Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Achieves Excellent Steam Launch, Tops Best-Selling Games for Week Ending January 25

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Shines on Steam

The success of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth on Steam is hardly unexpected. As a cherished installment of the Final Fantasy franchise, which has captivated gamers worldwide, Final Fantasy VII holds a special place in the hearts of many. Originally a PlayStation exclusive, its transition to Steam has generated significant excitement among fans eager to experience the latest chapter of this beloved saga.

Understanding the Series Evolution

To date, three titles have emerged from the Final Fantasy VII remake series. Notably, the Crisis Core remake is viewed as a spin-off rather than a direct continuation of the main storyline. While these titles offer expanded narratives and innovations, they diverge from the original tale, introducing new elements while omitting certain aspects that long-time fans cherished. This creative shift has sparked mixed feelings among some players, who anticipated a more faithful adaptation that would retain the essence of the original while enhancing graphics and gameplay mechanics.

Sales Performance Highlights

Despite divergent opinions about the narrative direction, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth claimed the title of the best-selling game for the week ending January 25 in the United States, according to sales data that includes both physical and tracked digital units. Additionally, the Final Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth Twin Pack secured the third position in sales, confirming its robust market performance. This data was shared by Mat Piscatella on Bluesky.

Square Enix’s Strategic Shift

This positive reception is an encouraging sign for Square Enix, reinforcing their decision to transition away from exclusive game releases. The company has recognized that limiting titles to certain consoles significantly hampers potential revenue and player engagement. Following the launches of both Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Final Fantasy XVI, Square Enix has committed to broadening their release strategies to encompass multiple platforms.

Future Console Availability

Although these titles are currently accessible on both PC and PlayStation 5, fans owning Nintendo Switch or Xbox consoles are left awaiting news of potential releases on those platforms. While an Xbox release seems plausible, the feasibility of porting the titles to the Nintendo Switch appears more uncertain given its hardware limitations. Nonetheless, the possibility is still open, leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of Square Enix.

Steam Performance Insights

Insights from Piscatella also underline that Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth surpassed initial sales expectations, despite concerns regarding concurrent user counts (CCUs) on Steam, which peaked around 40, 000 at launch. Although the peak numbers declined, they remained consistently above 20, 000, hitting a 24-hour peak of 31, 000 users, demonstrating a solid player base and ongoing engagement.

Source & Images