Nearly 15 years have passed since SquareEnix began teasing fans with a Final Fantasy VII Remake. While the game’s release is less than 90 days away, fans are eager to dive into the new gameplay mechanics and story. They may just have a chance to try out the new systems early thanks to a leak from Gamstat.

The Leak

Gamstat is a website that tracks upcoming games on the PlayStation store prior to their release date. On Christmas Eve 2019, the site published the following icon on its homepage:

Sony has since deleted the image, but the hype remains at an all-time high. Given the plethora of character and gameplay trailers, it is only natural that fans would want a demo. But demo releases and SquareEnix are like oil and water. In fact, the industry was shocked when SquareEnix released a gameplay demo for a Final Fantasy XV back in 2016.

Analysis

The Final Fantasy XV demo was one of the few Final Fantasy game demos. Released about six months prior to launch, the FFXV demo was a standalone event that expounded upon the backstory of the main protagonist Noctis. If the rumors of a Final Fantasy VII Remake demo are true, it will be interesting to see what direction SquareEnix will take. For example, will the company produce a standalone experience as with Final Fantasy XV? Or will the demo simply showcase the updated battle system?

Given that the entirety of the first FFVII Remake takes place in Midgar and the game releases in early March 2020, the chances of a demo are slim. The Midgar section encompasses about 20 percent of the overall FFVII story; therefore, SquareEnix likely wants to keep the story under wraps. At GamingROI, we believe a demo that showcases the new battle system is possible; however, a FFXV demo clone is unlikely. Unless SquareEnix plans on expounding on Cloud’s childhood, the focus should be on the new action-RPG mechanics that differ from the base game.

Conclusion

While a potential demo is likely to show off new combat elements, SquareEnix will likely not reveal anything about the base game prior to release.

But we want to know what you think. Are you excited about the possibility of a Final Fantasy VII Remake demo? Do you think the demo will be a standalone experience or part of the base game? Let us know in the comments below or the social media links on the right. Be sure to check out our other news items on Pokemon, Modern Warfare, Capcom, Blizzard and more. Until next time, enjoy!