A beloved PS4/PS5 game is losing its console exclusive status in 2026, and that's for the best

PlayStation has built its reputation on the back of must-play exclusives, but now one of the console's best and brightest is jumping ship to other platforms. in fact, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final fantasy 7 rebirth In January 2026 the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox series of consoles are going, which can be read as Sony losing its vice-grip on its most popular IP. But, reality Final Fantasy 7Its evolution is more complicated than that.

Despite being one of the best-reviewed games of 2024, Final fantasy 7 rebirth According to Square Enix's financial results briefing in September 2024, sales failed to meet expectations. It's unclear exactly what expectations the company had before the game's release, but many speculate that they were very high. During the same financial briefing, Squire said Final Fantasy 16A timed PlayStation exclusive, even a low performance. Both of these statements followed the May 2024 announcement that Square Enix would “aggressively pursue” a multi-platform release strategy, indicating a clear desire to put some distance between it and Sony for the foreseeable future. This is all well and good for the company's profit margin and overall revenue, but what does it mean for the people who actually play these games?

spokeAnother Square Enix PlayStation exclusive, released in 2023, has also reportedly underperformed.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth deserves to be big

Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final fantasy 7 rebirth Switch 2 and Xbox Release Date: January 22, 2026

Maybe Square Enix had too high expectations Final fantasy 7 rebirthbut that wouldn't be entirely unfair given the scope of the game. You can feel the money pouring into it as you play: FF7 Reborn State-of-the-art graphics, a ridiculously huge open world, significant gameplay variety with mini-games and the like, and some of the best setpieces the JRPG genre has ever seen.

For better or worse, publishers (especially goliaths like Square Enix) expect a significant return on investment. FF7 Reborn and FF7 remake. More than this, bringing Final fantasy 7 rebirth and Remake Increases the reach and visibility of more IP on other platforms, helping to gather a wider player base. This isn't just good for Square Enix; It is also good for consumers.

Better FF7 remake and Rebirth sales will mean more Final Fantasy remakes

While it is somewhat controversial – old-school fans have criticized it for being adulterated or dumbed down in the original game, for example – Final Fantasy 7 The remake saga is undeniably popular overall. The games may be a bit over-evolved at points, but they're entertaining, impressive, and mechanically sound reimaginings. FF7 Story, tailored to modern audiences. And for those who don't like remakes, the original Final Fantasy 7 It's still there, untouched and in all its late 90s glory.

The point is this: final fantasyThe remake has value, not only as a nostalgia-baiting throwback, but as a contemporary action-RPG, standing up against its modern competitors. The possibilities can be easily imagined Final Fantasy 8 The remake, at least; Even relatively new final fantasy Games, like Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy 12Can be recreated with modern visuals, combat, side content, and quality-of-life features.

But as promising as these fictional remakes may be from an artistic and entertainment standpoint, they won't come to fruition unless Square Enix finds such ventures profitable enough. With that in mind, bringing Final Fantasy 7 Remake and reincarnation The Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox series platforms may be necessary prerequisites for development and funding. Put another way, if the audience wants more final fantasy Remakes, they also want current remakes to generate more revenue. For this to happen, a multi-platform release strategy is wise.

Are there any downsides to bringing FF7 Remake and Rebirth to Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S?

Console exclusivity is often a strange thing: “losing” exclusives can be viewed as detrimental by some players, who may feel that such a loss undermines their investment in a given console. This is a fair, if not necessary, stance, and there are other arguments that can be made against it. Final Fantasy 7The remake is also going cross-platform. For example:

Development Support: Sony is known for offering support for PlayStation exclusives developed by Square Enix Studios. This may decrease or stop altogether if the companies become more isolated.
Competition: There's also the concern that, without big console exclusives, there's less reason for multiple platforms to exist, which could lead to certain companies moving away from consoles down the road and less competition in the gaming space – which would lead to less motivation to make great games.
Performance: While more powerful than its predecessors, the Switch 2 still lags behind the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on the hardware front. This may compromise scope, scale or visuals in the future final fantasy projects.

These disadvantages are worth considering, but the advantages they bring are few Final Fantasy 7 Remake Saga on other consoles. Apart from the fact that more sales and visibility will make the future final fantasy Likely remakes, cross-platform releases are consumer-friendly, ensuring that all gamers can enjoy these modern titles, wherever they choose to play.