Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy’s PlayStation exclusivity clarified following reporting error

UPDATE: A Washington Post reporter has partially retracted a statement regarding the exclusivity of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy for PlayStation consoles. Initially, the report claimed that securing the trilogy as a console exclusive was a significant achievement for PlayStation. However, Gene Park, the games reporter, clarified on social media that it was a mistake to state the trilogy as a whole is confirmed as exclusive. He mentioned that the article has been updated to only refer to Remake and Rebirth, leaving the status of the third installment unconfirmed.

Despite the clarification, the fact that Remake and Rebirth are still noted as PlayStation console exclusives raises questions about the exclusivity of the third part of the trilogy. For now, the status of part three remains uncertain.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – PlayStation 5 – The FULL Digital Foundry Tech Review

ORIGINAL STORY: Sony has officially confirmed that it has struck a deal with Square Enix to make the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy exclusive to PlayStation consoles. This announcement came as no surprise to Xbox Series X/S players, as it has been four years since the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PlayStation 5, with no announcements regarding its availability on Microsoft’s platform.

Christian Svensson, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s vice president of second- and third-party content ventures, confirmed the exclusivity in a Washington Post report. He stated that the partnership with Square Enix was “mutually desired,” emphasizing the long-standing relationship between the Final Fantasy franchise and PlayStation consoles.

According to Svensson, “Final Fantasy has always been one of the primary franchise pillars on PlayStation consoles.” He acknowledged Square Enix as “one of the best in the business” at leveraging PlayStation hardware to exceed player expectations.

In the same article, Final Fantasy franchise producer Yoshinori Kitase discussed the advantages of developing exclusively for one console. He noted that focusing solely on the PS5 allowed the team to dedicate more time to creating a richer world in Rebirth. Kitase pointed out that if the game had been developed for multiple platforms, the seamless world map and certain game design elements might have been significantly compromised.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth recently launched to positive reviews, with many praising its ambitious reimagining of the beloved classic. Trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that he is already working on a design document for the concluding installment of the trilogy, which aims to expand on the original Final Fantasy 7’s third act. Hamaguchi expressed his desire to incorporate elements such as the iconic Highwind airship to enhance the exploration aspect of the game.