Final Fantasy VII: Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi has defended the decision to require a digital download for the game's physical disc version. Speaking with IGN, Hamaguchi explained that the development team aimed to avoid any compromises in the game's fidelity and overall quality.
"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," Hamaguchi stated. "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."
He added that the only realistic option was to release the physical disc with certain sections of the game available as a digital download. Hamaguchi acknowledged the importance of physical media, expressing personal happiness that a physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation is being released, especially given the industry's trend toward disc-less consoles.
While the move may skirt some consumer concerns related to digital-only releases, such as potential pricing control by a single platform holder, it also introduces potential long-term issues. The reliance on a download means the physical disc could become useless if the game's digital components are no longer supported by the publisher in the future. However, for the present, a physical release still allows retail stores to set prices, offering consumers a wider range of purchasing options compared to purely digital storefronts. The possibility of a preserved second-hand market also exists, though this could be mitigated by the inclusion of unique codes with new copies.