Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says he ‘tried his best’ to fight for full-disc release

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi responded to fans requesting a full disc version of the game, saying he “tried his best” to promote physical media as the industry moves toward an all-digital future.

Speaking to Radio Times, spotted by IGN, Hamaguchi explained his own attachment to physical media, from buying games as a child to wanting his friends and industry colleagues to sign copies of their work.

“Personally, obviously, I bought a lot of physical editions of games when I was a kid. Sometimes I buy digital editions of games, but if I’m particularly attached to a title, I want to get the physical version,” he said, adding that the subject had become “particularly sensitive” in recent months.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will come with a disc option when it launches in 2027, but PS5 and Xbox Series X players who install a physical copy will still need to download a large portion of the game to play it in its entirety.

Hamaguchi acknowledged that the included disc is a “key disc” containing only the game’s opening, and that he understands why some fans have said “no disc, no purchase.”

“As a director, it’s my responsibility to look after the content of the game to make sure it’s fun and really exciting,” he said. “The product line, the SKUs, how they’re released for sale – that’s the responsibility of the publishing team. So my authority there is somewhat limited.”

Despite this, Hamaguchi said he used his position to advocate for a physical release “as much as possible”, leading to negotiations “both internally and with first parties” that resulted in the single-disc approach that would ultimately ship with the game.

“I completely understand that some people don’t really agree with this direction,” he said. “But I would just like to say that I hope you understand that I totally see where you’re coming from and I’ve done my best. It’s a very delicate subject.”

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series inside the box.

Sony announced on July 1 that it would cease production of discs for PlayStation games starting in January 2028. After this date, PlayStation games will only be available digitally. Notably, PlayStation games will continue to be sold at retail, but without a physical disc.

While Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was “difficult” to get Platinum by design, the Revelation sequel’s Platinum trophy will be “easier to get.”