Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Doubles Down on Open-World Scale, Adding New Regions and Combat Systems

Key points

• Revelation expands the open world to a planet-wide scale, adding new regions like Mideel and Wutai while allowing players to revisit all locations from Rebirth.
• Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that reducing content was 'never part of the conversation,' prioritizing the diverse side content of the original Final Fantasy 7.
• The game introduces a new 'FITS' system with four classes: Warrior, Knight, Black Mage, and Summoner, alongside new party members Cid and Vincent.
• Quality-of-life improvements include skip options for cutscenes and minigames, clearer reward structures for side quests, and enhanced traversal via the Highwind airship.
• Post-launch DLC will feature stories for Vincent and Sephiroth, though the main game’s ending will remain unchanged.

Background

Following the September 2026 State of Play and Gamescom 2026, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation has been positioned as the finale to the remake trilogy. Previous coverage noted that the game will require a large download even for physical copies and that Square Enix is marketing it as a definitive experience for the franchise. The development team has been working on Revelation for over a year, overlapping with the final stages of Rebirth’s development.

How outlets are covering it

Kotaku and Deadline emphasize the developers' confidence in the expanded scope, with Hamaguchi asserting that the open-world design is a core pillar of the trilogy. Wccftech highlights the positive reception of the new combat and traversal systems, calling the game a potential genre-defining title. In contrast, Eurogamer criticizes the game's 'bloated' nature, noting that the sheer volume of tutorial pop-ups and content can feel overwhelming, though they acknowledge the value of player choice. While Kotaku and Deadline focus on the narrative and character depth, Wccftech and Eurogamer concentrate more on the mechanical improvements and the balance between content volume and player agency.

Why it matters

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation represents a significant shift in how major JRPGs handle open-world design, moving away from linear structures to a fully interconnected planet. The game's approach to player choice, combat customization, and content management sets a new standard for the genre, potentially influencing future titles in the series and beyond. Its success will determine whether the maximalist open-world approach can sustain player engagement without detracting from the core narrative.

What to watch

The game is scheduled to release on April 8, 2027, across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Post-launch DLC featuring Vincent and Sephiroth is expected to follow. Square Enix is also planning to release Kingdom Hearts IV in 2027, with both titles being developed in Creative Studio 1.