FF7 Rebirth Producer Doesn’t Want ‘Single Platform’ Exclusivity for Future Final Fantasy Games

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 29, 2024 7 Views 6 Min Read
FF7 Rebirth Producer Doesn't Want 'Single Platform' Exclusivity for Future Final Fantasy Games



Summary

  • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth producer Yoshinori Kitase says that Square Enix is “satisfied” with the game’s sales performance, despite online discourse suggesting otherwise.
  • However, Square Enix “cannot” pursue single platform exclusivity for future Final Fantasy games, likely due to rising development costs.
  • Kitase wants to offer Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to as many players as possible. A PC release for the game is confirmed for 2025.

The producer of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has indicated that Square Enix will adopt a multiplatform strategy for future Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launched in early 2024 as a PS5 exclusive and accrued strong critical acclaim, but the game’s supposedly lukewarm commercial reception seems to have contributed to Square Enix changing its position on “single platform” exclusivity.

As the follow-up to 2020’s highly successful Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth impressed critics and fans alike when it debuted in February 2024. Shortly after launch, though, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth fell short of sales expectations. This was followed up with a formal shift to a multiplatform release strategy, with Square Enix apparently pivoting away from exclusivity contracts for future Final Fantasy entries.

Square Enix is conducting a survey related to the Final Fantasy franchise.

Related


Square Enix Wants Feedback on the Final Fantasy Series

Final Fantasy developer Square Enix is seemingly gathering input from fans regarding the future of its flagship JRPG franchise.

A recent IGN Brazil interview with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth producer Yoshinori Kitase sheds more light on Square Enix’s outlook towards the game. Contrary to online sentiments, Kitase stated that Square Enix is actually “safe and satisfied” with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s sales performance. However, he added that the current “modernity of games” has left Square Enix in a position where future Final Fantasy entries “cannot be exclusive to a single platform,” likely alluding to multiplatform releases being the norm moving forward.

Square Enix is Shifting Away from “Single Platform” Exclusivity for Future Final Fantasy Games

Kitase believes that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth should be offered to as many players as possible. This sentiment was also echoed by Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi, who recently expressed support for bringing the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series to Xbox platforms. While the Xbox ports have yet to be announced, a PC release for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was confirmed at The Game Awards 2024. PC seems to be an important platform for Square Enix, and it wouldn’t be too surprising if day one PC releases were prioritized for future Final Fantasy games.

While we are confident and happy that we are reaching a certain level of [Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth] sales, it is clear that with the modernity of games, we cannot be exclusive to a single platform. I think we need to offer the game to as many players as possible.

It’s currently undetermined whether Square Enix is considering Xbox versions of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16, but given the company’s outspoken commitment to multiplatform releases, one can only imagine it’s on the cards. With the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 reportedly packing much more power than its predecessor, it may also be a viable platform for Square Enix to expand Final Fantasy‘s audience. Time will tell how Square Enix’s multiplatform strategy for future Final Fantasy entries will unfold, but for now at least, the prospect of PlayStation timed exclusivity appears increasingly less likely.

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