There’s a chance that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation may not have a physical edition, but the director of the game is actively pushing to avoid that.
When speaking with GamesRadar, director Naoki Hamaguchi was asked about the state of physical games and whether or not Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will receive a physical disc. Given the game is still almost a year away from release, Hamaguchi was unable to make any guarantees, but admitted that it is something important to him.
“We’re still having internal discussions on what the exact SKU product lineup is going to be for Revelation,” said Hamaguchi, “So, I can’t say anything particularly definitive at this point in time. But I am working to make the arrangements to allow us to have some kind of physical edition.”
He noted that platforms like Nintendo have certain rules, such as storage limits with things like game cartridges, which can make these decisions challenging. But ultimately, he hopes to have something that satisfies fans to the best of their ability.
“Each platform and first-party have their own specific rules and regulations that we need to take into account, and think about what format is actually going to be best for the game. These are the discussions that we’re having at this point in time. I do hope that we’ll be able to come up with something that is as close as possible as to what players and fans are going to want, but you’ll have to look forward to future announcements for that.”
He also joked that fans will “rip him to pieces” if the game doesn’t have a physical edition following these comments. As for his personal feelings, Hamaguchi noted he is optimistic that there will always be some kind of physical item, even if it’s just a code in the box or game key card, and values the ability to have a physical item commemorating the game that fans can cherish.
“I do feel, as a developer and as a fan, that the general trend is for things to shift away from physical towards downloadable games. But that’s obviously talking about the trend. Personally, here at something like Fan Fest or at community events for games that I’ve worked on, I really think that people bringing up things, asking for autographs. I think that’s lovely. I think it’s a wonderful culture and it would be a shame to lose that. I want that to remain.”
Although PlayStation’s digital-only strategy won’t begin until January 2028, almost a year after Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s release, that hasn’t stopped some games from going all digital beforehand. Grand Theft Auto 6 will not release on a disc when it launches in November, and reports suggest there are no plans for that to change. While GTA 6 is a unique case and the move is likely being done to avoid leaks ahead of release, it wouldn’t be surprising if other companies begin to pull back on physical as PlayStation ramps up its digital future.
Will Final Fantasy 7 Revelation be the next game to go all-digital? Only time will tell.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.