Square Enix has released new gameplay footage for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, showcasing exploration within a massive chasm beneath Midgar and featuring Cloud astride a pink Chocobo. The video highlights the game's emphasis on verticality, a key design pillar for this installment, which aims to be the largest chapter in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy.
Previous demonstrations revealed the cast's ability to skydive into new areas on the world map. This latest gameplay segment further illustrates the expansive environments players can expect, particularly in specific regions like the revealed chasm. While the prevalence of such massive caverns across the entire game world remains to be seen, the footage suggests a significant expansion of the game's explorable areas, building upon the open-world design introduced in Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is slated for release on April 8, 2027. The game is expected to offer a substantial playtime, with director Naoki Hamaguchi estimating a complete playthrough could take around 100 hours. The development team is also planning two post-launch expansions centered on Vincent Valentine and Sephiroth, respectively.
Adding to the game's scope, the iconic airship, the Highwind, will serve as the party's base of operations. The sheer size of the game is reflected in its storage requirements, with Hamaguchi estimating the game will occupy approximately 200GB on PC or console. As noted by Jason Fanelli after a hands-on preview, "My time with the final chapter of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy clearly shows that the team at Square Enix has plenty of story left to tell."