FF7 Revelation's One-Disc Compromise: Director Fought for Physical Media in Digital Shift

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will launch with a disc option next April, but it won't be a complete package. The physical release includes only a "key disc" with the game's opening; players must download the rest to experience the full title. Director Naoki Hamaguchi told Radio Times he personally prefers owning physical games and pushed internally and with platform holders to include any disc at all, even acknowledging fans' frustration with the "no disc, no purchase" stance.

Hamaguchi, however, separated creative authority from publishing decisions. "The product line-up, the SKUs, how it's going on sale—that is the responsibility of the publishing team," he explained. He used his influence to negotiate the compromise after discussions with Square Enix leadership and first-party partners. Sony's July announcement that PS5 disc production ends January 2028 underscores why: the industry is pivoting to digital-only distribution, though retail copies will still exist as code-in-box offerings.