Naoki Hamaguchi has heard the complaints. The director of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation knows some of you are furious about the physical release. Does he care? Hamaguchi told Radio Times he personally fought for a disc version of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation even as Square Enix pushed toward digital. The game ships April 8, 2027, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. What’s actually on that disc is where things get weird.
A Key Disc That Opens Nothing
The physical edition of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation includes one disc. It contains the opening portion of the game. The rest requires an internet download. A Square Enix disclaimer states an internet connection is required to download additional game data in order to play the physical version. The Switch 2 version uses a Game-Key Card, which contains no game data at all.
The Director Says He Tried
Hamaguchi confirmed at Tokyo Game Show 2026 that the game runs roughly 200GB. A single Ultra HD Blu-ray holds about 100GB. Previous entries in the trilogy shipped on two discs. The math isn’t complicated. Something had to give. “I used my position to put forth an argument for the physical version as much as possible,” Hamaguchi said.
He described negotiations with internal teams and platform holders. “I completely understand there are those out there who may not really agree with that direction or approve of that direction. But I would just say that I hope you understand that I completely see where you’re coming from, and that I did my best.” He also laughed and called it “a very tricky subject.”
Where His Authority Ends
The question of why Final Fantasy 7 Revelation couldn’t ship on two or three discs has a boring answer. Hamaguchi doesn’t decide that. “The product line-up, the SKUs, how it’s going on sale; that is the responsibility of the publishing team,” he said. “So, my authority there is somewhat limited.” Social media reaction has been brutal. Community notes attached to Hamaguchi’s explanations point out that PlayStation supports multi-disc releases.
The original Final Fantasy 7 shipped on three discs in 1997. Rebirth used two. The claim that quality would suffer from a two-disc release doesn’t hold up for many fans. Some have pointed out the real difference: Revelation launches on all platforms simultaneously, and Switch 2 cartridges cost more to produce in larger quantities.
The Disc-less Future Is Already Here
Hamaguchi told Radio Times he sees a world coming where physical media is essentially disc-less. “You would have a copy of the code on a piece of paper inside the physical box or something like that.” Sony has announced it will stop manufacturing discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028. Final Fantasy 7 Revelation arrives about nine months before that cutoff.
For now, the game exists in an awkward middle ground. It’s physical, but it isn’t. You can hold the box. You can put the disc on a shelf. You just can’t play it without the internet. Hamaguchi said he did his best. The fans heard him. They just aren’t buying it. Or maybe they are. The disc is there. The download is waiting.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation and the Last Disc Standing
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation arrives April 8, 2027, on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Switch 2, and PC. The physical edition ships on one disc. That disc contains the opening of the game. Everything else requires a download. The Switch 2 version is a Game-Key Card with no game data at all. Sony will stop manufacturing discs for new PlayStation games in January 2028.
That leaves roughly nine months between Revelation’s launch and the end of an era. After that, the industry’s physical future looks like code cards and empty boxes. Hamaguchi said he believes physical media will survive in some form, but he expects it to be disc-less. The last chapter of Final Fantasy 7 will be the last big disc most of us ever buy.
Where to Check Out All Things Entertainment, Gaming, and Current Affairs
Social Media from David Gilbert
My Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
