At PlayStation’s recent State of Play showcase, attendees were given an extensive preview of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The game’s publisher, Square Enix, announced that a demo will be released on Wednesday for the PS5 platform. This demo is currently available for download from the PlayStation Store, allowing players the opportunity to control both Cloud Strife and the antagonist Sephiroth during an early segment of the game. In addition to the demo announcement, Square Enix unveiled an 11-minute gameplay trailer that revealed various features of the upcoming action RPG, including the world map, traversal options, minigames, and other gameplay elements.
This event marked Sony’s second State of Play showcase for the year, with a firm focus on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It began with an enticing new story trailer showcasing an intense confrontation between Cloud and Sephiroth, along with appearances from other characters in the game. The trailer also highlighted combat sequences and showcased stunning, diverse environments that players can explore.
Following the trailer, a deep dive into the gameplay was presented, emphasizing the game’s expansive world map, which features bustling cities, mountainous terrains, and lush grasslands. Various modes of traversal were introduced, including vehicles, mounts, and the beloved Chocobo. The gameplay demonstration also elaborated on quests and mini-games, introducing a card-based game called Queen’s Blood. Enhanced visual details and facial animations were highlighted, enhancing the narrative experience of the game. Players can choose between performance mode, which focuses on framerate, or graphics mode for 4K resolution.
Square Enix revealed that the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo will include a flashback segment centered around the pivotal Nibelheim incident, allowing players to experience the story from Sephiroth’s perspective. This incident takes place prior to the game’s main events, providing deeper context regarding the plot and its characters.
Furthermore, the studio announced plans to roll out an update prior to the game’s release later this month, which will add access to the Junun region in the demo, offering players the chance to explore the area at their leisure.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is poised to be the second installment in the remake trilogy of the classic game, continuing the narrative of Cloud and his allies as they pursue Sephiroth. The demo is available now on the PlayStation Store, while the complete game is set for release on February 29 for the PS5.
