FF7 Remake & Rebirth: Square Enix Finally Bundles Up, But What's The Real Story, Mate?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Square Enix is finally releasing a physical double pack of *Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade* and *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth* for PS5 on December 4th at a surprisingly good price, prompting questions about why it took so long and what this means for the broader trilogy and upcoming Xbox/Switch 2 versions.
Alright, listen up, because I've been tinkering with this news all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. Square Enix, bless their cotton socks, has finally decided to do something that feels… well, sensible. They're releasing a physical double pack of *Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade* and *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth* for the PlayStation 5.
Now, you might be thinking, 'Jeff, why is this a big deal? Don't companies bundle games all the time?' And you'd be right, mate, in a perfect world. But this is Square Enix we're talking about, a company whose release strategies sometimes feel like they're rolling a d20 to decide which platform gets what, when, and how. So, the fact that we're finally getting the first two parts of this epic reimagining – the ones that have had us gripping our controllers and weeping openly – together in one shiny, physical package, is a pretty significant moment.
Let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way. This *Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Twin Pack Physical Edition* (try saying that five times fast after a few energy drinks) drops on December 4th. It's exclusively for PS5 initially, and it’ll set you back $59.99 / €69.99 / £59.99. You can pre-order it from the Square Enix store right now. And here's where my gently skeptical, but ultimately optimistic, digital wizard brain starts doing cartwheels: *Rebirth* alone is currently £69.99 on the PSN store. So, getting both for roughly the price of one? That, my friends, is what we in the biz call a 'bloody good deal.' It's like finding a rare ingredient for your spell that usually costs a fortune, but today, it's buy-one-get-one-free. Fair dinkum, that's decent value.
But what does this mean? Why now? Did someone finally trip over a forgotten memo in the Square Enix archives that said, 'Hey, maybe we should offer our loyal players a better deal?' Or perhaps, like a particularly complex summoning spell, the stars have finally aligned for this physical manifestation. It's curious, isn't it, that it took this long? *Remake* has been out for ages, and *Rebirth* launched earlier this year. The gaming world has been clamouring for a bundle like this, especially for physical collectors who want their shelf space looking pristine with the full saga.
And speaking of sagas, this double pack arrives just a little before *Final Fantasy VII Remake* (the first part, remember) makes its grand debut on Xbox and the 'Switch 2' – yes, that fabled machine – on January 22nd next year. *Rebirth* will follow on those platforms afterwards, though without a firm release date, which, if we’re honest, feels a bit like waiting for the second shoe to drop after a particularly dramatic villain monologue. It leaves us wondering, naturally, if an equivalent twin pack will grace those other consoles. My crystal ball is a bit foggy on that one, but my gut feeling (and Square Enix’s track record) suggests it might be a bit of a wait, if it happens at all at launch.
Now, here’s a neat little sprinkle of magic for the latecomers: the Xbox and Switch 2 versions of *Remake* are set to include 'Pixel Remaster-style boosts' to help with progression. Think quality-of-life improvements that make the grind a bit less… grindy. And in a rather magnanimous gesture (or perhaps a very clever retroactive fix), these boosts will also be added to the PS5 and PC versions. So, whether you're a veteran or just stepping into Midgar for the first time, everyone gets a little bit of extra polish. It's like the wizard realizing he forgot to add a 'quality of life' enchantment to his spell and quickly zapping it in afterwards.
This all feeds into the bigger picture, doesn't it? We know there's a third part of the *Remake* trilogy still on the horizon, destined to hit all platforms eventually. The burning question for collectors, of course, is: will we ever see a physical triple pack when the entire saga is complete? It seems highly probable, given the pattern. But if the wait for this twin pack is anything to go by, don't expect it to magically appear on launch day. It'll probably be a staggered release, designed to keep us on our toes, like a particularly mischievous imp leading us through a maze.
From a player's perspective, this twin pack is fantastic news for anyone who held off on picking up *Rebirth* (or even *Remake*) digitally or separately. It offers incredible value, especially for those who cherish physical media. It's a nod to the collectors, a gentle wink to those who prefer owning their games in tangible form, and perhaps a slight course correction from Square Enix in a world increasingly dominated by digital-only releases. It’s cautiously optimistic, then. A good deal, certainly, but it's hard not to wonder about the grand master plan behind these meticulously timed releases. Is it strategic genius, or just a really long game of 'find the missing game box' in the warehouse? Either way, for once, it feels like the players are getting a bit of a win. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go see if my pre-order spell actually worked.
Tags: Final Fantasy VII, Square Enix, PS5, Gaming News, Physical Games
Original article: Eurogamer