Hamaguchi explained that the game’s size is a deliberate choice to maximise quality on current hardware. He noted that the public demo at TGS offers a more focused look at the story compared to the media build, which was designed to showcase the sheer volume of content. The director also discussed the benefits of digital distribution, mentioning that patches can be applied right up to launch day to fix issues that might be missed during the lengthy disc certification process.

Regarding the DLC, Hamaguchi likened the upcoming Vincent and Sephiroth stories to the Intermission expansion for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. He emphasised that these additions will deepen character lore rather than serve as prequels that could spoil the main narrative. The game is set to launch on April 8, 2027, across PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

Hamaguchi addressed the decision to require downloads on physical discs by noting that discs are becoming less relevant. He argued that the flexibility of digital updates allows the team to optimise the game right up to release, a luxury not available with a full disc release three months prior.