Summary
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, praised for its engaging plot and playable content, trails in sales behind its predecessor in UK physical sales.
- Speculation for the lower physical sales includes a decline in physical media purchases and a smaller PS5 player base than on the PS4 when FF7 Remake was released.
- Positive reviews may lead to increased sales for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth once digital release data is factored in.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been well-received by players so far, but it may be trailing behind its predecessor in sales according to a new report. The second installment in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake saga finally launched last week, picking up where the first game left off with Cloud and his allies leaving the city of Midgar to escape the forces of Shinra. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth follows the plot of the original 1997 PS1 classic to the end of its second disk, fleshing things out with new story and side content along the way.
So far, reviews for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have been overwhelmingly positive, with much of the game’s praise going toward its engaging plot and hours of playable content. In fact, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the fifth-highest-rated entry in the legendary JRPG franchise, falling only behind Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 12, and Final Fantasy 10. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, the 2021 PS5 update for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, ranks behind FF7 Rebirth by at least two positions, but the first entry might still be ahead of its follow-up in one major area: sales.
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According to a Twitter post from GamesIndustry.biz head Christopher Dring, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is trailing behind FF7 Remake in terms of box sales in the UK, with its opening weekend being down by nearly 30%. As Dring points out, FF 7 Remake was first released just as COVID-19 lockdowns began in the UK, which impacted its own physical sales. However, this only applies to physical sales figures, as the digital sales data for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth won’t be released until later this week.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Physical Sales Are Down From FF7 Remake
The comments section of Christopher Dring’s recent post is filled with speculation about why Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could be falling behind its predecessor in sales, with many believing it could be due to a decline in players who buy physical media over digital games. Another suggested factor is the PlayStation 5 still having a smaller player base than the PS4 at the time of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s 2020 release, due in no small part to the supply shortages brought on by COVID during the first few years of the PS5’s lifespan.
In any case, it bears repeating that Christopher Dring’s report of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth falling behind Final Fantasy 7 Remake in sales only applies to physical copies, and only in the UK to boot. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could very well see an increase in reported sales figures once the digital release data is counted, especially given the game’s positive reviews since it first launched in late February.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
