Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, has addressed player concerns regarding the physical PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game requiring an internet download to play. Unlike the previous installments in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, which utilized two discs—one for installation and one for gameplay—Rebirth's physical release comes on a single disc that necessitates downloading additional game data. Owners of the Nintendo Switch 2 version will receive a game-key card.
This approach drew criticism from some fans who had expected a fully playable physical release without mandatory updates, a standard seen in earlier franchise entries. Groups advocating for physical media and game preservation have voiced their disappointment, questioning the decision-making process behind this release strategy.
In an interview with IGN, Hamaguchi explained that even if Square Enix had opted to use the same two-disc format as for Rebirth, it would have meant compromising the game's overall quality. Consequently, the development team's "only choice" was to distribute the game on a single disc with a required digital download for certain sections.
"First and foremost, personally, I'm very happy that we are able to release a physical disc version of FFVII Revelation considering how the entire gaming market, or the landscape, is veering towards the disc-less direction," Hamaguchi stated, referencing the trend towards digital distribution and Sony's stated plans to cease PlayStation disc production by 2028.
He acknowledged that fan concerns were raised after preorders went live. "When we had an internal discussion with the development team about how we wanted to approach the physical discs and the physical releases of FFVII Revelation, initially there were conversations about using the same disc size as we did for, say, FFVII Rebirth. But if we were to do that, it would mean that we would have to make a compromise in terms of the fidelity and the quality of the game. So as a development team, we didn't want to do that. We didn't want to make any compromises for the game. So realistically, the only choice that we had was to release this physical disc, but with certain sections of the game being a digital download format through the physical disc."
While Hamaguchi understands that this decision may not satisfy all players, he expressed satisfaction with Square Enix's ability to still offer a physical format for the game. He hopes fans will share this sentiment. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 8, 2027.