‘More People Will Experience Our World’: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy Sheds PS5 Exclusivity

1. .

Haruki_NLI.

I can’t believe that later this year, the Xbox Series will get the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.

I was unaware that we had a new calendar on January 22.

2. .

get2sammyb.

@Haruki_NLI I apologize; the Xbox version was initially scheduled for this year. That has now been fixed.

3.

Oram77.

This should come as no surprise, as I genuinely believe that when part 3 is released, a trilogy bundle will be available on all platforms, and SE will never again offer an exclusivity deal.

4. .

RJ Shadow.

sq\. is not certain that this multi-platform approach will be as successful as they hope. At launch, only the FF13 trilogy and FF15 were available on the Xbox. Simply put, I don’t believe that those who are truly interested in these remakes are on the Xbox platform.

5. .

Gamer83.

It makes sense, but I don’t believe that sq\.Enix will achieve the desired overall sales, even as a multiplat. The series’ declining popularity is something the company hasn’t yet accepted.

6. .

Damage 99. .

It’s a good thing. Nobody benefits from exclusives.

7.

J2C.

In any case, they will be upset that it doesn’t sell as well as they would like.

8. .

Rjejr.

@get2sammyb “but it confirmed on social media that the third installment will launch on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and pc\. at the same time.”.

I went to Twitter after clicking on the link, but I couldn’t see it. Could you please show us where they confirmed simultaneously? I don’t see a confirmation, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.

Naturally, even if and when Squenix confirms it, we all know that the Switch 2 version will be delayed by two months at the last minute. Aww.

9. 9.

PuppetMaster.

If the sales for the first week are less than those for Remake and Rebirth, that would be hilarious 😂.

10. .

TotalOtaku91.

I want to know how ReBirth will function natively on the Switch 2, and if it works well, I might buy both Remake and ReBirth for it as a pre-final recap. However, since it will look and function best on the PS5, I will be purchasing the third game there.

11. .

DaVie Sea.

Every format’s first day of launch is going well. When sales are still poor, they won’t have the simple justification of exclusivity, and they may even begin to admit that they have a significant problem with brand appeal and work to fix it.

12. .

mattitudemf.

Adding the Switch 2 as a platform should boost sales, in my opinion, but it will be interesting to see how much it affects PS5 sales as many gamers own both. Xbox won’t add much, in my opinion.

13.

acquire2sammyb.

I guess they should be better on all platforms, @PuppetMaster.

However, since you’re essentially forced to play the previous entry, I believe it’s normal to see a decline with each one.

In my opinion, it will also divide sales among platforms, so although the PS5’s share may decline, the overall number might not increase significantly.

sq\. Enix might have to pay for that as well because Sony heavily promoted Rebirth for them.

On the whole, however, more platforms ought to lead to more sales. It remains to be seen if that is what sq\. Enix desires.

14. .

Kawakiisa Fraud.

Optimization is already going to be a nightmare.

Unstable 60 frames per second incoming PS5 version with sub-1080p.

Fortunately, Sony is now free of the SE plague.

15.

DaVie Sea.

It seems improbable that many people would be desperate to play this kind of big screen cinematic experience on a handheld device, but who is purchasing the game on Switch 2 when they have a PS5 or Series X?

16. 16.

UltimateOtaku91. .

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how much and how successfully sq\. Enix markets their Final Fantasy games without Sony’s assistance.

17. .

Gamer83.

Mattitudemf.

It’s unclear how much of a difference Switch 2 will make, but it should boost sales, particularly in Japan. My comment was influenced by the fact that SE never seems to be happy. I’ll be curious to see what occurs. The Final Fantasy VII remakes have caused controversy, and the game no longer has the same appeal with players as it once did. That could result in even lower than anticipated sales at the end.

18. .

Lazymike.

When exclusive, sq\. can hardly optimize for a single platform. It will be amusing to watch how this plays out with Sony’s assistance.

Given that it has been multiplatform from the beginning, I suspect that sales will decline even more.

Let’s investigate the reason behind this time’s poor sales.

19.

Human Resources Department.

@PuppetMaster might be worse than the remake, but I doubt it’s worse than Rebirth. The remake turned many people off.

Twenty.

Dubious Duck.

@SeaDaVie The majority of Japanese consumers, including those with PS5s, will probably choose to purchase FF7 Remake Part 3 on the Switch 2 instead.

20.

Ashina.

If part three doesn’t go awry, sq\. would be really hurting themselves (again).

21.

RagnarLothbrok.

If it becomes widely popular, perhaps the media will stop slamming the game at launch. However, it also hinders game development by preventing it from concentrating on a single platform.

23.

the TrollOfWar.

Color me surprised, then. Before deciding to release their games on multiple platforms, I thought sq\. Enix would have obtained a PlayStation exclusivity deal for the entire trilogy of remakes. The Twitter message’s wording is extremely awkward, though.

I’m now curious to see how well they can persuade Xbox and Nintendo gamers to purchase the trilogy’s last installment. Haha.

23.

Reynolds Dennis.

It makes perfect sense.

25.

The eighth doctor.

Overall, I think this is a smart move for SE, but I anticipate that they will set hiring and sales targets that the games simply cannot meet because SE loves to do that.

26.

146_ Yozora.

Hold on, I don’t understand. When did they say in this article that the third part would be released concurrently?

27.

UltimateOtaku91.

I just noticed the Twitter announcement, and it doesn’t say “simultaneously.”. Thus, it’s possible that Playstation will continue to have a timed exclusivity period.

28.

Freddquadros.

That is advantageous.

19.

masofdas.

It simply states, “Trilogy is coming.”.

It is still true that the entire trilogy will be available on NS2/Xbox, and I find it unbelievable that Sony hasn’t already signed a deal for Part III to be timed to arrive before the rest.

30.

Yozora146_.

There is no mention of them announcing a simultaneous launch, and I agree with @rjejr.

31.

PuppetMaster.

I don’t believe that having more platforms will inevitably lead to higher sales, @get2sammyb.

For instance, DQ 3 HD. The PS5, Switch, PC, and Xbox S/X were all released simultaneously. However, a month later, the total number of copies sold was “only” 2 million. Compare to FF XVI that sold 3 million copies in the 1st week and only released on PS5.

Or Octopath Traveler 2. It was also multiplat release and 5 months later all sales combine only reach 1 million copies.

But yeah we’ll see how Part 3 will do in the 1st week.

32.

8thDoctor.

33.

TrollOfWar.

@ShadowRJ.

I just don’t think the Xbox platform is home to where the people who are genuinely interested in these remakes are.

Perhaps because no mainline Final Fantasy game was released on Xbox for nearly ten years. Fans of these games could choose to switch to pc\. or the PS5.

The task facing sq\. Enix now is to attract players who are unfamiliar with the franchise.

32.

Godot25.

@masofdas, the first day will undoubtedly be multiplat.

If the mention of ports to other systems was timed exclusive, Sony would never permit it before the time exclusivity period ended.

Despite the fact that Remake had already been released on pc\. and that even the most dimwitted people knew that Rebirth was coming to pc\., sq\. was unable to reveal a port. only after a predetermined period of exclusivity had passed.

Should I remind everyone that, even though they owned the studios and both games, Xbox was not allowed to mention the Xbox ports of Deathloop and Ghostwire due to a timed exclusivity deal?

35.

Low defal.

@TrollOfWar XIV and XVI are both on Xbox. Both are mainline games last I checked.

Unless you mean at launch, in which case that wasn’t clear.

edit: As ultimateotaku points out, XV, but I forgot about it because I don’t care about that game.

36.

UltimateOtaku91.

The Xbox accounted for 9% of Final Fantasy 15’s total sales, despite the game being released on multiple platforms. Additionally, they weren’t taught to stop purchasing games at that time because, I believe, it was before GamePass.

Hardcore JRPG fans from the 1990s and early 2000s will probably continue to play on Playstation and Nintendo since they have been the most popular platforms for JRPGs over the years.

37.

Lowdefal.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave, this announcement shouldn’t surprise anyone.

38.

The SeaDaVie.

@Questionable_Duck For what reason? If they are that much in preference of a handheld I doubt they even have a PS5.

38.

Yozora146.

@8thDoctor fair enough if that’s the case but I’m still not sure it implies a simultaneous launch, it seems to refer that the whole trilogy will release at some point on the stated devices. I mean there’s no point hiding the fact they’re going to port these games when its clear now that its their intention.

40.

TrollOfWar.

@Lowdefal Final Fantasy 15 released in 2016. Only this year saw the release of Final Fantasy 14 and 16. For me, that amounts to “almost a decade without Final Fantasy”—eight years without a Final Fantasy game. 😄.

However, it was not limited to Final Fantasy, the Shin Megami Tensei/Persona series, Ni No Kuni, and numerous other JRPGs that have gained popularity on the PlayStation but have only recently begun to be released. Therefore, JRPG players will inevitably opt to play on other platforms, primarily PlayStation, in the absence of the content.

41.

masofdas.

@Godot25 this is sq\. Enix mind, so whoever knows with them as well.

42.

rjejr.

@Yozora146_ Just tagging you in. 😁.

@Godot25 “It will be obviously multiplat day one”.

@8thDoctor “then it’s implied that it’s a multi-platform release. “.

No, it’s confirmed to be a multiplatform release, it’s implied to be simultaneously. And obvious is neither confirmed nor implied, it’s a hunch, a theory, or a guess. And if someone is going to write an article and say it is “confirmed” then they should be easily able to point to that confirmation. It shouldn’t be only obvious or implied. 🤷‍♂️.

Confirmed . <> implied.

Also, for those among you who may not follow Nintendo closely, they occasionally get things late. So as I said originally, I do think at some point Squenix will confirm the launch date, but I suspect Switch 2 is either later from the get go or gets delayed to be later, just b/c.

43.

CooCooKaChoo.

Good for gamers that the games will be available on all platforms. Hopefully sq\. doesn’t set even more unrealistic sales expectations now, but probably not happening knowing how most C-Suites operate these days. 40 million copies sold in Week 1 or it’s a massive failure!

44.

masofdas.

@TrollOfWar I do wonder what sq\. will deem a success or flop (everything is a flop) as XVI reportedly did 22k at launch on Xbox, is that as you say if you want that list of games do you already on NS or PS, is it because wasn’t day one like PS5 (But Helldivers 2 had done 900k) or other reasons smallinstallbase (Mafia numbers for instance) etc.

I can imagine of course doing very well on Nintendo, especially in Japan, though goes back to the audience.

45.

Masofdas. .

@CooCooKaChoo, it’s always thought of as a failure that XVI with 3.5m, but Capcom released a game like Dragon’s Dogma 2 that launched with 2m over more systems and was a huge hit.

Since Konami appears to have done so, you would think sq\. would take a look at Capcom.

46.

Doubtful Duck.

For some reason, Japanese people prefer to purchase items on Nintendo consoles, @SeaDaVie.

43.

“TrollOfWar.”.

@UltimateOtaku91 Yes, Xbox lost their touch/partnerships with Japanese developers after the Xbox 360 era. I think Final Fantasy 13 did much better on Xbox 360.

Also 9 percent of FF15 sales being on Xbox isn’t terrible, given that at that point the PS4 already had double the install base of the Xbox One.

Anyways, hopefully the multiplatform release of Final Fantasy helps the series to become popular and relevant again, which then hopefully results in new good Final Fantasy games.

48.

Questionable_Duck.

@UltimateOtaku91 It doesn’t matter that it was only 9 percent, though. It still sold more than a million copies on Xbox One alone in just two years, which is seemingly more than what it sold on PC (granted, the PC port came out a year later). sq\. would be crazy not to get the Final Fantasy fanbase back to that level on Xbox again.

49.

windxtravelerx.

OK, but where’s Bravely Default HD and Bravely Default 2 on PS5? Are they gonna keep these games Switch 2 and Switch/PC exclusives forever? Where’s Harvastella on PS5?

If they released Triangle Strategy from Nintendo’s shackles, they can do the same with these other games. Don’t be selective in your multiplatform strategy, sq\..

50.

masofdas.

@TrollOfWar XIII did 7.71m which looking back now is a decent number, which it was 5.35m PS3 and 2.19m 360 though XV shipped 10m (from what I can find 5m’ish on PS4 and 1m’ish on Xbox) that I can see why XVI at 3.5m was considered a flop though as I say was on one system when we got that number, and you see likes of games doing 2m being a success.

51.

masofdas.

@Questionable_Duck smaller install base now on Xbox mind, and how well do games sell on Xbox.

52.

Fishmasterflex96.

@ShadowRJ it’s less about Xbox and more about pc but all of them are so similar in tech that it makes sense to just maximize sales on everything.

53.

Doctor Eight.

My point is the same as Godot’s, @rjejr; I’m just phrasing it differently. The multi-plat release isn’t implied. What I’m implying is that the release is simultaneous.

52.

The Fishmasterflex96.

@PuppetMaster, it’s much more likely, but it’s not a guarantee.

54.

Doubtful Duck?

@masofdas Not really; the Xbox One install base from 2016 to 2018 was comparable to the Xbox Series X/S install base today, as well as the remaining Xbox One users.

56.

Fishmasterflex 96.

This can only be positive. Indeed, it’s more about the switch and PC than the Xbox, but still. Since sq\. isn’t a part of Sony, it makes no sense to restrict sales to a single platform at launch when the majority of your copies are sold. Good on square.

57.

Bring it on, Ichigo.

As an avid fan of FF, I want to get it on everything, so please follow me on @SeaDaVie.

And to be honest, I already have them on my PS5, I just pre-ordered the Switch 2 version, and when I get home later, I’ll pre-order it on my Xbox.

54.

Masofdas. .

It would have only been four years into the generation, @Questionable_Duck, but you’d sell more as the install base grew.

Indeed, Remake might be one of those games that you can play on the cloud if you have it. You could also play it on the Xbox One, which would give you more cloud-based options.

The smaller installbase may be the cause, based on the numbers we’ve been receiving for games via Circana, etc.

509.

1UP-Husky.

Hopefully, the game won’t be significantly downgraded so that the Switch 2 can play it.

sixty.

The TrollOfWar.

#masofdas.

I’m curious as to what sq\. will consider a success or failure (everything is a failure). For example, XVI reportedly made $22,000 at Xbox launch. If you want that list of games, are you already on NS or PS? Was it because it wasn’t the first game like PS5 (though Helldivers 2 made $900k), or were there other factors like a small install base (Mafia numbers, for example)?

The success of a game is influenced by a variety of factors, so there is no simple solution. hype, favorable reviews, positive word-of-mouth, and the game’s uniqueness in comparison to other games that are being released at the same time.

Examples include the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring on the Xbox. Helldivers 2 and Death Stranding Director’s Cut both seem to have performed well on the Xbox. I’m not sure how well a multiplatform Final Fantasy will perform in the future, but if it doesn’t come out at the same time as Grand Theft Auto 6, it might do okay with good reviews and powerful marketing.

Not sure if that report of “22K sold FF16 units on Xbox” is accurate (personally I suspect more like 220K), but the release was incredibly terrible. It was shadow dropped with no hype, released next to some of the biggest releases of the year (Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, DOOM The Dark Ages) and at full price (where it was discounted on the PSN store during the same time). Those who waited 2 years for Final Fantasy 16 on Xbox, probably could wait another few months for a discount. Hopefully sq\. Enix learned something from this situation.

61.

LofiPie27.

FF is no longer unique in a market where RPG franchises like Baldur’s Gate and Clair Obscure are already established. To be honest, even the storytelling, which was once its greatest asset, is now just absurd.

Number 62.

masofdas.

@TrollOfWar yeah so many variables, why something like a FFXVII where you can just jump in, how that would do day and date on all systems at the time (where possible).

63.

AdamNovice.

I’m it’s technical performance is compromised by been on so many systems at launch. Rebirth struggled to hold 60fps when they only had PS5 to develop for.

64.

ElectricWizard.

@UltimateOtaku91.

“And that was a time before gamepass I believe so they weren’t trained into not buying games at that point. “.

Such an off-hand view you have of Xbox and owners (presumably that is who “they” are).

65.

Enuo.

And it’ll still somehow be Sony’s fault when the game underperforms.

66.

TrollOfWar.

However, if the developers aim for less powerful systems, such as the Switch 2, Xbox Series S, and Steam Deck, it is likely that the next Final Fantasy will run smoothly at 60 frames per second on the PS5. 😉.

67.

kmtrain83.

@UltimateOtaku91.

Must… not … double dip.

68.

Bingoboyop.

Ngl it would be so hilarious if it underperforms then too. SE really needs a reality check on their expectations in general. Imo they are the worst in this regards.

69.

CielloArc.

I wonder about that. Because sq\. had to make a deal with Sony in order to make this trilogy happen in the first place.

Unless the third game was always planned to be multiplat.

70.

thechetearly.

Having never played the original, I am sooooo excited for the last game. Easily my most anticipated.

71.

Brynjir.

This is not a great one to test the waters on Xbox with as people that were interested in this likely already bough a PS5 to play it and I don’t see them buying part 1 and 2 on playstation then 3 on xbox.

Even though I’m glad to see it and hope this becomes the new “normal,” not everyone benefits from exclusivity.

72.

Rich 33.

@ShadowRJ @PuppetMaster.

Additionally, you simply don’t receive the same level of excitement as you would if it were exclusive (not to mention the lack of Sony marketing push).

7.3.

Scotty.

#PuppetMaster.

I couldn’t have done it before you. When I read the final headline about that news in a few years, I will burst out laughing.

74.

VeganH.

I was eager to see what they did to the first one, so I played it. New gameplay, new appearance, etc. After playing it, I’m not in a rush to see the third one or Rebirth.

75. .

Again, logic strikes.

I wonder how this will play out and whether sq\. Enix will ever be happy with its sales figures.

75.

Personauser93.

@freddquadros Praise the Lord, amen 😂.

77.

Rjejr.

@8thDoctor I agree that it is most likely “implied,” but the article used the word “confirmed,” which is a completely different word.

However, the third installment will be released simultaneously on the PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and pc\., according to social media confirmation.

78.

Judal 27.

I’ll probably get it there if it launches on PC on the first day. Day 1 on PS5 otherwise. Since they have the lowest chance of being true physical, the other versions are irrelevant. If it’s day 1 multiplat, I wonder if they will even try for PS5.

99.

Slow down.

Are they referring to the third installment of the remake, or are all three games sold as a single package?

When it comes out on PC, I’ll buy it, but I won’t get the bundle because I already have Part 2 of pc\., and I had Part 1 on my PS4. Thus, it would be pointless to purchase the bundle.

80.

Naruball.

All I know is that I haven’t bought or played any of them. I’m waiting for the complete collection to come out.

81.

Uromastryx.

Squaure will still not be satisfied with sales, so please release it quickly. I’m committed, but I’m also appalled that “one” game is actually costing about €200.

82.

Kierant202.

People saying being multiplatform on release wont change sales much are baffling to me. Final fantasy 13 and especially final fantasy 15 sold exceptionally well by final fantasy standards.

The only reason many of the older games boast higher numbers is their many rereleases over the years.

It takes an exceptional game to post good sale numbers on a console or pc releasing a year later. Once a game leaves the zeitgeist it’s release sales plummet without a very good incentive for players to grab it instead of the hot new game of the week.

83.

TrollOfWar.

@Uromastryx.

but also at the same time disgusted that its actually costing like what €200 for “one” game.

Up to eternity, sq\. Enix could keep remastering older Final Fantasy games in this way, with one game being released over several ten-year periods. When everything is finished, they can start over and nobody will recall the previous events.

sq\. Enix would never have to write a new Final Fantasy story. 😄.

85.

Uromastryx.

@TrollOfWar, you’re absolutely correct about the unsettling aspect, floor example. I’m sure I would love FFX if they gave it a complete makeover. For shame, dot.

80.

The Bentley.

@PuppetMaster, I don’t believe the comparison is accurate. Every year, the most recent Final Fantasy is a major occasion.

85.

Dubious Duck.

@Yozora146_ One of their other statements on the official sq\. Enix website strongly suggests that it will be released on both the Xbox and the Switch 2 at the same time, though they don’t explicitly say so.

Here is an excerpt from a recent news story about sq\. Enix.

“Whether the full FINAL FANTASY VII remake trilogy will be available on the Xbox and Switch 2 is another frequently asked question regarding the game. They are, as we can confirm; further details regarding FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH and the third game in development will be available soon. “..”.

https://www. Square-enix-games.com/en_US/news/final-fantasy-vii-remake-intergrade-switch2-xbox-series-x-s.

8.7.

J2theEzzo.

Makes sense, after some purportedly lacklustre sales. It will not have much of an impact on them, of course.

Before any exclusivity, I’d prefer that they shed all the “whisper” parts of the story! 🤭.

88.

Th3solution.

It blows my mind that this game is coming out in less than 6 months. It feels like Rebirth just came out! It was just a year and a half ago! If the scope of the game is anything like Rebirth, I’m totally impressed that S-E can get these two games out within a two year window. Average dev times are 5+ years nowadays. Sure, it’s reusing a lot of assets and such, but a lot of developers can barely get out a 5 hour DLC within 2 years.

89.

Anthony_Daniels.

And when it still fails to sell in the number square Enix expects I wonder what they will think then?

FF fans already own a PlayStation, only thing that might have really boosted sales would be to put it on PS4.

90.

somnambulance.

It appears that I will not be certain which platform I will use to play the Final Fantasy series after I finish the last one in the trilogy on the PS5. Man, I can’t believe that, in a generation, Sony is essentially losing nearly all of its interesting exclusives.

9.1.

Naruball.

Those were ages ago, @Kierant202.

9.2.

“TrollOfWar.”.

@Th3solution.

The fact that this game will be available in less than six months astounds me. Rebirth was only released a year and a half ago, and it feels like it was just released!

The third part’s release date hasn’t been revealed yet, unless I’ve missed something. In January 2026, the first installment will be available on the Xbox Series S|X and Nintendo Switch 2. Square Enix has previously stated that they want the wait time for part three to be shorter than it was for parts one and two.

9.

PuppetMaster.

@somnambulance Eh, this incident also occurred with older PlayStation consoles. Sony has always released its deals for third parties on the PS first, then on other platforms half a year or a year later.

So i don’t think Sony lost that much, especially when these exclusives games already served their main purpose; they helped PS5 build big userbase and brought nice revenue for Sony.

94.

The solution.

@TrollOfWar I really need to improve my comprehension of fast reading. Sorry about that. I totally misread the tweet in the article, thinking it was referring to the 3rd game. It makes much more sense to have the first game available on the other platforms in January. I wasn’t expecting Part 3 until 2027-2028 timeframe at the earliest (which would still be a quick turnaround). If so, the question I have is whether Part 3 is being developed for PS6 as a cross gen release. Maybe try to launch it on PS5 at the end of the generation and then release a PS6 remaster bundle of the whole trilogy on PS6.

95.

TrollOfWar.

@Th3solution All good, the article is actually about part 3. sq\. Enix basically confirmed the entire trilogy will release on all platforms (PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Switch), though it doesn’t clarify if it will be time-exclusive to PlayStation like the previous 2 parts, nor when it will release. What is currently know is the release date of part 1 for Switch 2 and Xbox consoles.

96.

tameshiyaku.

Having those portable will be a big seller in Japan.

97.

Whyarewestillhere.

I haven’t bought or played either since they announced they were releasing it in parts. Figured they’d release a collection like their Kingdom Hearts all in one set.

98.

somnambulance.

@PuppetMaster it’s not quite the model they used in the past. Maybe during the PS3 era when PlayStation was lagging, but PS1, PS2, and PS4 have a variety of third party exclusives that remained exclusive til future generations as remasters, just as other platforms have done. I mean, FF7 OG was a PlayStation console exclusive for years and years. There’s been a distinct change in focus this generation and, for me, it’s diluting the PlayStation brand. Others may not feel the same and that’s great for them, but if everything comes to all consoles, I start to wonder why I have all of the big 3’s consoles, you know?

99.

KawakiisaFraud.

Well, SE will stay SE, of course, and the Xbox Series and Switch 2 will have their own exclusive mode.

In this case, the status is 1966521540130009578.

Furthermore, don’t expect this to be patched for the PS4 or PS5. later on. Despite being a standard feature on the Switch and Xbox versions, FF X/X2 has not yet been added to the PS4 version.

I firmly believe that DQ XII will be a Switch 2 (time) exclusive.

SE hasn’t given up exclusivity, they’ve just given up PlayStation exclusivity.

Sony probably realized that all their games are garbage and it’s not worth paying hundreds of millions for exclusive deals. And that pisses SE off. That’s why they go public and badmouth Sony and the PS5, saying that the exclusivity is the reason why Final Fantasy XVI and 7 Rebirth failed. but they never want to admit that SE only has itself to blame, and they never will. Because it’s always easier to blame others.

100.

JSnow2.

Not surprised by this, something clearly happened during Rebirth by Sony that irked sq\. very badly. I personally thought Sony did a very poor job of marketing Rebirth and did not take it seriously, nor did they treat it like the massive, incredible, game that it is.

Sony marketed the movie like it was their own, putting “exclusive” labels everywhere, and otherwise went above and beyond to make it a huge success. It was really odd that they didn’t do that for Rebirth.

100.

The PuppetMaster.

In 1998, approximately a year after the PS1’s release, @somnambulance OG FF 7 was ported to the PC.

I’m unable to locate evidence that Sony and sq\. entered into a long-term agreement that prohibited them from porting Final Fantasy 7 or any other Final Fantasy games to non-Sony platforms. The length of time that FF 7 Remake would remain exclusive to the PS4 was made very evident.

In my opinion, Sony has never entered into a contract of that kind with studios or any intellectual property that they did not own or publish.

102.

The GoatFace.

With this strategy, I believe the game will sell really well, but since the Switch 2 is the platform that has seen the least exposure to the series, I think the remake will do incredibly well there as well.

101.

The PuppetMaster.

@JSnow2 “In my opinion, Sony did a very bad job of marketing Rebirth and did not treat it like the huge, amazing game that it is.”.

Rebirth has its own State of Play.

https://m. YouTube . com/watch?v=WgdkN2tCAFw.

The game was promoted by Sony everywhere, even on a damn bus.

This link: https://commons. m. wikimedia . org/wiki/File:Taipei_Bus_353-FZ_left_side_at_Hankou_Street_side,_Solaria_Nishitetsu_Hotel_Taipei_Ximen_20240309 . jpg.

It won an award at Sony own Playstation Partner Awards.

https://blog . playstation . com/2024/12/03/30th-anniversary-playstation-partner-awards-2024-japan-asia-winners-announced/.

Sony uses Rebirth to advertise their Bravia XR TV.

https://www . prnewswire . com/news-releases/sony-electronics-announces-continued-partnership-with-square-enix-on-critically-acclaimed-final-fantasy-vii-remake-project-final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-302040293 . html:~:text=Share this article SAN DIEGO percent2C Jan. 22°C (FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH).

As in, hurry up. You could do some research before post that claim 🤷‍♂️.

104.

PuppetMaster.

@KawakiisaFraud “Sony probably realized that all their games are garbage and it’s not worth paying hundreds of millions for exclusive deals”.

Hmmm your theory probably true.

Remember Forspoken? Sony probably paid a lot for this game but what they got was a pile of misery.

Then there’s also Left Alive, Foamstar, Babylon’s Fall, and Valkyrie Elysium which was console exclusive but all of them ended as a dud.

105.

8th Doctor.

@rjejr, I just wanted to make sure that everyone is on the same page, even though I completely agree with your broader point.

106.

somnambulance.

I played Final Fantasy VII on my PC in 1999, so yes, there was a brief period of exclusivity, but that was it. Contracts for exclusivity were nonexistent back then, I believe. I believe that these companies’ expectations and levels of trust were simply different, and that business was conducted differently. I think that sq\. chose Sony because they were angry with Nintendo and saw Sega as a competitor. Not much changed until sq\. and Enix merged.

In a roundabout way, I’m trying to convey that companies wanted to be associated with Sony during the PS1, PS2, and PS4 eras. Nowadays, many major publishers have expressed a desire to break that association, such as sq\. and Capcom in recent years.

I’m a little different from most people here, though, in that I like sq\.’s third-party output better than Sony’s first-party output this generation. After all, my initial enthusiasm for the PS5 was sparked by the Capcom and sq\. games at the initial showcase. The only first-party games from this generation that I didn’t enjoy as much as Forspoken were Death Stranding and Astro Bot.

10.

TrollOfWar.

#KawakiisaFraud.

And that annoys SE. That’s why they go public and badmouth Sony and the PS5, saying that the exclusivity is the reason why Final Fantasy XVI and 7 Rebirth failed.

I don’t remember sq\. Enix “badmouthing” Sony. Do you have a link where they might have said something negative about Sony? I think Sony has been one of their most important partner for over 25 years now. But the development costs of their games are way too expensive to keep them exclusive to one platform.

Sony probably realized that all their games are garbage and it’s not worth paying hundreds of millions for exclusive deals.

I wonder if Sony/PlayStation nowadays is paying less for exclusivity than what they used to, now that Xbox is not so relevant anymore. These sales typically have to make up for “lost sales” on other platforms, but it’s much lower on Xbox these days. Perhaps just a dozen million instead of hundreds? 🤔.

108.

RagnarLothbrok.

The inability to sell it at a price that isn’t subsidized is amusing. Not sure what a few mil in revenue changes for this one.

109.

PuppetMaster.

@somnambulance “companies wanted to be associated with Sony in the PS1, 2, and 4 eras and now plenty of the big publishers have stated that they don’t want to maintain that closeness, ie sq\. and Capcom recently”.

That is their choices and Sony can’t control that since Sony didn’t owned them. If those companies feels they don’t need to keep close relationship with Sony anymore then let them be.

Like i said, i don’t think Sony lost that much. In the end, Sony still received SE, Capcom, Sega, Atlus, Konami, Bamco and most 3rd party games without spending millions of dollars for exclusivity, which now Sony can used those money towards their own studios, service, and hardware. These 3rd party games also sold a lot on PS platforms, brought a good chunk of revenue for Sony. So it still a win win situation for Sony and 3rd party 🤷‍♂️.

But i think you also need to see from Sony perspective here. Over the years Sony spent a lot of money towards 3rd party exclusivity like they did with SE for example. But these SE exclusives like Forspoken, Left Alive, Foamstars, Babylon’s Falls, or Valkyrie Elysium was a massive flops and has negative to mixed reviews. Heck, even the big guns like FF XVI and Rebirth doesn’t do enough to boost PS5 sales.

So imagine if you’re on Sony’s shoes; you spent millions of dollars towards SE exclusives. You even treated them like they’re kings. But what you got from them was mediocre slops or missed potentials that doesn’t help much of your console sales. Then add to the fact that your partner made a public statement while pointed their fingers and said it’s all your fault. Such a disrespect.

Do you still want to have exclusive partnership with SE? Do you still want to give them special treatment and spend millions of dollars for their slops? Or you can, you know, put the money towards your own studios?

If it’s me, i wouldn’t give a single cent towards SE games anymore. Heck, i wouldn’t show their games on State of Play anymore lol. Let them advertise their own games. But that just me and i’m sure Sony higher ups knows better than me.

110.

TrollOfWar.

@PuppetMaster Additionally to your points, why should Sony invest in sq\. Enix’ live-service games (Babylon’s Fall, Foamstars) when they are trying to have their own expensive live service games? After losing money on Concord and numerous unreleased, cancelled projects, Sony/PlayStation is hopefully more conservative with spending money on high-risk 3rd party projects.

Nevertheless sq\. Enix and Sony PlayStation have been strong partners for over 25 years, and the Final Fantasy franchise is heavily associated with PlayStation. While console exclusives of sq\. Enix games will be rarer, I think we will still see some form of marketing, like State of Plays.

111.

PuppetMaster.

@TrollOfWar Cmiiw, Babylon’s Falls was in development back in 2019, 4 years before SIE under Jim Ryan decided to acquired Firewalk / Concord in 2023. And Foamstars was showed for the 1st time at Playstation Showcase back in 2023 too.

Sony’s putting all their eggs into live service basket was old Jimbo’s idea and funnily not all of them ended as a failure. Genshin Impact and Helldivers 2 are two examples of successful live service backed up by Sony. Both games revenue probably covered up Concord failures. I believe Sony earned $370 million from Helldivers 2 and $1 billion from Genshin while Concord was cost $200-400 million.

But i agreed with you that Sony must be more careful on spending their money especially at 3rd party projects.

I think Sony should invest more on their 1st party and indies rather than pay time exclusives from SE. I mean, SE isn’t looking good these days. Their financial is in bad shape and cmiiw FF XIV is their biggest profitable game that keep them alive. It’s a bad move for Sony if they keep throwing money at current SE just because they used to be buddies.

112.

TrollOfWar.

@PuppetMaster You are correct, but Sony/PlayStation are still pursuing additional live-service games, even after Jim Ryan’s departure, though they are more careful.

Additionally to Helldivers 2, MLB The Show and Gran Turismo 7 are also successful live services, despite having less predatory monetization models.

In case of Genshin Impact, Sony probably would wish to own the game outright and profit from the revenue on all platforms, not just the 30 percent on PlayStation. That’s why I think it might be wiser for them to either invest in internal projects or acquire a potential live service before it becomes a large success (like Microsoft did with Minecraft in 2014).

113.

Ricky-Spanish.

Maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t care less for final fantasy I was never and will never be into it!

A load of blokes with womens hair cuts and oversized swords( possibly to make up for there micro manhoods) is not my type of thing!

I’ve never gotten the popularity of these games!

Expedition 33 is more my type of vibe for this type of game!✌️.