Last night, Square Enix released the latest version of the beloved 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII. Unfortunately, it’s not off to a great start. On Steam, it currently holds an “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating, with only 36% of the 308 reviews giving it a thumbs up. In comparison, the older “2013 Edition” boasts a whopping 92% positive score. To make matters worse, Square Enix has removed the 2013 version from the platform.
Players are not holding back in their reviews. They’ve reported various issues like choppy sound effects, a confusing launcher that messes up inputs in fullscreen mode, and glitchy resolution settings that don’t actually work. One of the biggest gripes is the lack of visual filters. Many users describe the graphics as “blurry,” while the previous edition had options for clearer visuals.
One particularly amusing problem was that the original game data on Steam was completely missing—0 kilobytes of content! Imagine a company that had years to prepare releasing a version without actually uploading the game!
As one Steam user put it, “You had 13 years! Just to add a few features and clean up the graphics.” Another warned, “This version is a disaster—avoid it at all costs.”
On a brighter note, some issues have been addressed. The frame rate for Final Fantasy VII has doubled from 15 FPS to 30 FPS on the new version. However, this has led to an unintended consequence: much of the animation and scenes now play at double speed. While it’s nice to see quick fixes, it raises concerns about the overall quality of the release.
This situation mirrors past video game launches where anticipation met unexpected chaos. For example, the launch of the infamous No Man’s Sky in 2016 was marked by similar dissatisfaction from fans eager for the promised features. The industry often learns that rushing a release can lead to major long-term repercussions.
As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how Square Enix will respond to this wave of negativity. Fan engagement on social media suggests that many are hopeful for quick fixes—yet the goodwill from the 2013 version has been severely tested. How do gamers feel about remakes and re-releases now? The expectations are high, and in the world of tech, nothing less than excellence is tolerated.
For more details on the situation, check out recent discussions on gaming forums and platforms like IGN and other news outlets that have covered the fallout.
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