Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s director expresses desire for a physical release, but can’t guarantee it.

Sony is set to halt the production of new physical discs by 2028, which means that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation should be in the clear for now. However, Naoki Hamaguchi, the director of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, recently mentioned that the decision regarding a physical release for the third installment remains uncertain.

During a conversation at the Final Fantasy 14 Berlin Fan Fest, Hamaguchi revealed that Square Enix is still in the midst of internal discussions about the specific product lineup for Revelation. He stated, “I can’t say anything particularly definitive at this point in time.” Acknowledging the demand from fans, he expressed his desire to facilitate a physical edition, saying, “I am working to make the arrangements to allow us to have some kind of physical edition.”

Hamaguchi also shared insights on the significance of physical media, highlighting events like Fan Fest where fans seek autographs. “I really think that people bringing up things, asking for autographs — I think that’s lovely,” he remarked. “I think it’s a wonderful culture, and it would be a shame to lose that.” Despite this, he recognizes the industry’s shift towards a digital future, which may not align with the wishes of fans and developers alike.

Even with the industry’s move away from physical discs, Hamaguchi believes that physical games won’t disappear completely. “Maybe you’ll have a box with the code inside it, or maybe key cards like Nintendo’s doing, or a boot disc or something,” he speculated. “I feel like there’ll always be something, and I hope there will be.” Currently, many physical game releases consist of just game codes in plastic cases, which, while nice for display or autographs, raise concerns about ownership and preservation.

The first two entries of the remake trilogy were released with genuine physical editions that included discs. A special bundle of Remake and Rebirth for PlayStation 5 even came with three discs. While the series has a solid track record, Hamaguchi’s comments leave some uncertainty about whether the trilogy will conclude with a true physical release. If Revelation doesn’t receive a disc, there’s a possibility that Square Enix might offer a complete physical edition of the trilogy later on.

“I do hope that we’ll be able to come up with something that is as close as possible to what players and fans are going to want,” Hamaguchi concluded, “but you’ll have to look forward to future announcements for that.”