Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the highly anticipated sequel to 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, is set to launch on February 29th, 2024 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. While fans eagerly await the chance to continue Cloud, Tifa, and the gang’s epic journey, Square Enix has provided some tantalizing details on how Rebirth will take full advantage of the PS5’s impressive capabilities. From jaw-dropping visuals to immersive haptics, here’s an in-depth look at what we know so far about how Rebirth will harness the power of Sony’s flagship console.
Also read:
Palworld Players Request Expanded Building Options and Improved Mechanics
Unparalleled Visual Fidelity
First and foremost, Rebirth is poised to be a visual stunner, showcasing the zenith of photorealistic graphics on the PS5. Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 5, environments and characters alike will sport an extraordinary level of detail thanks to the engine’s Lumen lighting technology and Nanite geometry system.
Stunning 4K Graphics and Beyond
By targeting crisp 4K resolution, Rebirth will make Midgar and the lands beyond more breathtaking than ever before. Every cobblestone, neon sign, and rusty pipe in the industrial metropolis will shine in 3840 × 2160 glory. From Cloud’s perfectly rendered blond spikes to the intricate patterns on Red XIII’s fire-red fur, characters will look better than ever at four times the pixel density of 1080p HD.
And that’s just the baseline. With the PS5 supporting up to 8K resolution, Square Enix has future-proofed Rebirth for even higher fidelity displays. So when 8K TVs become more prevalent, players will be able to experience Midgar in crystal clarity exceeding 35 million pixels.
Ray Tracing for True-to-Life Lighting
Thanks to the PS5’s custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU supporting ray tracing acceleration, Rebirth will be able to render complex lighting effects like shadows, reflections, and refractions far more accurately. This means illumination will behave just as it does in real life, with light rays bouncing realistically off surfaces throughout the environment. Neon signs will cast lifelike diffused glows on surrounding buildings. Puddles on the street will offer faithful watery reflections. And chromed-out Shinra machinery will showcase high-fidelity reflective sheens. Overall, ray tracing adds a new level of realism that brings the dystopian Midgar to life.
Oodle Texture Compression
Rebirth makes smart use of Oodle Texture, an advanced compression codec that minimizes texture file sizes without sacrificing visual quality. By compressing textures by up to 100x, Oodle Texture enables far higher resolution textures than would otherwise fit into memory. The end result is incredible texture detail on everything from brick walls to character clothing. For instance, the fine leather patterns on Cloud’s SOLDIER harness will be clear as day, even when viewed up close.
No Loading Times
One of the most disruptive immersion-breakers in games is encountering loading screens during scene transitions. But Rebirth’s utilization of the PS5’s blisteringly fast custom SSD storage eliminates this problem entirely. Virtually all transitions will be seamless, with data streaming almost instantly from storage. This allows players to stay engrossed in the experience rather than enduring load times as the next area pre-loads.
Cinematic Real-Time Cutscenes
Rebirth’s in-game cutscenes will offer a level of graphical fidelity once reserved for pre-rendered CGI video. The PS5’s GPU horsepower enables these story sequences to render in real-time at up to 4K resolution while utilizing the same Unreal Engine 5 technologies that enhance the gameplay visuals.
During in-engine cutscenes, smooth camera movements, changable angles, and dramatic lighting shifts heighten the cinematic feel. Motion blur adds an authentic sense of speed to action shots. Deep learning super sampling enhances edges with anti-aliasing to minimize jaggedness. Particles, sparks, and debris fill the air during high-octane moments. Simply put, these cutscenes won’t just look good—they’ll look downright movie-like.
Gameplay at Up to 120 FPS
While 4K resolution pumps up the pixel counts, Rebirth also promises butter-smooth gameplay thanks to its 120Hz display support. By rendering frames at up to 120 FPS (twice the standard 60 FPS rate), animation will appear extremely fluid and responsive, from exploration to combat.
This high frame rate empowers the action-centric battle system, allowing precise timing of blocks, dodges, and special abilities. And during hectic summon sequences, the on-screen mayhem maintains clarity and control rather than devolving into a blurry mess.
While the PS5 GPU pushes polygons at lightning speed, the console’s AMD Zen 2 CPU processes game logic and physics just as quickly. This high-performance synergy makes the fast-paced visuals possible. Rest assured, Rebirth will feel every bit as good as it looks.
Dimensional 3D Audio
Matching the visual splendor is Rebirth’s incredible 3D audio, powered by the PS5’s custom Tempest Engine. With sound sources placed realistically all around the player, Rebirth’s world comes to life in immersive new ways.
Pinpoint Directional Audio
Thanks to advanced object-based audio, sounds come from precise locations in the 3D space instead of just left, right, and center. So if you hear a monster growl behind you, it’s positioned accurately as if it exists in the environment instead of just being layered over the soundtrack.
Obstructed and Occluded Audio
What’s behind a wall stays behind a wall. Rebirth adds sonic realism by muffling sounds appropriately when objects or walls obstruct the source. Hearing a muffled train horn from behind buildings helps locate it in the world. This also applies to music—the bass and reverb shift realistically as you move through rooms and corridors.
Convincing Reverb
The Tempest Engine adds natural reverb tailored to each environment that mimics how sound bounces around real-world spaces. Shuffling through scrapped metal in a junkyard sounds distinctly different from walking through the alien marshlands outside Midgar. Even subtle audio cues like clothing rustles are augmented with appropriate reverb.
Responsive Music
Rebirth’s dynamic soundtrack augment its sense of immersion. Somber exploration music makes way for upbeat battle anthems during encounters. Layers of tension-building percussion and strings weave in and out as situations escalate. Seamless transitions between calm and chaotic tracks dovetail with the gameplay.
Intuitive Haptics and Adaptive Triggers
The DualSense controller’s advanced haptics and adaptive triggers enable new ways to feel actions during gameplay. Together, they transform the controller from just an input device to a conduit for touch feedback.
Contextual Haptics
With more precise haptic motors than the DualShock 4, the DualSense conveys subtle physical sensations tied to specific actions. The gritty bumps of cobblestone streets beneath Cloud’s feet contrast with the metallic thuds of walking through puddles. Jarring rumbles during motorcycle rides kick in when hitting debris. Haptics even simulate materia effects, with icy crystals feeling differently than fiery spells.
Weighty Swings
In battle, weight shifts in the Buster Sword provide momentum during wide swings versus quicker cuts. Drawing a bow conveys the tautness of the string increasing. Sprinting for a long time gradually shifts from light footfalls to tired stomps. Overall, haptics add physicality to actions beyond what rumble motors could convey.
Adaptive Resistance
The adaptive triggers offer dynamic resistance when performing in-game actions. Drawing a gun has tension before firing, followed by appropriate kickback. Driving vehicles conveys the throttle and braking pressure. And crucially, the triggers addtangible feedback when using abilities, with each spell or attack having a unique resistance profile. This makes combat more engaging and strategic than just mashing buttons.
Immersive World Exploration
While Rebirth’s visuals and sound design create an atmospheric and believable world, its immersion hinges on how rewarding it feels to explore every nook and cranny of Midgar and beyond.
Detail-Rich Environments
Intricately crafted environments beg to be investigated thoroughly. Branching paths tempt you to stray from the main route, with contextual clues hinting at discoverable items and encounters. Interactive objects like light switches and touchscreens make the environments feel occupied and functional. The attention to detail infuses curiosity into exploration.
Expanded Scalability
Armed with new traversal abilities, revisiting familiar sectors reveals previously inaccessible areas like rooftops, tunnels, and platforms. Verticality especially adds scope, with Cloud now able to scale certain buildings and infrastructure through parkour moves. Expanding the environments vertically makes exploration feel more dynamic.
Rewarding Side Quests
Being an open world game, Rebirth offers optional side quests that provide meaningful narrative, loot, and character development opportunities. These optional adventures bring Midgar citizens’ stories to life beyond just the main plot. And the tangible rewards like new gear and materia provide compelling incentives to complete them.
Strategic Stealth
While combat is central to gameplay, Rebirth also enables stealthier playstyles. Sneaking through enemy outposts allows setting up ambushes and avoiding unnecessary conflict. New abilities like partial cover lets players exploit the environment for stealth advantages. And diverging paths permit strategic planning, like sneaking through maintenance ducts to avoid patrols.
Engrossing Narrative With Expanded Lore
While Rebirth promises mechanical improvements over Remake, its narrative represents the true heart and soul of the experience. This sequel expands the FF7 story in exciting ways while introducing new characters and mysteries.
More Dynamic Character Interactions
Deeper banter between party members helps develop their personalities and relationships outside cutscenes. Unique dialogue options during exploration add nuance based on who’s currently in your party. These exchanges between Barrett and Tifa feel more genuine than static cutscenes alone.
Player-Driven Dialogue Choices
Key moments present dialogue options that let players guide conversations and relationships. While the overarching story remains the same, these choices help personalize character interactions. Expressing empathy versus cold indifference toward Aerith can influence her affinity toward Cloud.
New Story Arcs and Companions
Without spoiling too much, Rebirth introduces major new narrative arcs and party members. A new protagonist, Quin, serves as a lens into Cloud’s mysterious past connections to Sephiroth and Nibelheim. Another companion, Reno, provides an inside look at the morally gray Turks organization.
Expanded Mythos and Lore
New locales like the underground prison Deepground uncover unseen facets of how mako energy transformed Midgar’s social landscape. Impoverished slum residents bear the brunt of Shinra’s mako mining fatalities, seeding resentment. This expanded worldbuilding and lore adds welcome political intrigue to the narrative.
More Cinematic Moments
Jaw-dropping set pieces and action sequences promise to dazzle, thanks to the PS5’s graphical prowess. These include motorcycle chases across collapsing highways, battling monstrous summons, and escaping explosions atop speeding trains. While retaining Final Fantasy’s trademark storytelling and themes, these cinematic moments crank up the spectacle. read more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth?
Rebirth is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake, continuing the epic JRPG saga reimagined for modern gaming. It focuses on expanding the Midgar portion of the original FF7 story.
When is the release date?
February 29th, 2024.
What platforms will it be on?
PS5 exclusively.
Do I need to play FF7 Remake first?
Yes, Rebirth is a direct sequel assuming knowledge of Remake’s events and characters. So playing Remake beforehand is highly recommended.
Will it be open world?
Not fully open world, but more open-ended than Remake. Environments feature additional paths to explore between main story beats.
What combat improvements are planned?
Faster, more fluid action leveraging PS5 performance. New abilities and tune-ups to existing moves. More tactical elements like stealth.
Will there be DLC?
Potentially in the future, but no concrete DLC plans announced yet. The base game itself promises to be massive though.
Is this a next-gen only title?
Yes, Rebirth is designed exclusively for PS5 to leverage its power. There are currently no plans for a PS4 version.
How long will it take to complete?
Estimates range from 40-60 hours for just the main story, with an additional 20-30 hours of side content. So expect a meaty game overall.
The Next Chapter Begins…
While the full scope of Rebirth remains veiled until launch day, these details paint an exciting picture of how it will immerse players in Midgar like never before. For longtime Final Fantasy VII fans eager to see this iconic world brought to life with cutting-edge graphics and sound, Rebirth delivers in spades. And new players can experience the epic saga with modernized gameplay and cinematic flair worthy of the PS5’s capabilities.
When the third disc finally stops spinning on PS1’s worldwide, Rebirth’s next generation journey into Midgar’s gritty past—and beyond—awaits. And with additional episodes slated to follow in the coming years, this reimagined story has only just begun.
also see Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Palworld Players Request Expanded Building Options and Improved Mechanics
Nintendo Switch Successor Release Pushed Back to 2025: What We Know So Far
How Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Will Harness the Power of the PS5