Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says he "did his best" to fight for a full disc release

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi addressed fans' calls for a full disc version of the game, stating he did his best to advocate for physical media as the industry moves towards a digital future. Speaking to Radio Times, Hamaguchi shared his personal attachment to physical editions of games from his childhood, expressing a desire for friends and colleagues in the industry to own copies of their work in tangible form. He noted that the topic has become particularly sensitive in recent months.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch with a disc option in 2027, but players on PS5 and Xbox Series X will still need to download a substantial portion of the game before playing it in full. Hamaguchi acknowledged that the included disc contains only the game's opening, and he understands why some fans have expressed frustration over the decision.

As the director, his responsibility is to ensure the game is fun and exciting, but he emphasized that the product line-up and SKU decisions are handled by the publishing team, limiting his authority in this regard.

Despite this, Hamaguchi argued for a physical version as much as possible, engaging in negotiations both internally and with first parties that resulted in the one-disc approach for the final product. He expressed his understanding that not everyone may agree with this direction but hoped that fans could appreciate his efforts to respect their preferences. Hamaguchi acknowledged the difficulty of the subject matter.

Although Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will be available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S starting April 8th, 2027, Hamaguchi still expects physical media to have a role in the future, citing the continued strength of PC digital sales. However, he hinted at a future where physical media may be reduced to little more than a code printed on paper inside the box.

Sony announced on July 1st that it will cease producing discs for PlayStation games, effective January 2028, with digital-only availability. Physical discs will still be sold at retail, without the accompanying physical media.