Final Fantasy 7 Remake Will Ship Intentionally Early In Some Regions

Final Fantasy 7 Remake shipping problems were nipped in the bud preemptively by Square Enix, which announces some fans will get it early as a result.

Square Enix reported good news regarding Final Fantasy 7 Remake shipping, announcing that some fans who preordered the title will be getting it earlier than its launch day – a measure that will also ensure the majority of consumers who are expecting a physical copy of the title will receive it by the FF7R release date. Previously, fans had been concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic would, understandably, affect shipping times for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and render those who purchased physical copies – most notably special editions – unable to play when they were intended to.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is one of the year’s biggest releases, and judging from the incredible success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in terms of both sales and critical reception, it’s clear that the audience for gaming has never been more dialed in on exploring quality titles. With so many consumers stuck at home for the foreseeable future, video games are becoming a popular method of escape and distraction, with the World Health Organization going so far as to recommend them to those who are looking for hobbies in the wake of social distancing being implemented by the vast majority of the world.

Luckily for those who ordered a physical copy of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and intend to take WHO’s advice, Square Enix got ahead of a potential problem regarding shipping and is confident it will meet its target date. The company shared an update on the official Final Fantasy 7 Remake Twitter account stating that it had faced “hard decisions” regarding FF7R shipping but ultimately decided it would ship the game much earlier to Europe and Australia to circumvent potential launch day problems. In the message, signed by producer Yoshihori Kitase and director Tetsuya Nomura, the developers also plead with fans getting early copies to not spoil the game for the rest of its wide demographic.

The update also stresses that Square can’t guarantee Final Fantasy 7 Remake shipping for every country and every retailer will be on target for launch date, too. Still, it’s the best the company could likely do with the information it has and the state of shipping across the world right now.

Previously, fans had suggested that Square Enix simply give out digital codes with every physical copy, but the negative impacts – a weird resale market, for one, and something that would likely severely affect the game’s bottom line – were never going to allow that to happen. As far as unconventional responses go, however, Square arrived at one that will both protect the game’s release date as best as possible for fans who want to play it right away while also adding a bonus for some, who will receive Final Fantasy 7 Remake early. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s one worth applauding Square Enix over, as the company clearly put Final Fantasy fans first with this decision.