The development team for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth scrapped the first version of the Knights of the Round boss battle and decided to redo it from scratch. Battle Director Hiroki Endo felt the original plan lacked sufficient difficulty, prompting the team to hold an emergency meeting to rework the encounter.
Game Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed once again in an interview with MinnMax that the Knights of the Round will appear in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Considering the immense power of this Materia in the original game, the team prepared to design it as a formidable enemy.
Players must first battle 13 knights based on the legends of King Arthur before they can use this summon. This acquisition method continues the design philosophy seen in some summons throughout the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, where summon abilities are unlocked through boss battles.
After completing the first version of the battle, Hiroki Endo suggested that the Knights of the Round needed to be made stronger. Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the team convened an emergency meeting with key personnel, including the art director and action director. He explained the requirements for enhancing the boss battle to each department, ultimately deciding to scrap the original plan and start over.
The Knights of the Round is also one of the most powerful summons in the 1997 game Final Fantasy VII. To obtain the corresponding Materia, players must complete a series of complex processes involving Chocobo breeding and raising. Its summoning animation is also known for being lengthy and grand in scale.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled to launch on all console platforms and PC in April 2027. The physical game discs still require downloading additional content; Square Enix explained that the team did not want to compromise on the game's content.