Naoki Hamaguchi Is Working to Make Final Fantasy VII Revelation's Physical Edition Happen
- ⚡Xe⚡
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
GamesRadar+ interviewed Naoki Hamaguchi during the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Berlin, where he discussed Final Fantasy VII Revelation's edition plans and the possibility of a physical release.
According to Hamaguchi, Square Enix has not yet finalized which editions of Final Fantasy VII Revelation will be released. The team is still discussing the available product options, and no final decision regarding the available formats has been announced.
"We're still having internal discussions on what the exact SKU product lineup is going to be for Revelation, so I can't say anything particularly definitive at this point in time. But I am working to make the arrangements to allow us to have some kind of physical edition."
Hamaguchi also discussed the broader changes happening in the games industry, where physical releases are becoming less common compared to digital distribution.
"I do feel, as a developer and as a fan, that the general trend is for things to shift away from physical towards downloadable games."
He explained that physical editions have value beyond simply owning a copy of a game, especially because of the connection they create between fans and developers at events.
"Personally, here at something like Fan Fest or at community events for games that I've worked on, I really think that people bringing up things, asking for autographs – I think that's lovely. I think it's a wonderful culture and it would be a shame to lose that. I want that to remain."
Hamaguchi hopes that even if traditional discs become less common, some form of physical or packaged edition could continue to exist. He mentioned several possible approaches that could be considered in the future.
"I feel like there'll always be some kind of physical or packaged edition. Maybe you'll have a box with the code inside it, or maybe key cards like Nintendo's doing, or a boot disc or something. I feel like there'll always be something, and I hope there will be."
The final release format will also depend on the requirements of each platform. Storage limitations, available disc space, and platform-specific rules are among the factors Square Enix is considering while deciding the best approach.
"Obviously, say, if you're talking to Nintendo, there's considerations about the storage limits on key cards and things like that, and then other platforms about how much you can put onto a disc. Each platform and first-party have their own specific rules and regulations that we need to take into account, and think about what format is actually going to be best for the game. These are the discussions that we're having at this point in time. I do hope that we'll be able to come up with something that is as close as possible as to what players and fans are going to want, but you'll have to look forward to future announcements for that."
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About FINAL FANTASY VII
First released in 1997 on the PlayStation® computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY VII will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027. The game is universally regarded as a landmark title of the RPG genre. The original title received high praise for its epic storyline, unique characters, and movie sequences that utilized the most cutting-edge technology of the time. Since then, the game revolving around iconic hero Cloud Strife and his pursuit of the antagonist Sephiroth has sold over 15.7 million copies worldwide and continues to receive widespread acclaim from critics and fans around the world. The popular game has expanded into spin-offs, films and merchandise.
Now, Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Series, created by a team of original and new developers, retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. The first game of the trilogy, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, is available for PS4® consoles. The expanded edition, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, and the second entry, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, are now available for Nintendo Switch 2, XBOX Series X|S, XBOX PC, PS5® consoles and PC. FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION, the climactic conclusion of the series, will release for PS5 consoles, Nintendo Switch 2, XBOX Series X|S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and XBOX PC, in Spring 2027.