Xbox owners have a reason to celebrate even if it will likely take waiting for much later this decade to finally get their hands on one of the most sought after exclusives on the PlayStation platform.
We’re talking about Square Enix’s massive reimagining of the 1997 classic, which is two games deep with a third one on the way.
Initially, there were claims the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, including Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and the yet-to-be-released third installment, would be PlayStation exclusives. However, a recent clarification from the source sheds new light on the matter, clarifying the recent confusion surrounding its exclusivity.
I am clarifying the second point: it was a mistake on my part to write the sentence like that. The entire FFVII trilogy is NOT yet confirmed to be Sony exclusive. The article has been amended to only mention Remake and Rebirth. https://t.co/zPl6MXBX6N
— Gene Park (@GenePark) March 6, 2024
The Washington Post initially reported the trilogy as a significant win for PlayStation. It also suggested that securing the entire trilogy as console exclusives was notable. The reporter, Gene Park, later corrected the statement, clarifying that his initial assertion was a mistake and that the exclusivity status of the entire trilogy isn’t confirmed yet.
The first game in the trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, launched on the PlayStation 4 in March 2020 and was later released on PC a year later. The pattern of timed exclusivity followed by releases on additional platforms isn’t new to the industry and is something fans have seen with other titles. This model allows developers and publishers to benefit from the marketing and promotional support of console exclusives while eventually expanding their audience by releasing on other platforms.
While FF7 Rebirth is explicitly mentioned as a PlayStation console exclusive in reports, its follow-up’s exclusivity status remains unconfirmed. But Park did mention that the first two games likely aren’t headed to PlayStation anytime soon.
Given the historical relationship between PlayStation and Square Enix, particularly with the Final Fantasy series, it’s understandable why many might assume the entire trilogy would follow the same exclusivity pattern. Without official confirmation regarding the third installment’s exclusivity, speculation continues.
Nevertheless, franchise producer, Yoshinori Kitase, highlighted the benefits of making a game for a single console, echoing similar statements made by Naoki Yoshida, who was the producer of Final Fantasy 16. Kitase noted that focusing on PlayStation 5 helped the team create a seamless world map, suggesting that multi-platform development could have led to compromises in game design if not lengthened the development process.
Despite the potential for exclusivity, it’s crucial to remember that the gaming industry is in constant flux, with strategic partnerships evolving. Thus, future Final Fantasy projects could still appear on platforms beyond the PlayStation ecosystem, including the next mainline entry.
The ideal situation is for Square Enix to re-release a compilation of the entire trilogy for the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Thus, while each individual game might still be released exclusively on PlayStation, the complete package will be available on other platforms at launch as well. Of course, this is only speculation.
For now, the only one confirmed so far is FF16. Its PC port might launch next year with an Xbox port possibly coming soon after.
