In a recent interview with Radio Times, Final Fantasy VII Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi spoke about how he did everything he could behind the scenes to make sure the upcoming title gets a physical release.

When asked about the recent news in the industry moving towards a digital future, Hamaguchi acknowledged the sensitivity of the topic and said that personally, he remains a big fan of physical editions. “Sometimes I buy digital editions of games, but if I’m particularly attached to a title, I want to get the physical version,” the Final Fantasy VII Revelation director added.

That personal preference also influenced his efforts to preserve a physical release for Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Hamaguchi explained that he used his position to argue for a physical version, although the final product lineup and distribution decisions ultimately fall under the publishing team.

“I used my position to put forth an argument for the physical version as much as possible,” Hamaguchi said, adding that internal negotiations and discussions with platform holders eventually led to the version being offered.

Square Enix recently revealed that the physical edition will not contain the complete game. Instead, the disc will include the opening portion, with players required to download the remainder. Hamaguchi acknowledged that this may disappoint fans who want a complete game on disc, but said he understands their concerns.

“But I would just say that I hope you understand that I completely see where you’re coming from, and that I did my best.”

Final Fantasy VII Revelation is scheduled to launch on 8 April 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. The game will conclude the trilogy that began with Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020.