FF7 Revelation Director Fought for Physical Disc, But It's Only a Key Disc

Ever bought a physical game just to find out the disc is basically a fancy key? That's exactly what's happening with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. The third and final entry in Square Enix's remake trilogy launches on April 8, and yes, there will be a disc version. But here's the catch: unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which came on two discs, Revelation is a single disc that only contains the opening parts of the game. You'll need an internet connection to download and play the rest.

Naturally, that's got everyone asking: what even counts as physical media anymore? Director Naoki Hamaguchi wants you to know he really stuck his neck out to get the game on disc at all. Speaking to Radio Times, he said he has fond memories of collecting physical games as a kid and still buys discs when he's "particularly attached to a title." But he also sees "a world in the not-too-distant future where physical media is essentially disc-less," adding that "you would have a copy of the code on a piece of paper inside the physical box or something like that." Sound familiar? Switch 2 game-key cards and some special editions already do this.

Hamaguchi made it clear he "really like[s] and appreciate[s] physical media," and he's aware of the 'no disc, no purchase' movement on social media. "For Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, we've been able to preserve a physical edition," he said. "You can't play the entire game on that disc, but it's got the opening – a sort of key disc – and then after that, it will ask you to download the rest." So it's a physical release, but not the kind collectors were hoping for.

The director also acknowledged that fans aren't thrilled. "I've got people saying to me on social media, 'Give us a full disc version!'" he said. But his hands are tied. "As the director, it's my responsibility to look after the content of the game to make sure it's fun, really exciting," he explained. "The product line-up, the SKUs, how it's going on sale; that is the responsibility of the publishing team. So, my authority there is somewhat limited."

This whole situation is happening against a bigger backdrop: PlayStation has decided to stop producing physical games in 2028, and developers are gradually moving toward digital-only releases despite pushback from collectors and preservationists. Hamaguchi says he "did [his] best" convincing Square Enix to give Revelation a physical release. "In this day and age, there's a lot of pressure for disc-less editions, digital editions, and I used my position to put forth an argument for the physical version as much as possible," he said. "All of the negotiations, both internally and with first parties, have led us to where we are now, and of course, I completely understand there are those out there who may not really agree with that direction."

It's a bittersweet win for physical media fans. You get a box and a disc, but it's not the complete game. And with the industry inching toward an all-digital future, moments like this might become the norm rather than the exception. Hamaguchi's effort is commendable, but it also highlights how little control even a director has over these decisions.

So, what do you think? Is a key disc better than no disc at all, or does it defeat the purpose of physical media? Will you be picking up Final Fantasy 7 Revelation on April 8?