Rob Fahey talks about the current sales crisis of Final Fantasy games on Gamesindustry:

Final Fantasy's sales crisis is also an identity crisis | Opinion

Final Fantasy doesn't seem to know what it is or who it's for anymore – a much deeper problem for the franchise than platform exclusivity deals

The news that Square Enix considers its two major Final Fantasy titles in the past year – Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – to have missed their sales targets won't be a surprise to many people in the industry. On the contrary, this outcome was so predictable that it's provoked all manner of exaggerated eye-rolling.

Square Enix has form in this department, after all. Its most famous public lament for the under-performance of a key title (despite selling many millions of copies) was for Tomb Raider.

But since then, this tactic has become a fairly standard part of its financial communications, leading many to believe that the company's internal sales estimates are insanely out of touch with reality.

There's some validity to that claim – Square Enix doesn't generally seem to be very good at setting realistic targets for its games, and it's tempting to suggest that the problem is one of motivated reasoning.

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Couchpotato spotted a four-part documentary series for Final Fantasy Rebirth:

Shaping the World - Inside FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Episode 1 (Environment, Art and Music)

Friends of Fate - Inside FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Episode 2 (Scenario, Cutscenes and Story)

New Friends & Foes - Inside FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Episode 3 (Characters, Combat, Localization)

Voicing Icons - Inside FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Episode Four (English Voice Actors)

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been released for the Playstation - a PC release is expected for this summer:

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Launch Trailer

RPGamer reviewed Final Fantasy VII Rebirth:

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review

The More Things Change

Fans of Final Fantasy VII remember their first trip to Midgar. Whether it was in 1997 with the original game on the PlayStation, more than two decades later with the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 4 in 2020, or somewhere in-between, the bustling metropolis where the game’s first act occurs looms large in the minds of many gamers. Midgar had it all, a thriving company town perched above slums, literally blocking the sunlight from reaching the citizens below. It’s where millions of players over the decades met Cloud on his first mission with Avalanche; his reunion with Tifa; and the group’s daring rescue of Aerith from the Shinra HQ, culminating in a pulse-racing escape from Midgar.  

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth understands and embodies what made the original game great. The exquisite attention to detail paid by the artists, developers, and designers of the game’s combat, musical stylings, and plentiful mini-games becomes apparent. Perhaps more than that, though, is the joy and love felt for these characters and the world they inhabit. The unforgettable memories from the original game are painstakingly reimagined and recreated here, grabbing at your heartstrings and refusing to let go.

It’s been twenty-seven years since Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa first left Midgar. Since then, their world — and ours — has changed significantly. It’s such a wonder, then, to be able to recreate that sublime experience of leaving Midgar for the first time during the opening of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This is the game that delivers on the promise of the Final Fantasy VII remake project. It’s a fascinatingly familiar yet unknown journey that is breathtaking and unforgettable.  

Score: 5/5

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Fextralife checked out Final Fantasy VII Rebirth:

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Gameplay Demo Impressions - More of the Same Goodness!

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IGN checked out Final Fantasy VII Rebirth:

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - The Final Preview

Destructoid talked with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Naoki Hamaguchi:

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director talks action combat and getting wrangled by Zack

Go ahead, start speculating.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. However, it also appears to hide subtle refinements underneath the surface that may make it a substantially different experience. And according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi, it seems this vibe is, indeed, by design.

Last month, I had the opportunity to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for myself. While I gave my honest thoughts about what I saw during that demo, the experience left me deeply curious about Rebirth’s adherence to the original formula and what pieces would deviate. Fortunately, I didn’t have to leave every curiosity unfulfilled, and I was provided the opportunity to email a few questions directly to the game’s development team, which Hamaguchi himself kindly answered.

Below, you’ll find our full exchange, which includes insight into how the game will approach both its evolved combat system as well as its new story. Also, there’s a line about Zack that I can’t get out of my head. Enjoy!

Interview with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Director Naoki Hamaguchi

Greetings! I’m Timothy Monbleau, Guide Editor for Destructoid. I’ve followed the Final Fantasy series since before I could even read, so it is a privilege to ask you about Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Thank you for your time.

Now, for my questions.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers a bit of a new beginning. While it continues the story of Final Fantasy VII Remake, players will have to level up their characters and Materia all over again. Was it a challenge to make Final Fantasy VII Rebirth feel fresh for those who mastered Final Fantasy VII Remake?

Naoki Hamaguchi: It was a significant decision not to carry over the growth element while keeping this installment format. However, I would like to explain that this decision was made with clear intention. The FINAL FANTASY VII remake project is planned to be a trilogy, but we don’t intend to develop the second game to fit the first game’s format, only with different content. The second title has evolved based on feedback from the first title, and naturally, the third title will evolve even further based on the feedback from the second title.

This has an impact on the battle system and the entire game experience in the field, so even if elements appear similar to the previous game, they have been adjusted, expanded, and are therefore not the same. Rather than forcing the game to be carried over and creating discrepancies in the gameplay experience for each player, we decided that it would be better for all users to be able to enjoy the game in the same state, which would result in a new and fresh experience for everyone. Of course, we’ve heard a wide range of opinions and feedback from users, but we’ve also put tremendous effort into creating an experience that will satisfy many fans, and hope those decisions will be received well.

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The second part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy is called Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and will be released in winter 2023:

FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH – First Look Trailer

Here's a first look at FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, the sequel to 2020’s critically-acclaimed FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE