Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi says he pushed internally for the upcoming RPG to receive a physical release, despite the final edition requiring players to download most of the game.
Square Enix previously confirmed that the physical version of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will not contain the complete game on its disc. Unlike Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which used multiple discs, Revelation will ship on a single disc containing the opening portion, with additional data required to download.
The decision has frustrated some fans who prefer owning complete games physically. Hamaguchi, however, says he understands that reaction and personally tried to push for a different outcome.
NAOKI HAMAGUCHI WANTED A FULL PHYSICAL VERSION
Speaking to Radio Times, Hamaguchi acknowledged the backlash surrounding the game’s physical release. He also described himself as a supporter of physical media and said he understands players who have adopted a “no disc, no purchase” stance.
“I do really like and appreciate physical media,”
Hamaguchi said.
The director explained that while the physical edition will not contain the entire game, he was pleased that the team was able to preserve a physical option at all. The disc will function as a starting point, with players required to download the remaining content before they can experience the full game.
The situation is partly connected to the enormous size of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. Hamaguchi previously told VGC that the game could be around 200GB, creating significant challenges for fitting the complete experience onto physical media.
THE DIRECTOR SAYS HIS AUTHORITY HAD LIMITS
Although Hamaguchi advocated for a physical release, he clarified that decisions surrounding physical SKUs and how the game is distributed ultimately fall outside his primary responsibilities as director.
“The product line-up, the SKUs, how it’s going on sale; that is the responsibility of the publishing team,”
Hamaguchi told Radio Times.
He nevertheless said he used his position to argue for physical media as strongly as possible. According to Hamaguchi, negotiations within Square Enix and with platform holders eventually resulted in the current release format.
That means the decision was not simply a creative choice made by the game’s development team. Publishing requirements, platform considerations and the game’s unusually large file size all contributed to the final approach.
HAMAGUCHI UNDERSTANDS WHY FANS ARE FRUSTRATED
Hamaguchi is clearly aware that the physical release will disappoint some collectors. He said he has been monitoring the reaction on social media, including requests for a version that contains the entire game on the disc.
“I completely understand there are those out there who may not really agree with that direction or approve of that direction,”
he said.
The director ultimately asked disappointed players to recognize that he did advocate for physical media during the decision-making process.
“I hope you understand that I completely see where you’re coming from, and that I did my best,”
Hamaguchi said.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is scheduled to launch on April 8, 2027, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. The game will conclude Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, following Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
For fans who prioritize physical ownership, the release means the final chapter will arrive with a significant caveat. While a physical edition will exist, players will still need an internet connection and additional storage to download the rest of the approximately 200GB experience.
| Release Date | April 8, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Director | Naoki Hamaguchi |
| Writer / Narrative | Kazushige Nojima, Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase |
