Credit: Square Enix
newsPlatforms & Hardwarefinal-fantasy-vii-revelation
Final Fantasy VII Revelation physical edition still requires a download
October 5, 2026·3 min read
Square Enix will still ship a boxed version of Revelation, but players will need an internet connection to install the complete game.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation will receive a physical release when it launches next year, but the disc will not contain the complete game. Director Naoki Hamaguchi says the physical edition will include the opening portion before asking players to download the remaining data.
Hamaguchi discussed the decision in an interview with Radio Times, where he also addressed criticism from players who want the entire game preserved on physical media. The third and final entry in Square Enix's remake trilogy launches on April 8, 2027.
The disc only contains the opening portion
Hamaguchi described the included disc as a kind of "key disc" that gives players access to the beginning of Revelation. Once players move beyond that section, an internet connection will be required to download the rest of the game.
That means owning the boxed version will not provide a complete offline copy. Players will still need access to Square Enix and the platform holder's download infrastructure to install all of the content needed to finish the game.
The situation differs from Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which both used multiple discs for their physical PlayStation releases. Rebirth, for example, shipped on two PS5 discs rather than requiring players to download most of the game after installation.
Revelation's size complicated the physical release
Hamaguchi previously said Final Fantasy VII Revelation is expected to require around 200 GB of storage. He explained that fitting a game of that size into a more traditional physical configuration would have created technical and production challenges.
The director has also argued that reducing the game's size simply to make the physical edition easier to produce was not an option. Square Enix wanted to preserve the visual quality and scope of the final game rather than make compromises to fit everything onto fewer discs.
The Switch 2 version presents a similar limitation through a different format. Square Enix is using a Game-Key Card for Nintendo's console, meaning the physical card provides access to the game but still requires a substantial download.
Hamaguchi pushed for a physical version
Hamaguchi said decisions about editions and retail formats ultimately sit with Square Enix's publishing team rather than the game's director. However, he personally argued for Revelation to receive some form of physical release.
He said he understands players who prefer discs and acknowledged complaints from those asking for a complete physical copy. Hamaguchi grew up buying physical games himself and said he still likes owning boxed versions of titles that are important to him.
The final arrangement came after discussions within Square Enix and with its platform partners. Hamaguchi said he had done what he could to keep a physical option available even though it cannot contain the complete game.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation
As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, the final battle against Sephiroth begins. A meteor mars the sky, monstrous planetary guardians wreak havoc across the globe, and the fires of war rage. Now, Cloud and his companions must stand against this chaos to not only deci
Released
June 30, 2027
Developer
Square Enix Creative Studio I
Publisher
Square Enix
Systems
Tagged In
Square EnixPhysical EditionsGame-key Cards
Discussion
0We want to hear from you. Share your perspective in the comments below, and please keep the conversation respectful.
Log in to join the discussion - vote, reply, and share your take.
Log In