Is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Underperforming in Sales?

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the highly anticipated second installment in Square Enix's reimagined Final Fantasy 7 saga, has been generating a lot of buzz in the gaming world. 

With its stellar reviews and overwhelmingly positive praise from critics and fans alike, many industry analysts expected the game to be a strong contender for Game of the Year (GOTY) come the end of 2024.

However, according to renowned industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, citing equities research reports and data trackers, Rebirth appears to be "underperforming" in terms of sales when compared to its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. 

In Ahmad's own words: 

"Not to be that guy, but Rebirth is underperforming sales-wise...It's selling about half of what Remake sold in the same timeframe."

Also, not to be that guy, but Rebirth is underperforming sales wise (not that sales performance is related to what that guy said lol)

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) April 11, 2024

What Factors Could Be Contributing to Rebirth's Alleged Underperformance?

1) One potential factor is the timing of the original Remake's release. 

Final Fantasy 7 Remake was launched in the spring of 2020, right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when gaming sales and playtime were surging due to the lockdowns and social distancing measures in place. 

This could have provided a significant sales boost that Rebirth may not be able to replicate.

2) Another factor could be the nature of Rebirth as the second part of a direct narrative continuation, rather than a standalone numbered sequel. 

This may make it harder for new players to jump in without first experiencing the lengthy Remake, potentially limiting the game's accessibility and appeal to a broader audience.

3) One hotly debated topic is Square Enix's decision to release Rebirth exclusively on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) platform.  

Unlike the original Remake, which is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC, Rebirth has only been released on the PlayStation 5 so far. 

This severely limits the game's potential reach, as the total number of PS5 consoles in the market is still relatively small compared to the broader gaming audience.

The Metacritic Scores Tell a Different Story

Despite the alleged sales struggles, the critical and fan reception for Rebirth has been overwhelmingly positive. 

The game currently boasts a Metacritic score of 92, with critics labeling it a "must-play" title. 

This is an even higher score than the already well-received Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which scored an 87 on Metacritic and an 8.1 user score.

Fans have also expressed their enthusiasm for Rebirth, with the game earning a stellar 9.0 user score on Metacritic.

This suggests that the quality of the game is not the issue and that the potential underperformance may be due to other factors that we mentioned earlier.

Square Enix's Struggle to Maintain the Iconic Final Fantasy Franchise's Reach

The apparent sales underperformance of Rebirth is not the first time the Final Fantasy franchise has faced such challenges. 

In 2023, there were reports that the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 16 was also "underperforming" in sales, though the veracity of those claims was never fully established.

These reports suggest that Square Enix, the developer and publisher of the Final Fantasy series, may be struggling to maintain the iconic franchise's reach and popularity in the modern gaming landscape. 

With the Remake series being a major focus for the company, the apparent sales struggles of both Remake and Rebirth could be a cause for concern.

What's Next for the Final Fantasy 7 Saga?

As the Final Fantasy 7 saga continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Square Enix to see how the company addresses the potential sales challenges facing Rebirth. 

With a third installment in the works of the FF7 Trilogy (rumor: by 2027), the publisher will need to carefully consider its strategy to ensure the continued success and longevity of this beloved franchise.