Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will introduce a skydiving system, allowing the party to descend directly from the airship "Highwind" to the ground. Game Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that this mechanic was partly inspired by Fortnite, primarily serving to bridge aerial movement with ground exploration.
Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the development team proposed the idea of having the party skydive from the "Highwind" early in the project. Since the game features a high-fidelity open-world design, landing such a large airship directly would pose challenges for terrain design, prompting the team to seek alternative ways to reach the ground.
While researching similar mechanics, the development team noted that titles like Fortnite have already familiarized modern players with the concept of characters landing from the air using parachutes. Naoki Hamaguchi believed this approach is easy to understand and creates a more engaging movement experience.
The skydiving system ultimately serves to connect the airship with the open world. Players can enter ground areas directly from the air without waiting for the airship to find a suitable landing spot, a feature the development team hopes will enable a smoother transition during exploration.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the final installment in the remake series and has been confirmed for release on April 8, 2027.