The universe of Final Fantasy VII Remake just got way bigger. As fans wait for news on the next installment of the episodic remake of the PlayStation classic, Square Enix has announced four new FF VII projects.
The announced projects will appear on different platforms. Mobile players will be getting new games set in FF VII's world. Console players will be getting DLC for Remake and a next-gen port for those who didn't want to rely on backwards compatibility to play the Remake on new hardware.
Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade
Yuffie Kisaragi is coming to FF VII Remake. Yuffie will star in a new DLC episode whose story appears to run in parallel to Remake's. In Intergrade's trailer, Yuffie describes herself as a “Materia hunter and elite special forces operative for the new Wutai government.” She declares her intention to team-up with Avalanche, the insurgent group led by FF VII's Barrett.
Square's YouTube description of Intergrade confirms that Yuffie will face FF VII's main antagonists, Shinra. It also promises new characters and gameplay additions. Intergrade will be paid DLC but is only available on the PlayStation 5. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade releases June 10, 2021, and is available for pre-order as part of a bundle with the PS5 release of Remake, but no price for the DLC on its own has been announced yet.
Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 port of Final Fantasy VII Remake releases on June 10. Unexpectedly, this edition will be a free upgrade for PS4 owners, whose save data will also transfer to the PS5. In addition to access to Yuffie's DLC, the PS5 version will include expected quality of life improvements over the PS4 version. Remake's textures, lighting and fog effects will all be improved on the new console.
There will be a choice of graphics modes to take advantage of the PS5's extra power. Players can choose between Performance Mode, which prioritizes a smooth 60 Frames Per Second experience, and the 4K resolution of Graphics Mode. The PS5 version will also feature a Photo Mode and DualSense specific functionality.
Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier
The First Soldier is Final Fantasy's first entry in the lucrative battle royale genre, but it will only be available on mobile iOS and Android. Battle Royale is the popular thing for many franchises today, including mainstays like Super Mario Bros. and Vampire: The Masquerade. First Soldier will be available in 2021, at an unspecified date.
The game is set in Midgar and takes place 30 years before the events of FF VII. Players will take on the role of a SOLDIER candidate who has to use their abilities in "a battle of survival" to become the first member of Shinra's elite team. The gameplay combines 3rd person shooter gunplay, swordplay and RPG-style spell casting. It looks like Summons might even be involved. Combat appears to be both PvP and PvE, as players can be seen fighting monsters and giant robots in addition to other SOLDIER recruits.
Final Fantasy Ever Crisis
Final Fantasy Ever Crisis is a mobile game in the vein of Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition. Ever Crisis is a scaled-down, chapter-structured adaptation of FF VII's entire compendium, covering the events of the previously largely abandoned titles Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus, and even the animated movie Advent Children. It's functionally a demake compared to the FF VII Remake's cutting edge graphics and epic-length replaced by a charming, retro art style.
Like First Soldier, Ever Crisis has only been announced for iOS and Android, but this could always change; after all, the success of Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition eventually led to ports for Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. There's a good chance they'll get to add Ever Crisis to their collection in the future as a consolation prize.
While State of Play's multitude of announcements are no substitute for news about Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2, it was still a hell of a day for Final Fantasy fans. A next-gen port and new story-based DLC are all worth celebrating for console owners, and Mobile gamers will also have some appealing options set in FF VII's burgeoning universe. The next two years look like a good time for Final Fantasy fans.