Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will go down as one of Square Enix’s best games of all time. In an ideal world, its best traits will carry over to future entries in the entire franchise. But we live in a reality where critical acclaim can and often takes a back seat over a more important number: sales.
Everyone has made much ado about the reportedly low sales of the sequel. Honestly, it sold well. FF7 Rebirth was either the best-selling game or the second-best-selling game last month, depending on the country. This isn’t easy since it came out at month’s end. Also, Helldivers 2 dominated the sales charts, selling over 5 million copies in a month and has been referred to as by experts as a statistical anomaly.
However, this is Square Enix we’re talking about. This is a company that historically is quick to react to titles that it believes underperformed compared to their expectations.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake set a high bar, both critically and commercially, for its sequel. Of course, the argument exists that it benefitted from the perfect storm. It was released as the sales of the PS4 peaked, right in the middle of a pandemic that forced everyone to stay at home with nothing else to do but play video games all day. Its launch numbers reflected this, selling over 3.5 million units within three days.
Fast forward to three years later, Final Fantasy 16, the first numbered installment in the franchise since 2016, sold understandably worse, with 3 million in its first-week post-launch. The weaker sales of the PlayStation 5, which, at the time, was fresh off a three-year-long stock shortage, provided a reasonable explanation. But enough about that. We’ve gone over these numbers already. What matters now is what happens if Square Enix isn’t satisfied with the FF7 Rebirth sales.
The gaming industry’s landscape is ever-changing, and success in this field is not solely determined by a game’s quality or critical reception. Market dynamics, competition, and shifting player preferences also play crucial roles. Should the sequel fail to achieve the level of commercial success anticipated by Square Enix, the company might reassess its strategy for the franchise. This could result in a shift towards safer, potentially fewer innovative projects or a reconsideration of the series’ future direction, moving away from its best elements – expansive towns, engaging side quests, and a dynamic combat system.
For a title described as the “greatest variable” to Square Enix’s current fiscal year, such an outcome might necessitate budget reevaluations or project prioritizations that could impact the scope and ambition of future Final Fantasy installations, including the third part of the ambitious remake trilogy that’s already in development.
Square Enix’s silence on FF7 Rebirth‘s sales figures continue to raise eyebrows. This is the quietest the company has been for years if not ever following a major release. The silence could be interpreted as an indication that FF7 Rebirth didn’t live up to commercial expectations.
Despite the valid concerns, it’s crucial to recognize the strength and resilience of Final Fantasy as a brand. The franchise has continually evolved, reflecting the changing times, consumer tastes and gaming technologies, while maintaining its core appeal. Even if the game does not meet sales expectations, it’s unlikely to spell doom for the franchise. Nevertheless, it does put Square Enix in a tough position.
After all, if Final Fantasy 14, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16 can’t combine to help Square Enix reach its financial goals for the fiscal year, what else can it do?
