Final Fantasy VII: Revelation

This is a summary of all the interviews SE gave. The original post is over there on qhimm forums. Plenty of answers for everyone.

Maximilian Dood:
- Old maps from Rebirth will definitely look different
- The exploration is indisputably more expansive than Rebirth
- Chocobo can fly around freely to explore vertically
- We are operating within the same combat system for WEAPONs battles, but we have unique mechanics and gadgets included in the battle
- Each character has four FITS available, and a skill tree is also included
- Chocobo breeding is going to be different this time. We are helping Pico grow, which will allow you to explore and reach new areas
- The day/night cycle story will be focused on story progression
- Reunion was not on the list of three titles being considered. Nomura chose Revelation from the three candidates
- The title Revelation is for 'Answer all the questions that players may have.'
- Old Sephiroth VA is unable to come back, so they have picked up a new one, new Sephiroth EN VA Travis Willingham

Restart:
- Black materia activated at the beginning of FF7RV
- Chadley has a base & conducting research on Meteor
- Chadley has an important part related to main story

Gamespot:
- Vincent is able to transform beast mode anytime + range attacks
- Cid is excellent in aerial/airbase attacks
- Building upon the existing foundation and then evolving on what we've created; ability to customize & play character as the player wishes
- Minigames optional, more light
- Epic homage WEAPONs how to present and scale them
- Remake Series Concludes with Revelation
- We heard fans wanting to explore the side stories of other characters and/or other parts of the story, it's interesting but we wanted to conclude this as soon as possible and efforts are focused on that.

Automaton #1:
- Trailer focuses much more on the game's systems and what we're trying to express through the game itself. What you can do in the game and how deep the gameplay goes
- "Open-world" spanning the entire planet, depending on what a player chooses to engage with first, the way their adventure unfolds can differ significantly
- Entire world is connected from the start. Fly Highwind anywhere
- Hamaguchi games to reference/draw inspiration: The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon series, Crimson Desert
- FF7RV includes all of the continents from FF7RB
- Each area contains its own unique activities, gameplay mechanics, and interactive elements
- Depending on where player choose to go first, their experiences can end up being quite different
- Weapons has caused major changes across the world: due to that old maps are different from the previous game (even though visual identity, atmosphere and setting remain familiar and world map is preserved)
- You'll travel alongside Pico, your Chocobo companion. As Pico grows, the way you explore the world changes as well
- Parachute from the Highwind and interact with the environment in more vertical ways
- Job-inspired FITS System: allow players to customize the characters, for example turning Cloud into a more mage-oriented character; outfits available since start
- No restriction on game design due to multiplatform
- Weapon battles as a natural extension of the regular combat system

Automaton #2:
- Trilogy's finale theme: Resolve and Choice
- More sections in the game where players' choices are so crucial that they can alter not only how they progress through the game but even the direction of the storytelling itself
- Experience changes based on your choices, yet things ultimately converge toward a single conclusion
- Experiences that could completely differ from one player to another
- Definitive conclusion, no multi-ending game
- Choices players make on the journey toward the conclusion will affect their individual experiences as well as the stories told through side content
- You don't have to engage with minigames if you don't want to
- Minigame rewards are now largely unrelated to combat progression, instead they offer things like character skins & customizations options
- Minigame difficulty settings added
- Battle progression and the like are tied more closely to combat-oriented side content
- You obtain the Highwind fairly early on, and from that point you essentially go wherever you want and play however you like
- You might wander into a place out of curiosity and immediately get demolished by powerful enemies
- North Crater becomes inaccessible for a period of time because a Weapon has appeared there
- There are still locations you can't access because of story-related reasons
- Vertical exploration
- You might pick up a quest in one location the travel to another area to progress it
- If you've already visited an area you can use fast travel to reach it
- Final polishing stage

Famitsu:
- The title implies that hidden truths will be revealed
- The key unifying term for the team is "resolve", representing both the determination of Cloud and the other characters, and the developers’ commitment to bringing the series to a proper conclusion
- The game features an even larger world where the experience itself changes depending on the player's choices
- New locations include Rocket Town, Wutai, Mideel
- Areas that appeared in FFVII Rebirth are slightly changed; the terrain has been altered to reflect tectonic shifts caused by the revival of the WEAPONs
- Exploration expands as Pico grows, allowing players to explore also vertically, including in areas such as the Grasslands
- Highwind enables seamless travel around a continuous world map, where reaching one edge brings the player out on the opposite side
- Players can descend from the Highwind via parachute
- Fast travel becomes available after a location has been visited for the first time
- Highwind serves as a base of operations for Cloud and the party; features both a flying mode and an indoor mode
- Items collected throughout the adventure are displayed inside the Highwind
- The Buggy does not return, but similar truck-like vehicles are available
- Rocket Town is filled with precision machinery, for that reason a "No Chocobos" sign is seen
- Vehicles can be used in Rocket Village instead of Chocobos
- Vincent primarily fights using ranged gun attacks, switches to melee combat while in Beast Mode
- Vincent's Beast Mode can be activated and deactivated freely during battle
- Cid is a spear user inspired by the Dragoon; he excels at aerial combat and possesses a variety of powerful techniques
- Cid specializes in teleporting attacks and stabbing attacks; he is also effective at wide-area attacks
- Battle Director Endo proposed the addition of the FITS System, which is inspired by job/class systems
- Four outfits are available as soon as you get the FITS unlocked
- Outfits affect character parameters, and add skills and abilities; effects tailored to each outfit's unique characteristics
- Outfit growth rates are shared among all characters
- Character skin feature allows players to keep a character's original appearance while using FITS outfit
- Additional character skins can be collected throughout the journey
- Weapon skin feature allows players to select preferred weapon appearance
- WEAPON battles include unique mechanics and gimmicks layered on top of the standard combat system
- WEAPON encounters are designed to feel distinct from battles against regular enemies
- Minigames now include selectable difficulty levels. Also, if you fail, you can skip it
- Knights of the Round will be available
- Player choices affect the overall game experience
- Your choices result in different game experiences. The way you complete quests, the events you see, and even the overall flow of gameplay can all change
- There's only one ending

Denfaminicogamer:
- Nomura decided the title
- Final stage of development
- Considering playable demo at TGS or around that time
- You use a parachute to descend and can fast travel back to the Highwind immediately returning to flying mode
- Interior of Highwind will be updated according to your progress; crew's conversations will change and give you even quests
- In the story, after each story arc ends, a briefing is held on Highwind to discuss what's next
- You can fly freely everywhere, including various islands (of course there are areas offlimits but basically you can fly anywhere)
- Kept all previous areas
- You'll be traveling with a single Chocobo named Pico; towards the end Pico will be able to glide and fly anywhere
- Vertical exploration is possible now. You can fly from above with a parachute instead of using a chocobo, is up to you
- You can enjoy exploring various locations right from the start; side content can be tackled at any time if you decide so
- WEAPON that are not involved in the story can be challenged at any time
- There are of course some moments where we say "For now, please follow the story on this continent," so the structure there is similar to the previous game."
- In this game, however, once you get the Highwind early on, you can freely explore all the areas using the Highwind
- You might find that one area is easy, but the next one is incredibly difficult
- The idea is to pick and choose what you want to do in each area as you go along
- The amount of content is equal to or greater than that of the previous game
- No time limit for Vincent's Beast Mode; single button switch
- Cid is an attacker who excels at aerial combat and somewhat strong in support roles
- There are four types of outfits in total, and all four types are unlocked at once for all characters, and you can delve deeper into the outfits in conjunction with the skill tree
- Zack will make appearances at key points in the game
- Other Playable Guest Characters will make appearances at key points in the game
- Zack screen time greater than before to convey and tell the story of slightly different worldview and setting compared to the original version
- Wutai has a very politically charged storyline
- Midgar area will also be featured; Deepground & people involved with it might appear there (Nero and Weiss)
- Rocket Town will be possibile to visit towards the end of the story
- Underwater world will also appear in the story
- KOTR will be available
- Single conclusion, the end of FFVII Remake series
- Affection level system this time the focus isn't solely on him but the side content prioritize "which character each user wants to delve deeper into and learn more about"
- Minigames number will not be reduced; can be entirely skipped; can select easy mode
- Minigames not linked to battle progression and trophies
- Character skins that aren't related to battle strategy. Conversely, we grouped the battle elements that players really want to do into battle-oriented side content to create a clear distinction
- Tifa vs Scarlet slap fight will be present

World, Exploration & Locations

Exploration is significantly larger than Rebirth
The entire world map is connected and explorable via the Highwind, obtained about 5 hours after beginning of the game
Highwind enables seamless world travel; reaching one edge of the map loops to the opposite side
Players can parachute from the Highwind and instantly fast travel back to it (directly in flying mode or back inside Highwind)
Vertical exploration is greatly expanded through Pico, parachuting, and aerial traversal
Pico is the sole Chocobo companion; as Pico grows, it gains new traversal abilities, eventually allowing gliding and flight
By helping Pico grow you can reach new areas
As you explore the world map, you can rescue various Chocobos and build relationships with them, and the number of Chocobos will increase
All Rebirth regions return but are altered by WEAPON-induced tectonic shifts; familiar locations feature changed terrain and maps
New locations include Rocket Town, Wutai, Mideel, Midgar, the Underwater World, and various islands
Rocket town possible to visit in the second half of the game
Bone Village is not there
North Crater becomes temporarily inaccessible due to a WEAPON appearance
Some locations remain locked behind story progression
Fast travel unlocks after first visiting a location
Quests can span multiple regions, and players largely choose their own exploration order
Different progression routes can lead to substantially different gameplay experiences
Each region contains unique activities, mechanics, and interactive elements
Rocket Town restricts Chocobo use; vehicles are used instead
The Buggy does not return, though similar truck-like vehicles are available
Highwind serves as the party's mobile base with both exterior flight and interior exploration
Collected items are displayed inside the Highwind
Highwind interiors, crew dialogue, and available quests evolve throughout the game
Story briefings are held aboard the Highwind after major story arcs
Content volume is equal to or greater than Rebirth
You won’t be able to visit all of the Midgar slums or all the streets you were able to go around in

Story & Characters

Black Materia is activated at the beginning of the game
Sephiroth's will summons the meteor
Chadley works on the Highwind conducting Meteor research and plays a significant part in the main story
Core themes are Resolve and Choice
Revelation title was chosen by Nomura to reflect revealing hidden truths and answering players' questions
Revelation title can be read as 'Liberation' too, as per the katakana
Player choices affect quests, side content, story presentation, and overall progression
Experiences can differ greatly between players, but all paths lead to a single ending
More story sections feature impactful player decisions
Zack appears at key points, receives increased screen time
Other guests join in as playable characters at key points
Wutai features a politically driven storyline
A new 'baby-WEAPON' is seen in Mideel
Deepground and related characters will appear in Midgar
Affection mechanics focus on exploring individual character stories (not solely from Cloud's perspective)
Tifa vs. Scarlet slap fight returns
Revelation concludes the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy
Development resources were prioritized toward concluding the trilogy rather than expanding side stories
A DLC could be taken in consideration if there is demand
New English Sephiroth voice actor is Travis Willingham

Gameplay & Combat

Core combat system from Rebirth returns
WEAPON battles feature unique mechanics, gimmicks and gadgets while using the regular battle system
Optional non-story WEAPON encounters can be challenged freely
Vincent: Primarily fights with ranged firearms. Can freely switch into and out of Beast Mode. Beast Mode has no time limit and shifts him to melee combat
Cid: Dragoon-inspired spear user specializing in aerial combat. Uses teleportation, piercing, wide-area, and support-oriented abilities
FITS system: Job-inspired character customization system. Four outfits unlock simultaneously for every character (total of four unique jobs). Outfits alter stats, skills, abilities, and combat roles. Allows role specialization (e.g., mage-focused Cloud). Integrates with the skill tree. Outfit progression is shared across the party
Character skins allow you to choose your favourite costume while retaining your FITS bonuses
Additional character skins can be collected during the game
Weapon skins let you keep the look of your preferred weapon
Combat progression is primarily tied to battle-focused side content
Chapter Select will be available
Knights of the Round is obtainable
Once the game is over, there will be some super bosses that are even stronger than the final boss
Open exploration can lead players into areas with enemies far above their current strength
Customizable ringtones for Chadley's call

Minigames

Minigames remain plentiful
All minigames are optional
Difficulty settings are available, easy too
Minigames can be skipped entirely
Rewards focus on cosmetics and customization
Minigames are largely disconnected from combat progression and trophies
Combat-related rewards have been shifted to battle-oriented side content

Development & Release

Marketing focuses heavily on gameplay systems, depth, and player freedom
Development inspirations include: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon series, Crimson Desert
No design restrictions resulted from multiplatform development
The game is in its final polishing stage
A playable demo is being considered to be at Tokyo Game Show, PAX, Gamescom
Release planned for Spring 2027, launching Simultaneously for all platforms
Resolve serves as the team's central development philosophy, representing both the characters' determination and the developers' commitment to a definitive conclusion

Endgame is going to be different. No Hard Mode?

You have to use google translate on this page, but they are saying its not going to be the same as playing through the game once then going through it again on Hard. There looks to be an actual endgame that encourages people to keep playing, and keep leveling past the final boss.

Something that really bothers me with these games and even the RE remakes and new games... is the forced walking or forced anything sections of the story. It completely kills the replay and has made me not want to do the hard mode for the longest time after finishing the game. I don't know why these game DEV keep forcing these unskippable "forced" walking semi cutscene portions into games.

They should've done it on the PS3 when they had that tech demo. IMO they could've pulled it off then without going so far off the rails from what the game should be. There was a lot of excitement and they just kinda played everyone by going "it was just a tech demo". I just don't see any modern FF title being anything I really care about playing unless they drastically shift course.

Re: minigames. You could skip these in Remake, it just butchered the story and some of the dialogue. I'm not sure about Rebirth. I wouldn't assume skippable means 'skippable without story consequences'

Typical trash post from RA. Ignore it and move on.

He's not entirely wrong. A lot of truth in there.

It will sell less than 2, which sold less than 1, it will be a failure.

They shouldn't have sunk 10+ years into a game that releases so slowly. They shouldn't have made it 3 games in the first place, huge sunk cost to finish it now.

PS exclusivity was a mistake. and/or starting on PS4 but not selling part 2 on PS4 drops half the customer base. The budget for 1 2 and 3 total is north of? a billion dollars. It's actually silly.

They're making more bad decisions than good decisions.

No way 3 games have cost them a billion dollars to make. Stop drinking that kool-aid. They aren't movies. You can probably add ff16's costs, Intergrades costs, and those 5 still aren't going to cost a billion.

Not that it matters, RA has been trolling SE for years and yet here they are still making games, in no danger of stopping in the next decade.

If part 1 was 200m, it's safe to call 2 another 200m and 3 is bigger. So. Not really a stretch.

It's very hard to get honest numbers though. They'll never admit the depths of the losses, except for tax benefits.

It's not that hard to get the numbers because you can't lie to your shareholders.

Here is a snip

205, 185, if three is in the same range, you are still well short of a billion. And like I said, add 16s costs and you still aren't there. Sure, the series should have been two games, and they should have all been multiplatform at launch. I'm sure their next big project will apply those lessons. Because yes, there will be another big project, because SE isn't going anywhere.

200 is just the game production, we count marketing, they don't

The point being; too expensive even if not a buzzword billion. A significant amount of cracked eggs in that basket, as it were.

Not that they're doing worse than bungie or ubisoft just that they should be doing way better than they are.

I don't know why you keep posting here, you hate SE so much yet everything you say about them is just made up *** based on your hurt feelings. You have no idea what you are talking about and NONE of your predictions about them have ever come true. Of course, that's true of every company you ramble about. Back to Twitter and Reddit where you belong, child.

Bungie just needs to go out of business. Their decision to split from Activision was essentially suicide. SE is fine, certainly shouldn't even be mentioned in the same thought as Bungie lol. Sure they could stand to bring costs down on Final Fantasy but there is nothing to worry about. Especially with 14, which is also in no danger, (much to RA's chagrin), printing money for them. Even Dragonquest is doing very well for them over on Nintendo's consoles.

Two more posts everyone can just skip!

fixed