The physical edition of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth requires downloading additional data regardless, because Square Enix would have had to make compromises in certain areas to fit this massive adventure game onto a single disc. At least, that's how series director Naoki Hamaguchi explained it.
Earlier this week, fans of Final Fantasy VII who are also physical game collectors likely experienced an emotional rollercoaster, swinging from elation to slight disappointment. The third and final installment of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy will receive physical releases on three major console platforms, but players will still need to download additional game data to play properly.
Remake Trilogy Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated in a public announcement: "There are capacity limits for physical media on each platform, but we believe that compromising the quality of the final chapter just to enable full disc-based playback would ultimately not be in the best interest of our fans."
He added, "We understand this decision may not meet everyone's expectations. Even so, in today's market where the industry is steadily moving toward disc-less distribution, we believe that offering a physical version is still meaningful."
Fans have since voiced their objections online, pointing out that both Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were released on dual discs with all game content fully included. In theory, Square Enix could have followed suit and released Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as a multi-disc set.
Under the current plan, the physical editions for PS5 and Xbox Series X include only one disc, while the Nintendo Switch 2 physical edition comes with a controversial game activation card—all three platforms require an internet connection to download additional content for a complete installation.
Physical game releases have been a hot topic ever since Sony announced its plan to stop producing physical PlayStation games starting in 2028. Judging by the audience reaction at Sony's recent State of Play event, this PR crisis has persisted throughout the summer and continues to plague Sony.