Examining the Starting Level and Save File Concerns of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Devs

Highlights

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will continue the story of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and won't require players to import a save file from the previous game.

The characters in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will begin at the same level as the players had them when they left Midgar in the first game. Although players with a Final Fantasy 7 Remake save file will receive a bonus, their experience and progress will not directly transfer to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the continuation of 2020's Final Fantasy 7 Remake, will address whether players can import their save files or if they need to start from level 1. This highly-anticipated reimagining of Final Fantasy 7 exceeded expectations by expanding on the original story of Cloud Strife and his allies, adding new content and unexpected plot twists.

The scope of Final Fantasy 7 Remake was so vast that it couldn't be contained in a single game. The first installment of this trilogy focused on Cloud and his comrades' early adventures in the dystopian city of Midgar, covering only the beginning section of the original game. Next year's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will continue the story, following Cloud and his friends as they search for the renegade SOLDIER Sephiroth beyond the borders of Midgar. It is rumored to culminate in a climactic encounter with the villain in the Forgotten Capital.

Fans of Final Fantasy 7 have been curious about the possibility of importing a completed save file from Final Fantasy 7 Remake into the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The creative director, Tetsuya Nomura, director Naoki Yamaguchi, and producer Yoshinori Kitase, in an interview with ThisIsGame Thailand, clarified that this will not be possible. They explained that they want each entry in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series to be a standalone experience, accessible to anyone, without requiring prior knowledge or playthrough of the previous games.

However, it should be noted that players who have already completed Final Fantasy 7 Remake will not have to start the new game from scratch. The developers revealed that the playable characters, including Cloud, will begin their next chapter at the average level the players had them at when they finished the first game in Midgar. For reference, the maximum level in Final Fantasy 7 Remake was 50, and recent screenshots from the game showed the characters at around level 21.

Tetsuya Nomura and the other developers of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have assured fans that there will be a bonus for players who have an old Final Fantasy 7 Remake save file, although they haven't specified what it will be. It could possibly be an additional summon or a piece of equipment that can be used by Cloud or another party member right from the beginning of the game. What is known at this point is that the progress made in Remake will not directly transfer to Rebirth, but Cloud and his companions will not be starting completely from scratch either.

The release date for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PS5 is set for February 29, 2024.

Source: The Gamer, ThisIsGame Thailand