- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been well-received, but the game might not have performed too well.
- Square Enix’s silence regarding the sales figures hints at a lower-than-expected performance.
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also experienced a 22% decrease in physical units sold in Japan compared to Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, launched almost two weeks ago, has received positive reviews from critics and fans worldwide. However, early indicators suggest it may have performed worse than expected.
Nearly two weeks later, Square Enix has yet to announce sales figures, hinting that the game sold less than Final Fantasy 16 in the same time frame.
Why it matters: Gaming giants are typically quick to confirm sales figures whenever a game ends up being a major success. For example, PlayStation announced Spider-Man 2’s 24-hour sales within three days.
Final Fantasy 16 garnered praise for its successful launch, with Square Enix revealing sales figures within a week after release. However, there have been no sales figures for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth almost two weeks after release.
Final Fantasy 16 sold 3 million copies in its first six days, with sales figures disclosed promptly. Final Fantasy 7 Remake sold the same number of copies within three days, but that was mainly due to the number of PS4 owners in 2020.
On the other hand, Square Enix and PlayStation are being suspiciously tight-lipped about the latest release. While official figures remain a mystery, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s physical launch sales in Japan, as reported by Famitsu, marked a 22% decline compared to Final Fantasy 16.
Though it can be argued that physical sales are not indicative of much, both games have launched less than a full year apart, making the comparison more relevant than usual.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth could be doing worse than last year’s mainline entry due to its status as a re-release. Final Fantasy 16 was a fresh release for the IP, but the same cannot be said for 2023’s launch.
Additionally, the 2023 launch serves as a sequel to 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Therefore, players who have yet to play the first title might have been hesitant to try this entry without prior knowledge.
Both games went through an extensive marketing cycle, with PlayStation providing ample support. Therefore, with the gap in critical reception, it is odd to see Final Fantasy 16 as the better-selling game.
Perhaps exclusivity has become more of a problem for Square Enix’s latest blockbuster. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy 16 will be coming to PC soon, with the publisher also planning a demo.
Whatever the case may be, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is still one of 2024’s highest-rated games. It has become the second highest-rated game of the IP, quickly establishing itself as a massive critical success.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
