During the recent PlayStation State of Play livestream, Square Enix was in attendance with a big announcement for those awaiting the follow-up to Final Fantasy VII Remake – the second of three planned instalments – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – will be launching exclusively on the PlayStation 5 starting 29 February 2024. This is almost certainly a timed exclusive, and those on other platforms will likely be waiting 6-12 months to nab it on your preferred console.
Alongside announcing the game’s release date and the trailer (below), Square Enix also shared Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s key artwork, which brings together not the main party members of Final Fantasy VII – but the trio of Cloud, Sephiroth and Zack. The concept behind the artwork is that it represents the three worlds that form the axis of the story in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – particularty:
Sephiroth is in the center, as he represents the instigator of the events of the past. Cloud and Zack are on the side as they represent their destinies being torn apart by Sephiroth. The image of blood, fire, and red that evokes Sephiroth, stains the sky and spreads over the world. The subtle red shade in the logo of this work is also inspired by the same imagery.
Meet the Main Cast
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake project, and will feature both elements introduced in the previous game, as well as “greatly enhanced features” including “the vast world map to explore and synergy abilities with party members. As shared by Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, ” The story will unfold more dramatically than ever before, with a rapid pace of major twists and turns. We know fans are dying to see one scene in particular…”. Additionally:
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH can be enjoyed on its own as a standalone adventure, with the party leaving Midgar to explore the wide world beyond. But for those wishing to deepen their understanding of the story, a recap of the previous game will also be provided. We hope that both fans and those who have never played FINAL FANTASY before will enjoy this game.
Also contributing a comment, Director Naoki Hamaguchi shared the below:
We are finally able to announce the release date to all of you! We have been working tirelessly on FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH since the release of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, and we can’t wait for you to experience our labor of love. In this title, Cloud and his friends, who have fled Midgar, will be setting out on an adventure across an expansive world of untold adventure in pursuit of Sephiroth, the legendary SOLDIER. W
hile the main storyline is bigger and more ambitious than the previous game’s narrative, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH also embraces the concept of “free exploration,” with compelling stories, fun mini-games, powerful monsters and so much more to find throughout the world map. We hope you will explore this world in great detail, as nearly 100 hours of adventure awaits. We hope you will take this new FINAL FANTASY game experience in your own hands to enjoy.
Furthermore, Tetsuya Nomura, creative director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also shared:
This is the second title of a trilogy, and covers between the start of the journey outside Midgar to the midpoint of the original FINAL FANTASY VII. If FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE was an introduction to the world and a preparation for this journey, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH serves as an illustration of the incidents that started the journey, an exploration of the people tied to it, and the journey itself, heading toward its climax.
Many elements were carefully selected for this title and because this is a series, we have the unique opportunity to review and incorporate feedback from the previous title, such as by increasing the number of characters. I am sure that the bar for the next work will be raised even higher now that we have included so many spectacular elements in this work, but even so, the entire team continues to work diligently and without compromise on its development.
There is also the looming question of what fate awaits. Whether you have experienced the original title or will embark on this adventure with fresh eyes, we hope you will face the ending of this work on your own terms.
