Final Fantasy 7 Remake was pushed the limits of what the PS4 was capable of while still managing to perform excellently the whole time. To top it all off, the time-tested story and characters of the original were brought to life in a modern way, carrying with them the same staying power they had in 2010 when Final Fantasy 7 first released. While most fans are looking forward to the eventual release of the second part of the remake, a recent rumor has redirected attention back to the first part, as it may be releasing on PC and PS5.
When it was first announced, it seemed pretty clear that Final Fantasy 7 Remake would be a PS4 exclusive. Even so, it makes sense that further installments of the remake would release on PS5 instead, and if that were the case, it would be in Square Enix's best interest to port the first part to that console as well. The validity of these rumors isn't the main focus here, though, but rather what kinds of changes could be made on PS5 to make the game even better than its already critically acclaimed PS4 version.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake on PC and PS5 Rumor
The rumor comes from industry insider KatharsisT, who claims that the ports to both PC and PS5 will be announced later this year. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake was always known to be a timed PS4 exclusive, so it's no surprise that it would be coming to other platforms like PC. In terms of timed exclusivity agreements, these deals tend to last around a year, so it would make sense if players started hearing more about ports in April of 2021, a year after the game's initial release.
KatharsisT didn't mention anything about potential Xbox Series X or Nintendo Switch ports of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so it seems like it will still be primarily in Sony's court for now. PC will no doubt be impressive, but the PS5's hardware and DualSense features bode well for this version too. All of these things would help to further bring Midgar to life in a game that already does that surprisingly well. If the rumors about a PS5 port are true, fans have a lot to look forward to.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake - Faster Load Times
One of the biggest praises being heaped upon the PS5 is its incredibly fast load times. Thanks to the power of its SSD, it's able to load games 100x faster than the PS4 according to Sony. Though this impressive claim may not have been met to the fullest extent, fans have definitely noticed a difference in games designed for the console. A great example of this is Demon's Souls, in which fans will hardly find a single load screen anywhere in the game aside from the very beginning when they first turn it on.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake didn't have excessively long load times by any means, but that just means that the PS5 should almost be able to cut them out entirely. Players will be able to move between sectors, load cutscenes, enter their inventory, and more in the blink of an eye. Aside from cutting down on the time wasted waiting for loading screens, this will also help keep players immersed and maintain the flow of gameplay, so players can stay in the action for even longer.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake - PS5 Graphics, Resolution, and Framerate
The other obvious change that would come from a PS5 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is improved graphics, as the PS5 is far more capable than its predecessor in this department as well. On the PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy 7 Remake looks absolutely gorgeous, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Not only would the PS5 be able to include a higher density of objects on the screen at once, but it would also be able to render it all in 4K resolution as opposed to the 1080p that the PS4 is capped at (1620p for PS4 Pro).
Finally, fans shouldn't forget about the increased framerate that would come along with all of this. Like most PS4 games, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is capped at 30 FPS in order to ensure the console runs well. The PS5 doesn't have this issue, allowing games to run at twice the framerate at 60 FPS, creating a smoother and more enjoyable experience all around. This combination of 4K resolution and 60 FPS is enough for most gamers to jump on the opportunity to play Final Fantasy 7 Remake on the new console, and the benefits don't even stop here.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake - DualSense Controller Features and PS4 Upgrade
Though it may seem gimmicky to some, those that have played with the DualSense controller can attest to how much it affects the experience. Thanks to clever use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, even small actions tend to draw the player in and make them feel as though they're part of the game world. With how detailed Midgar is in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the haptic feedback in particular could create unique sensations for various scenes in the game like the motorcycle race and standard combat.
Finally, if Square Enix were to release this port, it seems highly likely that it would come with a free upgrade for those that already own the PS4 version. Being able to gain all the benefits listed above for free would make them taste even sweeter, and it would help fledgling PS5 owners to add one more game to their library. Aside from all this, it would also work as a great way for Square Enix to promote an announcement of Final Fantasy Remake Part 2, as fans are eagerly awaiting any news on that and it would certainly convince many to replay the game again.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now on PS4.