The Surprise Collaboration
After a short teaser during The Game Awards, Apex Legends has finally revealed all the details for its surprising collaboration with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The announcement, which took most people by surprise, could possibly be a way for some Final Fantasy fans to potentially check out the free-to-play shooter while giving fans of both franchises something to tide them over before one of 2024's most anticipated video games finally launches at the end of February.
apex legends buster sword
The upcoming Apex Legends collaboration announcement arrived during The Game Awards 2023, teasing fans following the latest trailer and live performance for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Opening with a shot of Cloud's buster sword, only for Apex Legends characters Wraith, Horizon, and Crypto to appear and teasing brand-new content.
At that time, no other details were given outside of a start date on January 9, but thanks to a new trailer and accompanying Respawn blog post, fans now have all the details on new game modes, cosmetics, rewards, and more.
The Final Fantasy 7 Takeover Mode
At the center of this new crossover event is the Final Fantasy 7 Takeover mode, which replaces the unranked battle royale from January 9th to the 30th. Fans can wield the new Buster Sword R2R5 weapon, which opens up new light and heavy attacks, can reduce damage by blocking, adds a dash to close the gap against enemy players, and gives players access to a limit break special move once a meter is filled.
In addition, Materia Hop-Ups can be acquired, each with its own effects and bonuses based upon the Materia effects from past games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Players can obtain the Buster Sword from Care Packages, while materia can be found in Cactuar Ticks.
Materia Hop-Ups include Blue Materia (Absorb HP), Green Materia (Lightning), Purple Materia (Crit Rate Up), Red Materia (Summon), and Yellow Materia (Assess), each providing unique abilities and advantages in the game.
Cosmetics and Rewards
During this event, Apex Legends will have plenty of cosmetics for players to chase. Similar to previous Apex Legends collection events, the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth crossover contains 36 items that can be unlocked through packs and include things like stickers, iconic legends skins, and the Buster Sword R5 Melee Cosmetic which is universal and can be equipped in place of an heirloom or fists.
Players can unlock an event currency called Gil, a reference to the Final Fantasy 7 currency, after completing various challenges and playing the new mode. The Reward Shop is the place where Gil can be spent, with a rotating inventory each week, or players can opt to purchase battle stars to continue progressing their seasonal battle pass. There are new challenges to complete each day, giving Apex Legends players ample opportunities to earn more.
For those who want a more direct way to pick up unique Final Fantasy 7 gear, Respawn is bringing all 6 Iconic Legend Cosmetic skins to the store starting on January 9 and going until February 6. Wraith's outfit called 7th Heaven Skirmisher is based on Tifa, Crypto gets a Cloud-style skin, Horizon's 'Flower Girl' outfit is supposed to be Aerith, Valkyrie and Wattson have outfits inspired by Yuffie, and finally, Newcastle becomes a Barrett look-a-like.