Fans have been longing for a remake of Final Fantasy 7 for years, and in 2020, Square Enix finally delivered. However, due to the size of Cloud Strife’s adventure, we only got the first part of the story—mostly centered around the city of Midgar.
We first got word that a remake was coming at Sony’s E3 conference in 2015, but information on development was scarce for years after. The remake finally resurfaced during E3 in 2019 where Square Enix debuted several new trailers and announced the FF7 remake’s release date for the PS4.
The remake is out now on PS4 and PS5, and finally, after almost two years of waiting, it’s finally hitting PC, too.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Release Date
What’s the release date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake PC?
It’s finally happening! Square Enix announced the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is coming to the Epic Game Store on December 16, including the Intergrade expansion released on PS5 earlier in 2021.
Here’s the PC trailer.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake episodes
What’s this about being split into parts?
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is so much bigger than the original that on PS4 it comes on two Blu-ray discs… just for this first episode. In remaking the original game, Square Enix is breaking it up into multiple instalments. This first part takes places entirely in Midgar, whereas in the original game, you leave the city after 5-10 hours of play.
Square Enix hasn’t said when the second part of the game will be released, but that it is in development already. It does feel a bit like the trend where movie series ended with a finale split into two separate movies, but according to producer Yoshinori Kitase it’s for the best.
“If we were to try to fit everything from the original into one remake instalment, we would have to cut various parts and create a condensed version of Final Fantasy 7,” he said in 2015. “We knew none of you would have wanted that.”
If we were to dream up a best case scenario for PC players, the second part of the remake would release in 2021 concurrent with the initial PC release and we’d be treated to a complete game via digital download rather than having it split into parts.
But given the scope of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, a trilogy seems a whole lot more likely, and who knows when we’ll be seeing the later entries arrive on console or PC. Fingers crossed that after this first episode, PC players get Final Fantasy 7 at the same time.
How about the next installment?
No word yet on the second installment—more about the remake’s ‘episode’ format below—for either PS4, PS5, or for PC. We do know the next part of the game is already in development though.
Final Fantasy 7 remake gameplay and trailers
Here’s the story trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The story trailer for the FFVII remake introduces a bit of the plot but mostly many of the characters you’ll recognize from the original.
Check out the original reveal trailer for the remake
The first trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Remake back in 2015 didn’t reveal much information beyond the game’s existence. Still, it was a pretty moody, pointed teaser. The final lines: “For they are coming back. At last, the promise has been made” are almost enough to give you goosebumps, with that eerie music and the sword on Cloud’s back. Square Enix was making a promise, indeed.
The story is slightly different in the remake
The Final Fantasy 7 remake is more than just a visual update. In an interview with Wired, director Tetsuya Nomura said “we’re not intending for this to become a one-to-one remake, or just the original Final Fantasy 7 with better graphics.”
Nomura goes on to clarify that there are certain major plot points that he feels shouldn’t be disturbed because of players’ attachment to them. “I want to make it so it’s relevant to the modern era, as well as having an element of surprise.” He says. “I don’t want to change it so much that it’s unrecognizable, but make sure that it’s something fresh and new [yet still] recognizable as FF7.”
What is combat like in the remake?
We got a good look at the combat in Final Fantasy 7 Remake during E3 2019. Turn-based combat is officially out. The remake has a combat system closer to what was used in Final Fantasy 15.
As you fight, your “ATB meter” will fill. When you have portions of the meter filled, you spend them to trigger a tactical mode that slows time so you can initiate special attacks or use potions.
You also switch between party members at will to use their various attacks and spells.
Actually, you can still fight in “classic” mode
Square Enix has also explained that the remake features a combat mode styled to feel more like the classic turn-based system. It isn’t a one-for-one recreation, but lets the player choose abilities through a menu rather than being action-based.
On Twitter, Square Enix explains that the classic mode lets the players leave the standard attacks on auto-pilot. “In standard modes, the ATB Gauge fills up by repeatedly attacking your enemy, but in Classic Mode this aspect of gameplay is handled automatically,” it says.
“The player does not need to do anything and the character fights automatically, charging up their ATB Gauge.” After the meter is charged, it sounds like it’s up to the player to choose abilities and spells from a menu similarly to how they would in the 1997 game.
