Few game series spark as much nostalgia and friendly debate as Final Fantasy VII. The Remake trilogy took a 1997 classic and turned it into something bigger—expanding the story, deepening characters, and splitting opinions along the way. The first part landed on April 10, 2020 with a Metacritic score of 87, and the sequel followed on February 29, 2024 with a 93. This guide cuts through the noise: what changed, what’s next, and which game you should fire up first.

4 related posts

FF7 Remake release date: April 10, 2020 ·
FF7 Rebirth release date: February 29, 2024 ·
Parts planned: 3 ·
Remake Metacritic (PS4): 87 ·
Rebirth Metacritic (PS5): 93 ·
Remake copies sold (Sep 2023): over 7 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Remake released April 2020, Rebirth February 2024 (Wikipedia)
  • Part 3 confirmed in development (PlayStation)
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Rebirth’s PC port dropped January 23, 2025 (Square Enix)
  • Wutai section moved to Part 3 (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Part 3 likely 2027–2028 based on development gaps (The Escapist)
  • Timeline lore continues to expand; 6 timelines analyzed (The Escapist)
Attribute Value
Developer Square Enix (Business Division 1)
Publisher Square Enix
Platforms (Remake) PS4, PS5, PC (Epic Games Store)
Platforms (Rebirth) PS5, PC (since Jan 2025)
Genre Action RPG
Original game Final Fantasy VII (1997)

What’s the difference between FF7 Remake and FF7 Rebirth?

Story coverage

Final Fantasy VII Remake, released April 10, 2020, covers only the Midgar segment of the original game (Wikipedia). The sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, continues the journey across the entire planet, stopping at the Forgotten Capital (Wikipedia).

The upshot

Square Enix chose to split the 1997 story into three full-sized games because the Midgar section alone—originally about 6–8 hours—swelled to 40 hours of content. The trade-off is that Rebirth players get a richer world but lose the compact pacing of the original.

Gameplay changes

  • Remake is largely linear with wide corridors; Rebirth introduces open-world zones (Wikipedia).
  • Rebirth adds synergy abilities—combination attacks between party members (PlayStation).
  • Director Naoki Hamaguchi describes Rebirth’s world as wide and multifaceted with a high degree of freedom (Wikipedia).

Graphical and performance differences

Remake was built for PS4 with a 60-fps performance mode arriving later. Rebirth launched on PS5 only, with higher-resolution textures and much larger draw distances (PlayStation). The PC version of Rebirth arrived January 23, 2025, adding ultrawide support (Square Enix).

The pattern: Remake is a tight, focused action-RPG; Rebirth is a sprawling adventure. One is a hallway, the other a continent.

Bottom line: The Remake trilogy is not a simple remaster. Square Enix is rewriting the original story, expanding it 3×, and adding new timeline branches. Newcomers: start with Remake. Veterans: embrace the change.

Is FF7 Remake Part 3 coming?

Yes. Square Enix has officially confirmed a third and final part of the Remake trilogy (PlayStation). The announcement came alongside Rebirth’s launch; development is underway.

  • No specific release date has been given. Based on the gap between Remake (2020) and Rebirth (2024), a 2027–2028 release is widely speculated (The Escapist).
  • Part 3 is expected to cover the remainder of the original story, including the Wutai content that was moved out of Rebirth (Wikipedia).

The catch: Square Enix has not yet revealed whether Part 3 will be a PS5 exclusive or cross-platform. Given the PC port of Rebirth arrived a year after PS5, a similar pattern is likely.

Should you play FF7 Remake or Rebirth first?

Play Remake first. The community consensus is clear: Rebirth is a direct story sequel that assumes knowledge of Remake’s characters and plot (Steam Community).

  • Remake’s PS5 upgrade, Intergrade, includes the Yuffie DLC and is the definitive version.
  • Starting with Rebirth will spoil major narrative beats from Remake, including the finale’s divergence from the original.
What to watch

If you skip Intergrade, you’ll miss the introduction of a playable Yuffie—and a setup that directly feeds into Rebirth’s opening chapter.

Why this matters: the Remake trilogy is one continuous story. Jumping in at Rebirth is like starting Empire Strikes Back without A New Hope.

Is FF7 Rebirth a flop?

Critically, no. Rebirth holds a Metacritic score of 93, one of the highest for any PlayStation game in 2024. Sales numbers are less clear. Square Enix has not publicly detailed Rebirth’s sales, and early reports from some regions suggest initial sales were lower than Remake’s debut (The Escapist). But calling it a flop ignores context: Rebirth launched exclusively on PS5, a smaller install base than the PS4 Remake enjoyed.

The paradox

Rebirth is a critical darling that may undersell relative to expectations—the classic case of “great game, tough market.” The PC release in January 2025 should boost lifetime numbers.

Is there any LGBTQ in FF7?

The original Final Fantasy VII (1997) did not feature explicitly LGBTQ characters. However, some fans interpret certain relationships—especially between Cloud and Tifa—with queer readings (Steam Community). The Remake series introduces more visible representation: a gay couple appears in the Honeybee Inn, and a transgender character named Mukki appears (Wikipedia). As of 2025, no major playable character in the Remake trilogy is canonically LGBTQ+.

Two games, one project: here are the key differences side by side.

Dimension Remake (2020) Rebirth (2024)
Story segment Midgar only World journey to Forgotten Capital
Open world Linear Regional open zones
Party size Up to 3 Up to 3 (with synergy abilities)
Playable characters Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith Same + Yuffie, Red XIII, Cait Sith
Metacritic 87 93
PS5 upgrade Intergrade (2021) Native PS5
PC release June 2022 (E) – Dec 2022 (S) January 23, 2025
Length (main story) ~35 hours ~50 hours
Timeline complexity One main timeline + hints Multiple timelines (fans identify up to 6)

The trade-off: Rebirth delivers almost 50% more content and a world that breathes, but it demands a big time investment—and it benefits heavily from playing Remake first.

Under the hood, here’s how the two games’ technical specs stack up.

Spec Remake Rebirth
Engine Unreal Engine 4 Unreal Engine 4 (enhanced)
Resolution (PS5 performance mode) 1440p~1620p 1440p~1800p
Frame rate (PS5 performance) 60 fps (mostly stable) 60 fps (some dips)
Load times Fast (PS5)/Slow (PS4 HDD) Very fast (PS5 SSD)
File size (PS5) ~85 GB ~145 GB
DualSense features Limited haptics Full adaptive triggers + haptics
Photo mode No Yes
Bottom line: The implication: Rebirth fully leverages PS5 hardware. If you’re still on PS4, you’re locked out—and even on PS5, the 145 GB install demands a large SSD.

Upsides

  • Remake delivers a tight, emotional Midgar story.
  • Rebirth’s open zones feel alive and expansive.
  • Critical acclaim for both (87 and 93 Metacritic).
  • Part 3 confirmed – no risk of an unfinished story.
  • PC ports are coming, expanding access.

Downsides

  • Remake’s filler sections pad the Midgar segment.
  • Rebirth’s timeline shenanigans can confuse new players.
  • Sales uncertainty may affect Part 3 budget.
  • No Xbox versions yet – missing a large player base.
  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation beyond side characters.

Timeline of the Remake project

  • 1997 – Original Final Fantasy VII released.
  • June 2015 – Square Enix announces Remake at E3 (Wikipedia).
  • April 10, 2020 – Final Fantasy VII Remake launches on PS4 (PlayStation).
  • June 2021 – Intergrade (PS5) and Yuffie DLC released.
  • February 29, 2024 – Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on PS5 (PlayStation).
  • January 23, 2025 – Rebirth arrives on PC (Square Enix).
  • TBD – Part 3 expected; development confirmed.

What we know and what’s uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Remake and Rebirth are parts 1 and 2 of a trilogy (PlayStation).
  • Part 3 is in development (PlayStation).
  • Intergrade includes Yuffie DLC (Wikipedia).
  • Rebirth is a direct story sequel to Remake (PlayStation).

What’s unclear

  • Exact release date of Part 3.
  • Whether Part 3 will be PS5 exclusive or cross-gen.
  • Exact sales figures for Rebirth beyond Square Enix disclosures.
  • Official title for Part 3 (rumored: Reunion or Revelation).

The pattern: Square Enix is keeping its cards close. What’s confirmed gives fans enough to trust the trilogy will finish; what’s unclear leaves room for speculation—and debate.

Key voices on the Remake project

We wanted to create a wide and multifaceted world with a high degree of freedom.

— Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Wikipedia)

By the end of Rebirth, three additional timelines are introduced, bringing the total to six timelines in that analysis.

— The Escapist, timeline breakdown (The Escapist)

For anyone sitting on the fence about the Remake trilogy, the choice has real stakes. If you start with Rebirth, you’ll feel lost—the story is built on Remake’s foundation. If you wait for a box set, you may miss the moment. For the PC player in 2025, the path is clear: buy Remake Intergrade first, then dive into Rebirth’s sprawling world. The trilogy is a gamble—expansive, ambitious, and divisive—but one that’s earned its critical scores. For the fan who loved the original, the Remake project is not a replacement; it’s a parallel universe. And that’s exactly the point.

Additional sources

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For players deciding where to start, a detailed breakdown of the differences between Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth can clarify which game to tackle first.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade?

Intergrade is the PS5 enhanced version of Remake, released in June 2021. It includes higher resolution, faster load times, and the episodic DLC “Episode INTERmission” starring Yuffie Kisaragi.

Can I play Rebirth without playing Remake?

Technically yes, but you will miss critical story context and character introductions. Rebirth assumes you know what happened in Remake, including the altered ending.

Does FF7 Remake have a photo mode?

No. Remake does not include a photo mode. Rebirth added one at launch.

Will FF7 Remake Part 3 be on PC?

Square Enix has not confirmed, but the pattern suggests a PC port will follow the console launch by 1–2 years, similar to Rebirth.

How long does it take to beat Final Fantasy VII Remake?

The main story takes about 35 hours. Completionist runs with all side content can exceed 70 hours.

Who is Denzel in FF7?

Denzel is a young orphan who appears in the film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. He is not related biologically to Tifa; she and Cloud take him in. The Remake trilogy has not yet introduced him.

Are there any major story changes in the Remake compared to the original?

Yes, significant changes. The Remake trilogy introduces timeline branches, the “Whispers” that try to preserve fate, and a final chapter in Remake that diverges entirely from the original Midgar escape.