Recently, leaked information surfaced that strongly suggested a playable demo version of the upcoming Square Enix title Final Fantasy VII Remake would be launching on the PlayStation Store before the game is released in March of this year. In addition to the PlayStation Store listing leak, link to the file server that hosts the demo of Final Fantasy VII Remake was posted to Twitter by one of its users, going by @raziel2001au. The file server also appeared to have the full version of the game, but Gamstat is reporting that the full game data has since been removed.
YouTube user Lystrasza was able to install and run the demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake and uploaded footage to their channel. The video above shows the game’s opening cinematic, which reportedly plays before the demo. The cinematic shows the game’s iconic and tragic flower girl Aeris in the heart of the sprawling, Mako-powered expanse of Midgar and is a faithful and beautiful enhanced version of the game’s original opening scene on the PlayStation One. This leaked content seems to be the same as the playable demo that was available for guests and attendees at 2019’s E3 event.
Gematsu also discovered on January 1st uploads to YouTube that showcase long segments of gameplay from the Final Fantasy VII Remake demo. Gematsu provided links to a “Part 1” and a “Part 3,” but at the time of writing did not have any information on the missing “Part 2.” Each video is about fifteen minutes long and can be viewed below.
The demo footage shows the AVALANCHE members from Final Fantasy VII‘s opening mission sequence and follows ex-SOLDIER Cloud Strife on his first mercenary mission with the terrorist resistance group led by the imposing Barrett. The Remake expands on each of the minor characters that take part in this first mission, and the game as a whole aims to add new levels of detail and depth to the world of Midgar in its first episodic installment.
At The Game Awards for 2019, Square Enix shared new trailer that focuses on the famously aloof personality of Final Fantasy VII‘s protagonist Cloud Strife as a way for players new to the story to get acquainted with the hero before the game releases. Final Fantasy VII Remake will feature an updated, contemporary approach to combat but also offer a “Classic Mode” that will more closely resemble the Active Time Battle system from the original.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first episode of a multi-part series and is a PlayStation 4 timed exclusive set to release on March 3, 2020.