get started with the multipart story that is Final Fantasy VII — despite what its creators might say.
Prior to Rebirth’s launch, creative director and zipper aficionado Tetsuya Nomura talked about how the game was designed in part to be welcoming to newcomers (always a commendable goal). “In fact,” he said in 2022, “new players might even enjoy starting their Final Fantasy VII journey with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.” Meanwhile, on launch day, producer Yoshinori Kitase said the game would be “welcoming in newcomers to begin their Final Fantasy adventure here.”
Read Article >Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s creators want you to embrace the stress
Image: Square EnixThere’s a moment in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — one I won’t spoil but will say it’s not That Moment — where I could hardly breathe. The story had taken a slight detour away from the events of the original’s continuity but not so much to be wholly different. Characters were in the same places and had the same attitudes as they did before but were remixed just so. I had no idea how everything was going to shake out, which stressed me out because up to that point, I was deeply invested in predicting how Rebirth would depart from its predecessor.
That anxiety is exactly what Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, wants players to feel — along with a few other emotions.
Read Article >- Go ahead and Google “chocobo” for me.
You’re welcome.
- Time to be reborn.
The second game in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy — Rebirth — is out today on the PS5. You can check out my review of the excellent RPG right here, as well as all of our coverage in this stream.
The Queen’s Blood card game is just as good as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth itself
Image: Square EnixI have a pet conspiracy theory.
The greatest minds in card game design don’t work at Wizards of the Coast on Magic: The Gathering or at Ravensburger on the Disney-themed breakout hit Lorcana. But somehow, through some eldritch pact made with the gods of the collectible card game, Square Enix managed to snag the greatest minds in card game design and has kept them in a vault for the last 30 years working on Final Fantasy card minigames. That’s the best explanation I can come up with for how good Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Queen’s Blood card game is.
Read Article >- “I can’t say that I had orange juice for breakfast without people asking what it means.”
That’s Briana White, who voices Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. “Everyone has a theory,” she told The New York Times.
Also, TIL Broadway actor Lea Salonga, singing voice of Jasmine and Mulan, is a huge Final Fantasy fan.
Correction: Salonga was the singing voice of Mulan; lines were voiced by Ming-Na Wen.
- The Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo is getting a graphics update.
After the FFVII Rebirth demo arrived last week, some players complained of “early PS3” era textures while playing in its default 1440p performance mode instead of the higher quality Graphics mode.
Now Square Enix says that a planned “part two” update adding a Junon episode area to the demo on February 21st will also bring improved graphics for performance mode, which will be included in the retail game when it’s released on the 29th.
Watch 11 minutes of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth gameplay features — and the final trailer
Cosmo Canyon. Nibelheim. Dolphin racing. Vincent Valentine. A one-winged Sephiroth. Marlene’s dad Dyne. Mini-game after mini-game after mini-game to play. “The world will be saved, but will you?” asks the game’s trailer, with almost zero subtlety that the events of this game will determine Aerith’s infamous fate.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is coming February 29th, and both Sony and Square Enix want to make damn sure that fans know this game is a can’t-miss event — even though it’s not the conclusion to the remake of Final Fantasy VII and will have another game following it.
Read Article >- The FFVII Rebirth playable demo is now live.
We heard it was coming, and Sony says it’s out today. Here it is. don’t download the old Remake demo by accident!
You can replay Sony’s entire video reveal now: it goes over loads of activities and regions to expect from the game, including Junon, Corel, Costa Del Sol, Cosmo Canyon, and Shinra Manor. Apparently, the game will “ultimately decide Aerith’s fate.”
Update: The demo is now live.
- Glad to see Final Fantasy VII’s graphics are still up to snuff!
I kid — these blocky homages to the original game are just for unlockables and mini-games. FFVII Rebirth will have your choice of 4K or 60fps modes.
1/3 Sony just let slip a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth playable demo is imminent
Image: Square EnixFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth is nearly here. It’s coming February 29th, and yes, we will find out what happens to Aerith unless the game’s producer was playing us. But we won’t have to wait that long to get a taste, because Sony will release a playable demo as soon as tomorrow, February 6th.
That’s the word from Wario64, who spotted a trailer for the demo on PlayStation Network, one you can watch below — and the news that the demo will let you “step into the shoes of either Cloud or Sephiroth during the Nibelheim episode.”
Read Article >- My emotions are reaching their Limit Break.
We’re exactly a month out from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which means fans only have one question on their minds: what is going to happen to Aerith? This quote from producer Yoshinori Kitase doesn’t clear things up much, but it does make me even more curious about how they’re approaching this iconic moment:
Aerith’s fate is one of the most important themes in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s story. I really want people to play the game and feel it directly, so I will not say too much here, but when comparing this scene to how it was presented in the original, I am confident that the audience will feel a great breadth of emotion from the extra level of detail in how the characters are portrayed.
- The theater’s dyin’, Cloud.
Before there was Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth there was Advent Children, a CG movie that served as a sequel to the original game from 1997. It’s a bit of a, let’s say, acquired taste, but if you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, Square Enix is bringing it to select US theaters on February 21st and 22nd.
- Happy Valentine’s day!
The new Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth trailer at the Game Awards gave us our first full look at the re-”vamped” design for the fan-favorite character Vincent Valentine, alongside these stills posted to X.
Between this and Baldur’s Gate 3 voice actor Neil Newbon winning Best Performance for his portrayal of the bloodthirsty Astarion, edgy goths and vampire lovers had plenty to celebrate yesterday.
