The long wait for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is over. The second chapter in Square Enix's three-part remake of the 1997 classic came out earlier this year and, with it, a new spin on some old-school adventures.
During a hands-on with a preview build of Rebirth, we got to see the third-person fantasy action role-playing game (RPG) for ourselves and we were very impressed. Its fluid combat and gorgeous cutscenes not only do justice to the original but meaningfully improve on its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, in every way. We've played the final version now, too. Be sure to check out our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review.
While it certainly follows in its predecessor's footsteps, Rebirth isn't a carbon copy of the game that spawned it. New battle mechanics, story beats, and opportunities for exploration have been added, not to mention some significant changes to the narrative which could substantially shake things up in the long run. Read on to find out more.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: cut to the chase
- What is it? The sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- When is it coming out? Out now! (Released February 29, 2024)
- What can I play it on? PS5
- Who is making it? Square Enix
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release date and platforms
The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release date was February 29, 2024. It is currently only available on PS5 consoles.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth trailer
The latest trailer for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is four minutes of jaw-dropping excitement. Called the 'Final Trailer', this four-minute preview shows off some scenes from the Temple of the Ancients, while also giving us more of a look at Cid, Vincent, and even Zack.
While you can see the trailer below, we advice caution since it arguably contains minor spoilers for the game. Still, if you don't mind seeing a couple of story beats ahead of time, the Final Trailer makes for a great watch.
We also saw the release of the short yet punchy 'Destined for Rebirth' trailer in January as well as a trailer for the game's theme song, No Promises to Keep, which was revealed in December 2023. The trailer shows off scenes from the upcoming game as well as its tear-inducing theme song. We advise bringing tissues for this one.
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 a preview 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 techniques, 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 strong effects but also show off the emotional 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. There's also a sizable explorable world, full of monsters to fight and secrets to discover.
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 on a quest to pursue the villainous Sephiroth.
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 that could have big ramifications for both of their character arcs.
We also know from an interview with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth co-director Naoki Hamaguchi that Zack's role in the story will allow players to "experience and understand more of the Final Fantasy 7 worldview" including the "policies and rules governing [the] world." This likely means that Zack's sections in the game will deal with yet unseen aspects of the Final Fantasy 7 setting. We can't wait to see what this entails.
Will Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth come out on PS4 or Xbox?
Unfortunately for PS4 owners, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth isn't 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 news
A new relationship system can "alter portions of the story"
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has a new system for tracking the affinity of party members that can "alter portions of the story," according to co-director Naoki Hamaguchi. "For Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, a lot of people understand that there's that very famous date scene on the gondola coming. So because people sort of know where this is heading, if it was still kept in the dark and they didn't know roughly what level of affinity they were with each character, this could be quite stressful for the players."
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo is available now
In a special State of Play event, it was revealed that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth now has a fully playable demo available on the PlayStation Store. This reveal came alongside a brand new trailer as well as over ten minutes of yet unseen game footage.
Game director teases "loads" of minigames for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth co-director Naoki Hamaguchi has teased that there will be "loads of minigames in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. He also spoke more about the chocobo racing, stating: “We've adapted the chocobo race into a very modern racing game, so that’s quite a big difference from the original."
Here's our list of the best PS5 games for you to check out now that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is now here, as well as our run-down of the best PS5 exclusives.
