The upcoming third installment ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeis facing a unique challenge when it comes to its release strategy, particularly with how Square Enix markets the game. The publisher has already struggled to meet profit expectations for bothFinal Fantasy 16andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, sparking discussions about whether the final game in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy should go multiplatform. However, whether it stays a PlayStation exclusive or branches out to other platforms like Xbox, the marketing dilemma remains a complex one.
A Hypothetical Multiplatform Release May Come with Significant Complications For FF7 Remake 3
Square Enix has not officially confirmed whetherFinal Fantasy 7 Remake’s third game will be released on platformsbeyond PlayStation, but there are strong cases for it to go multiplatform at this point, one being that a broader release could hope to help Square Enix mitigate the poor sales performance that plaguedFinal Fantasy 16andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Releasing the third game on Xbox without the first two entries of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewould be a major stumbling block. A similar issue occurred whenKingdom Hearts 3launched on Xbox without access to the priorKingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 ReMixtitles. This leftnewKingdom Heartsplayers initially missing out on crucial storyelements, making the experience disjointed. WithFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, the problem could be even worse, given that the trilogy is more narratively cohesive than the separate arcs ofKingdom Hearts.
Would Square Enix Release All of Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Series X/S?
The ideal solution would be torelease bothFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketitles on Xbox, prior to the release of the final game, but this is likely a logistical nightmare. The development team is undoubtedly focused on completing the final installment, and delaying its release to port the previous two games to Xbox would likely not sit well with fans or investors. Time and resource constraints make it improbable that Square Enix would prioritize such a task.
A short-term fix could involve releasing a recap video, similar to howKingdom Heartsreceived summary films. Still, this option is far from perfect. No summary can capture the intricate details andemotional weight of playing through the fullFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeexperience. For new players unfamiliar with the earlier entries this approach could still leave them feeling disconnected from the story, which is arguably one of the most important elements of the series.
PlayStation Exclusivity Risks Repeating Past Square Enix’s Mistakes
If Square Enix opts to keep the third game in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy a PlayStation exclusive, it risks further deepeningRebirth’s sales expectation woes if exclusivity truly is the root. While PlayStation remains a dominant platform for RPGs, thedeclining sales figures for exclusives likeFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthsuggest that relying on a single platform isn’t ideal.
Square Enix finds itself in a difficult situation with thefinal game in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy. Going multiplatform without including the previous two games would create a fragmented experience, especially for Xbox players unfamiliar with the story. On the other hand, sticking to PlayStation exclusivity risks the same financial disappointment seen withFinal Fantasy 16andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. No matter which option Square Enix chooses, the marketing strategy for the third game is going to face significant hurdles.
