Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth DLC Was Considered But Not Pursued, Confirms Director Naoki Hamaguchi

Square Enix’s highly anticipated RPG, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, launched to critical acclaim in early 2024, continuing the iconic story reimagined in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy.

While its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, received notable post-launch content with Episode Intermission—spotlighting fan-favorite ninja Yuffie Kisaragi—Rebirth has not followed suit.

Recent comments from game director Naoki Hamaguchi reveal the reasons behind this decision, offering insight into Square Enix’s strategy and the franchise’s future. In a recent interview with Wccftech, Hamaguchi addressed the topic directly.

He confirmed that while the development team initially explored the possibility of downloadable content for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, their priorities shifted during planning.

According to Hamaguchi, Square Enix ultimately decided that fans were most eager for the timely release of the trilogy’s final chapter.

He explained, 'We certainly considered developing DLC for Rebirth at one stage.

However, after revisiting our project goals and evaluating what would resonate most with players, we understood that our audience is wondering most about the third installment.

So, we gave priority to the completion and release of that chapter over additional content for Rebirth.' This approach marks a key difference from the first game in the trilogy.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s DLC, Episode Intermission, received substantial praise for expanding the narrative and offering new gameplay experiences.

Yet, for Rebirth, Square Enix is choosing to channel development efforts into the conclusion of the trilogy, ensuring the next chapter receives maximum resources and attention.

As of June 2024, no post-launch content for Rebirth has been announced. Hamaguchi also hinted at the potential for the upcoming third installment to feature DLC, signaling Square Enix’s ongoing commitment to delivering rich post-launch experiences when appropriate.

Once the trilogy concludes, he noted, 'it is possible we will consider additional content for the final part or explore even broader projects once the full story has reached a wider audience.' Meanwhile, the franchise continues to find new audiences as well as established fans, with Final Fantasy 7 Remake set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in January 2025, including its Episode Intermission DLC.

The move demonstrates Square Enix’s commitment to expanding the reach of the Final Fantasy 7 saga across new hardware platforms, such as Nintendo Switch 2 and eShop. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, these developments ensure that the legacy of Final Fantasy 7 remains vibrant both through new mainline releases and thoughtful platform expansions.

As Square Enix progresses toward the trilogy’s epic conclusion, audiences worldwide eagerly await the latest chapter in this beloved RPG franchise.

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