The second part of the Final Fantasy VII: Remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is almost here – but Sony’s announcement that the PS5 is “entering the latter stage of its life” has fans anxious. Many are wondering if the third installment will be released on yet another console.

Sony has recently commented on the drop in PS5 sales stating that the gaming console is entering its later half of its life span, making those who have recently gotten their hands on one more than a bit frustrated. Sony has also stated that they “do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles next fiscal year.” While no news of a PlayStation 6 has been made, PlayStation gamers are wondering if there will be talks of a PS6 within the next few years. Final Fantasy VII fans are now starting to guess what this means for the game’s future.

Related: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth & Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Crossover – When & How To Participate

Fans Express Worry Over Possible PS6 Announcement

When the first part of the trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake, was released it came at the end of the PS4’s life span and just a few months before the release of the PS5. This left many frustrated as fans were forced to buy the new console if they wanted to play the DLC that was soon to follow. Combined with the fact that finding a PS5 to purchase at the time was equivalent to finding the Golden Ticket to Wanka’s Chocolate Factory, gamers were upset and frustrated. At least the PS4 players could get a free PS5 digital upgrade of the game if they could get a hold of a PS5.

Players are now speculating that history will repeat itself, the a possible PS6 launch requiring players to shill out more cash to finish the new FFVII storyline. Mike_Wahlberg on Reddit shares the same sentiment with most players with them hoping “they will do what they did with Remake having a PS4 and 5 versions and just release it on PS5 and PS6 with a free digital upgrade eventually for the PS5 disc owners.”

Additionally, players such as Reddit user air_flair have expressed buying “a PS4 for Remake and a PS5 for Rebirth.” The bottom line is that no one really wants to buy a new console for the last game of the trilogy or have to fight scalpers to get a hold of a console to play the last game – especially if they were just barely able to get a PS5. For now, FFVII fans are bracing themselves and are hoping for the best outcome.

February is a huge month for both Square Enix and Final Fantasy fans alike with the release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth just around the corner. Square Enix is having a sale on Steam just in time for the FFVII Rebirth release and the Lunar New Year.

Final Fantasy is a franchise that has captured the hearts of many since 1987. Over the years the games have become available on multiple platforms and have finally made their way to PC where fans can play some of the older games like the original Final Fantasy VII or some of the newer games like Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin. Now a lot of these games are on sale with some really good discounts that players will want to take advantage of.

Related: Final Fantasy 7 Characters That Belong in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department

All Final Fantasy Games on Sale for the Square Enix Lunar New Year Sale

The good news is all games are anywhere from 40% to 65% off for the Lunar New Year Sale on Steam. The sale will go on from February 5 to February 12. Not every Final Fantasy game is on sale but some of the fan favorites are.

Other Final Fantasy Games Currently On Sale

There are a few Final Fantasy games that are on sale but are not a part of the Lunar New Year sale. These contain smaller percentages off but are worth a look nonetheless.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII is full of emotionally expressive, insightful, and admittedly extra characters. Love them or hate them, there is no denying they would fit right in in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.

After Taylor Swift’s announcement of her upcoming album during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, we’re officially back in Taylor Season. Set to hit on April 19, just a month after Final Fantasy VII Rebirth hits stores, it’s a cosmic collision. And the theme could not be more fitting, too: The Tortured Poets Department. Since neither TS nor FF are big on celebrity appearances or collaborations, I don’t expect we’ll be seeing any official crossover soon. Still, nothing is stopping us from having our own safe space to discuss which Final Fantasy VII characters would belong in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department album.

Related: Who Cares How Cait Sith Is Pronounced, He’s The Worst FF7 Character

Barret: Some Kind of Loaded Gun

Barrett is the man with a gun arm and a fiery spirit. I wouldn’t blame you for disregarding him as a battle powerhouse. But you have to admit his strength as a character doesn’t come only from his ranged support. He’s impulsive and has a knack for propelling the story forward, all fueled by his outspoken hatred speeches against Shinra. But beneath the tough exterior lies a man haunted by a tragic past. 

Forget the eco-warrior facade; Barrett’s fighting a personal vendetta against Shinra, the jerks who wrecked his town and livelihood and offed his wife. He is living his reputation era, aflame with desires for revenge.

The way in which Barret pours out the pain, the anger, and the guilt in Final Fantasy VII would fit right in with Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department album. 

Yuffie Kisaragi: Fearless Era

If it weren’t for Taylor Swift’s redemption arc, we wouldn’t have her crowned 2023’s Person of the Year. Every day, Yuffie Kisaragi gets called annoying by some rude fanboy. If they could, they’d go up a stage in the Golden Saucer, interrupt her mid-cutscenes, and say, “Yo Yuffie, I’m really happy for you. I’ma let you finish, but Sephiroth just had one of the best cutscenes of all time.”

But should you give Yuffie a chance, you’ll watch her character unfold into a multi-layered tale of optimism, resourcefulness, and ninja shenanigans. Yuffie Kisaragi dances through the narrative with a mix of mischief and heroism, proving that beneath her thieving exterior lies a poetic tale waiting to be explored. There has never been a character more deserving of a spot in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.

Roche: “All’s fair in love and poetry.”

Roche is a motorcycle maverick in Final Fantasy VII Remake, but you likely don’t remember him as a speed demon. Instead, you probably remember how he constantly professed his love for Cloud and acted like their duel was a date in Olive Garden. 

His overzealous and flamboyant entrances are nothing short of dramatic. Each line seems meticulously crafted to sound like it came out of a play. Roche isn’t just a one-trick pony with a killer bike; he’s a two-wheeled poet at heart. 

RED XIII: A Cat Poet 

Red XIII is our four-legged philosopher, the unsung poet of the party in Final Fantasy VII. I know what you’re thinking, but let me assure you they’re not just here because of Taylor Swift’s obsession with felines.

Amidst the chaos of technocratic greed and Avalanche’s rebellion, Red XIII takes a chill pill and views the world with a more objective, humane lens. He’s the yin to Shinra’s yang, representing a spiritual Native American vibe, fighting against the invasive force of technology and modernity. 

In Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, there’s definitely a seat all saved up for Red XIII, the poetic beast with a philosophical feast.

Jessie Raspberry: Taking Romeo and Juliet to the Next Level

Jessie is a bomb-maker, an actress, and a go-getter in Final Fantasy VII. But mostly, she’s a hopeless romantic. From the first minute we meet her, she latches onto Cloud and tries to somehow make him fit into her idea of theatrical love. 

Just like Taylor Swift, she is the Mastermind behind most operations against Shinra, and in this love play, she has created for her and Cloud. I just know she would be part of Taylor’s Squad and most definitely earn her spot in the The Tortured Poets Department.

Vincent Valentine: A Daydream Dressed Like a Nightmare

Is there any character as unnecessarily edgy and overdramatic as Vincent Valentine? Crippled by guilt and torment, Vincent joins the party not as a chatterbox but as a silent observer. He speaks when it matters, making his contributions as measured as a haiku in a world of verbose soliloquies.

His brooding and mellow energy screams Evermore, but he’d make all the songs 10-minute versions for absolutely no reason. I’m sure Taylor Swift would love to welcome this walking anime trope into The Tortured Poets Department.

Technology continues to evolve rapidly, and the hottest trend is the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI. To start 2024, Square Enix President and Representative Director Takashi Kiryu released a letter sharing his interest in adding more AI processes in developing future games.

The New Year’s Letter was meant to address the previous challenges of the past few years, notably the considerable upset of recent global events. Now, AI has become a huge discussion point, and it looks like Square Enix are prepared to make it a staple point on how they develop games in the future and attempt to unlock what it perceives to be untapped potential.

Related: The 10 best Square Enix games of all time

Square Enix Wants to Use AI Assist in Developing Future Games

The full New Year’s letter from Kiryu is available for everyone to read. He begins discussing the use of AI and the potential applications for it in the fourth paragraph, admitting that the use of it has been the subject of several academic debates.

Related: Final Fantasy XIV – Job Tier List

Kiryu shares that AI’s rapid growth and general use has proven that it could be used outside of purely text-based programs. Several image-based AI are available to users to create multiple images, videos, and music. “I believe that generative AI has the potential not only to reshape what we create, but also to fundamentally change the processes by which we create, including programming,” says Kiryu.

Square Enix will be “aggressively applying” AI programs to their development and publishing functions and other cutting-edge technologies. Kiryu believes that applying these technologies should assist in the development of productivity, giving them great sophistication. In the long term, these programs could create additional content for consumers as they hint at potential business opportunities that could open up for them, including blockchain entertainment, AI, and the cloud.

Kiryu further addresses that resources within Square Enix are slowly being moved to support these areas of entertainment, hoping to make them a fundamental process of their business. How this will be included in future games developed by Square Enix has not been fully addressed, but we expect to hear further details as we continue through 2024.

The use of AI is a difficult topic, with many locations taking a stand against the use of this technology. Although the programs can be helpful, several entities have started treating them as replacements for humans working behind the computers, who properly breathe life into the many games and pieces of entertainment we actively enjoy daily. Hopefully, Square Enix holds to this standard, and continues to support their employees on a global scale in their day-to-day endeavors.

Everyone loves a good sale, especially when it’s for those video games you wanted to buy but couldn’t justify spending a ton of money on. Thankfully, Steam has provided some amazing sales on top-rated games in its storefront.

Whether it be newer games that have caught players’ eye or classic games that continue to persist in popularity, Steam has provided some great sales worthy of the Black Friday Sale name. Here is a list of the top games that players can now buy without breaking the bank in the Steam Autumn Sale.

Related: Top 10 Games Like Final Fantasy 14

10. Cyberpunk 2077 – 50% Off

While the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was smothered in controversy, this game has pulled through to being one of the top sellers on Steam. The action-adventure RPG by CD Projekt Red is set in a futuristic world where body modification is the norm and power is everything. It’s a fantastic example of storytelling, character design, and a music score that will stick around for years to come. If fans want more to engross themselves further in this universe, there is also an anime spin-off to watch.

9. Mass Effect – 80% Off

The Mass Effect series has earned its rank as one of the best Sci-Fi games to grace players with its presence. There is a good reason why this game series continues to appear on top game lists and had a remastered edition released. It’s got top-notch storytelling, lovable and complex characters, and choices that almost seem impossible to make. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition includes the base game for Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3.

8. Elder Scrolls Summer Bundle – 77% Off

Elder Scrolls is a franchise that has also persisted and now players can get the Summer Bundle for a great price. This pack includes Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. If players are looking for a new version of Skyrim to snag, all versions of the game are on sale as well. I think the name Skyrim speaks for itself as to why this is on the list.

7. Spider-Man: Miles Morales – 40% Off

I am not one to play games based on superheroes, but the Marvel’s Spider-Man series is an exception, and worth every penny. Now players can enjoy them for a lesser sacrifice of the bank account variety. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales has stunning visuals, an open world filled to the brim with stuff to swing to, and great storytelling. A definite recommendation if you don’t have it yet. As an added bonus, Marvel’s Spider-Man remastered is also 40% off in the Steam Autumn Sale.

6. God of War – 40% Off

This time, the god-fighting fear-inducing Kratos learns how to be a father on this epic adventure that will make anyone emotional. God of War has stunning visuals, characters to love, and a classic mix of mythology that players get deep into. It was received with overwhelming positivity when released and continues to be highly recommended by long-time fans.

5. Final Fantasy 7 – 50%

It’s the phenomenal remake of one of the most beloved Final Fantasy games to come out of Square Enix. Final Fantasy VII Remake not only brings back the legends of the first iteration but also expands everything. With the newest installment coming soon (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth) you don’t want to miss your chance to catch up. This version of the game on Steam has the Yuffie DLC that was not part of the original game.

4. Lies of P – 20% Off

Lies of P has turned the classic Pinocchio story on its head as a souls-like game. It has surprised players with how emotional and deep the story gets, making jaws drop and some having to pause the game to reflect. Fans of the game have waxed poetics in the comment section on Steam, quite easily selling the game for me despite being awful at souls-like games.

3. Red Dead Redemption 2 – 70% Off

Red Dead Redemption 2 took the gaming community by storm during its release. It also won Game of the Year and the Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award for The Steam Awards in 2020. Players follow the story of Arthur Morgan while he’s on the run, dealing with the beginning of the modern age and his place in it. Honestly, what’s not to love about the Wild West and cowboys?

2. Persona 5 Royal – 40% Off

The Persona franchise has risen in the ranks with every game that comes out, and with Persona 5, it was finally put in the mainstream spotlight. Persona 5 Royal has a story that will make you think, characters who you will love to root for, enemies you will absolutely despise, and music that will stay stuck in your head which you will be happy about. If this game leaves you wanting more, don’t worry, as there are plenty of Persona 5 spin-off games for you to enjoy – like Persona 5 Tactica.

1. Hades – 50% Off

Hades has become one of the most universally acclaimed games, winning multiple accolades, including Game of the Year from numerous award ceremonies in both 2020 and 2021. It is a reimagining of Greek mythology that has one of the best narratives. The characters are complex and easy to fall in love with as their stories unravel. The art is incredible and the music is some of the best in the industry. I have put over 100 hours into Hades and would gladly play for 100 more. The sequel, Hades II, is on its way so definitely grab this if you haven’t already.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second installment of the FF7 Remake series. With the release of gameplay footage, players are excited to see the return of a familiar minigame.

Originally introduced in Final Fantasy 7, the Chocobo race was a key story point where Cloud was forced to race to win a pardon from Corel Prison for himself and his friends. After players complete this quest, additional races are available with more prizes – like coveted Materia – as rewards. Fans have recently been treated to new footage of the upgraded races for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and are excited to see the old minigame with new and returning mechanics and characters.

Related: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Preview – A World We Love Reimagined

Fans are Eager to Race with the Chocobos in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

As seen in the 9-minute Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth preview from the Thailand Game Show 2023 on the P4GTeam YouTube channel, players have an exciting Chocobo opportunity awaiting them in the next chapter of FF7’s reworked storyline – the return of Chocobo racing.

With added dash panels and other items obtainable during each race to increase speed, FF7 fans have noticed aspects of the race seem similar to the mechanics found in the Mario Kart games. In addition, the drifting ability originally from Final Fantasy 15 has returned, a mechanic that fans had greatly enjoyed while exploring the open world by Chocobo. Fans are delighted with the familiar mechanics coming to FF7 Rebirth.

Other gamers have noticed in the released footage that one of the jockeys and his Chocobo who race along Cloud resemble characters from the original game, Chocobo Jockey Joe and Teioh. A jockey sporting Joe’s red coat and black hat, riding a black Chocobo can be seen next to Cloud at the beginning of the race. Fans have been speculating that there will be a grand return of these characters, making the anticipation for the races all the more potent.

With so many exciting features returning to Cloud’s world, fans are more than ready for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s release in February 2024. In the meantime, everyone will just have to think about petting baby Chocobos and exploring the next chapter in the FF7 Remake storyline.

Reconstructing a well-loved, classic video game is no small undertaking. Modernizing an influential title so that it is still recognizable, but also offers something new can be a dangerous line to walk, and one that has often left fans feeling lost in worlds that fundamentally shaped them as gamers. Square Enix’s reimagining of Final Fantasy VII is the perfect example of blending old with new – and this tight-rope walk of game development continues in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s new demo.

In a special demo session hosted by Square Enix, Gamepur had the unique privilege of an early hands-on with this highly anticipated title’s demo. The gameplay, which lasted roughly an hour, provided insight into new character battle styles, and the sprawling world outside the confines of Midgar. As someone who has been on the fence about Remake’s storyline, it was a delight to see the wider world and what it has to offer.

Play As Sephiroth In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to Wreck Havok

In the first part of the demo, players have the opportunity to play as Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Having played every Final Fantasy VII game available to date, including Crisis Core, I wouldn’t say I was eager to step into the shoes of a notorious, blood-thirsty villain. However, as you work your way through a flashback set during the storyline of Crisis Core, (where Cloud is presumably reliving Zack’s memories), you have the option to switch to Sephiroth as a playable character and deal devastating damage via fast-paced attacks.

What struck me about this portion of the demo – and the mission – was how different the space felt compared to similar events in Crisis Core. Tifa acts as a guide, offering players the opportunity to truly appreciate the space, explore the various levels of the location, and feel the unsettling tug that something isn’t right. Whether it’s Sephiroth calling you “puppy”, or the fact that Cloud doesn’t seem to recognize Tifa, there is a general sense of unease that left me unsettled. This is exactly what makes Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth exciting for long-time fans. Knowledge of the lore allows you to identify when the story is taking a strange turn, or when the reality previously set down in earlier games is being distorted.

Pet a Baby Chocobo & Dig Up Treasure

In the second part of the Demo, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picks up right where plays left off after INTERmission, with Cloud and the members of AVALANCHE leaving Midgar behind for Junon. The story wastes no time introducing you to what has already happened, making a playthrough of Remake necessary for those who haven’t already tackled it.

The narrative segues seamlessly, with Cloud headed towards Junon. However, players won’t need to immediately track to the next story mission. Instead, the map outside of Junon opens up, offering a chance to explore, gather crafting materials, and pet baby Chocobos.

On his Chocobo mount, Cloud and his team can follow each baby to a Chocobo Stop, and setting the tipped sign upright will gain the player access to unlimited pets. This was easily my favorite part of the demo.

Additionally, the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo offers several battles to track down and complete. These encounters have a list of challenges set, and finishing them will reward the player with special items and materials. These were fun to tackle, but I enjoyed finding the hidden story elements of the local Chocobo farms a bit more.

It was also a delight to ride around this open area on Cloud’s mount and pick up the materials scattered around the map, as well as digging up anything hidden from plain sight. These functions immediately challenged something I’d been concerned about since the long, drawn-out car rides of FF15 – the amount of possible content on the map. I was delighted to find that the space seemed to be better utilized, and I was happy to take my time combing through before heading to Under Junon for the next story marker.

Battles Are No Small Order in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

The biggest takeaway I have for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the difficulty level. Players will not need to worry about being reset to a walkthrough style difficulty with low-level combat. Right from the minute you step out onto the map, challenges will be available that test skills and refamiliarize players with combos, spells, and weapons.

The most notable of these is the boss encounter within Under Junon that reintroduces Yuffie. The boss uses a range of attacks, requires players to strategize through multiple stages of the fight, and necessitates a balanced understanding of magic, physical attacks, and terrain use. To me this was the correct mixture of exciting boss fights from FF16, and good, open-world exploration from FF15 and even the original FF7 titles.

Overall, I am excited about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The demo is an encouraging look at a game I was genuinely nervous about following FF16’s Devil May Cry-reminiscent gameplay. While FF7 Remake wasn’t what I’d been expecting, knowing the formula now, I am more ready for this new chapter in Cloud’s story. While I am personally partial to the original FF7 storyline and everything it has to offer, fans of Final Fantasy VII Remake will find an exciting continuation of the new story in Rebirth – and will likely have an even more enjoyable time as they fight against Shinra’s nefarious plots.

FF7 Rebirth is continuing the story of the FF7 Remake series, which means that Cait Sith is due to appear as the Gold Saucer returns to the story. Cait Sith’s reappearance has kicked off a debate among the fans about his name, but it really shouldn’t have because his name is mud, as he’s the worst character in Final Fantasy VII.

We won’t get into FF7 spoilers here (that’ll happen further below), so to keep it brief and spoiler-free — Cait Sith is an animatronic cat robot that controls a massive Moogle doll, which it rides into battle. The party first encounters Cait Sith in the Gold Saucer, who offers to read their fortune as the party is tracking Sephiroth through the region. Cait Sith joins the party and fights alongside them in battle, with the cat and Moogle acting as one.

Related: FF7 Rebirth: Everything New in the Latest Trailer

Square Enix Dropped A Pronunciation Bomb On The Fanbase

FF7 was a PlayStation 1 game, so it lacked any voice acting, which meant that fans had to spend years interpreting the pronunciation of Cait Sith’s name. Cait Sith will be playable in FF7 Rebirth, so the characters must say his name, answering the debate once and for all. A recent post on the official Final Fantasy VII Twitter page finally clarified matters, as Cait Sith’s name is pronounced Kate Sihth.

This has led to arguments online about how Square Enix is wrong and Cait Sith should be pronounced in different ways. The concept of Cait Sith comes from a creature in Celtic folklore, which actually appeared in Final Fantasy games that came before FF7. This has led to arguments that the name should be pronounced using the original Celtic pronunciation, while others disagree, based on the fact that they’ve been saying something different for decades. For my part, I’ve been pronouncing it as Kate Sith since FF7 came out, but I’d change after playing FF7 Rebirth, much like how I eventually switched from Aeris to Aerith.

Cait Sith Is The Worst Character In FF7

As a huge fan of the original Final Fantasy VII, I’ve been dreading the return of Cait Sith simply because he’s the worst character in the game due to how out of place he feels. The FF7 party is full of these fantastic, iconic characters, with even the strangest among them (Red XIII) fitting the game’s overall vibe. Then, you have this giant teddy bear robot who stands out like the custom character in a cutscene every time he shows up.

NOTE: FF7 and Potential FF7 Rebirth/Future Remake Games Spoilers Below

Cait Sith also sticks out in different ways, as he’s actually a spy planted by the Shinra Executives, with Reeve from FF7 Remake piloting the cat robot. There’s never a good reason given for why the party keep him around initially, as they’re international terrorists who are on the run from the most powerful corporations in the world, yet they let this robot duo into their ranks just… because.

Cait Sith eventually betrays the party, but he does redeem himself toward the end of the game, but the damage is done. He then just hangs around for most of the game, save for giving updates from the Shinra & Midgar side.

I’ve replayed FF7 many times over the years, yet I’ve never done a playthrough where I’ve included Cait Sith in the party just because I dislike him so much. He looks stupid, his random chance Limit Breaks suck, and he’s nowhere near as entertaining as any other party members. I also anticipate hating him even more in FF7 Rebirth because at least the other characters looked rough in FF7 on the PS1 due to the limitations of the hardware. In FF7 Rebirth, Cait Sith will stand out even more than the realistic depiction of the FF7 party members.

Cait Sith Is Also Pretty Bad In The FF7 Spin-Offs

Cait Sith reappeared in the FF7 spinoffs that have been released over the years, but he hasn’t fared much better, thanks to the baffling choice to give him an annoying Scottish accent. That’s right: the version of Cait Sith in Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus sounds like a high-pitched Shrek, just in case you thought he couldn’t get any more appealing.

Dirge of Cerberus also has the cardinal sin of making Cait Sith playable during parts of the game. He plays the same role as Mary Jane in Marvel’s Spider-Man, as Cait Sith is all about stealth sections, which are as fun as they sound. This means that the fast-paced anime action game, where the awesome Vincent Valentine trades bullets with the members of the Deepground, has to grind to a halt, while a cartoon cat drags its backside between different barrels, while it hides from foes.

The only reason Cait Sith isn’t the worst character in the Compilation of FF7 is because some later heroes and villains managed to overtake him. Genesis from Crisis Core might be the worst, being the crimson Marty Stu he is, while the Remnants of Sephiroth constantly chirping about “Mother” in Advent Children aren’t far behind. Cait Sith’s diminished role in the spinoffs worked to his advantage, as he hasn’t been around enough to be hated.

Cait Sith Is Playable In FF7 Rebirth, But Vincent & Cid Won’t Be

Cait Sith is fully playable in FF7 Rebirth, but that comes at a cost, as both Vincent Valentine and Cid Highwind will be guest party members, similar to how Red XIII worked in FF7 Remake. This means you’ll be playing as Cait Sith in FF7 Rebirth, but those actually popular characters that people like are reduced to AI-controlled characters. Oh, joy!

Related: FF7 Rebirth Will End At Series’ Most Iconic Scene

Cait Sith’s appearance in FF7 Rebirth might be the thing that changes my opinion. After all, FF7 Remake made me appreciate FF7 characters like Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie a lot more, as well as the novel characters like Kyrie and Lester. Square Enix will have to perform a miracle to do this, as over twenty-five years of disdain won’t be easy to wash away. We finally know how Cait Sith’s name is pronounced, but will the developers make us care about him before the credits roll?

Square Enix has loads of these cuddly companions inspired by your favorite characters and creatures from the iconic Final Fantasy series. However, they might have fallen victim to a bit of a quantity-over-quality dilemma. When looking for a snuggly companion, it’s better to make the right choices, or you might end up with an undesired, under-bed dust collector.

Final Fantasy IX’s Vivi Ornitier

• Square Enix’s Website Link

Who doesn’t love Vivi? Alas, they really could have messed up his plushie design and didn’t. This action doll plush captures the essence of the pint-sized black mage perfectly.

Final Fantasy Knitted Cactuar

• Square Enix’s Website Link

The iconic Cactuar comes to life in this knitted plush. As a big fan of this prickly desert dweller, I simply can’t deny its gorgeous green design and soft texture make for the perfect companion.

Final Fantasy XI’s Goblin

• Square Enix’s Website Link

This mischievous FFXI creature took me by surprise. Goblins might not be the cuddliest beings. But now that it’s become a cute little plushie, well, let’s just say it offers a snuggly charm I can’t refuse.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Collection

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Square Enix really nailed the Final Fantasy VII Remake plushie designsa with this impressive collection of plushies. Everyone gets a makeover, from Cloud and Tifa to Sephiroth. Yes, I declare Sephiroth is snuggly in plushie form. These plushies beautifully capture the characters’ likenesses and are a must-have for game fans.

Final Fantasy XI’s Mandragora

• Square Enix’s Website Link

The Mandragora plushies from Final Fantasy XI are adorable and slightly unsettling, just like in the original game. Alas, I do love a weird plushie design, so in my head, it’s just a squishy, little mandragora to keep me company. 

Chocobo Plushies

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1 & 2

Nobody can deny that Chocobos are a beloved part of the Final Fantasy universe. Though we sadly can’t ride them across the large fields and feed them Gysahl Greens, I guess some of these plushies will do. Though Square Enix has a vast array of Chocobo plushies, I think the two linked above are delightfully snuggly.

Moogle Plushies

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Moogles, with their fluffy wings and pom-pom antennae, are a fan favorite. Square Enix has rightfully capitalized on Moogle Plushies, especially with all the Final Fantasy XIV variants. 

However, though the knitted Moogle Plushie is just hands-down perfect, I feel like the rest of them kind of start losing the snuggle factor. Given how vital this recurring figure is in the Final Fantasy worlds, I’d expect a more cuddly design for them.

The Final Fantasy X Collection

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1, 2

The Final Fantasy X collection features plushies of Tidus and Yuna. I’m not here to tell you they’re not cute and well-made. However, they don’t quite reach the same cuteness as the Final Fantasy VI remake unless you get both Tidus and Yuna and stitch them together.

Tonberry Plushies

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1 & 2

Tonberries are notorious for their slow but relentless pursuit of characters in the Final Fantasy series. These plushies capture their eerie presence while also giving them a slightly cute touch.

Paissa Patissier

• Square Enix’s Website Link

The Paissa Patissier plushie adds a touch of whimsy to your collection. I could honestly walk into a room, spot this guy, and ask, “What anime is it from?” While I love Final Fantasy XIV, Paissa Patissier is not the most iconic character. Still, this easily forgettable character is undeniably cute.

Cait Sith

• Square Enix’s Website Link

Cait Sith, the robotic cat from Final Fantasy VII, is immortalized in plush form. Its design isn’t as endearing as some other characters. Still, die-hard fans might cherish this Caith Sith plush out of pure love, so it’s not just another dusty relic.

Torgal

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1 & 2

Torgal plushies from the Final Fantasy series are a bit obscure. I love Torgal as much as the next person, but these plushies seem more suited for an Annabelle movie cameo. They’re so furry that they redefine the term “dust collector.”

The OG FFVII Collection

• Square Enix’s Website Link: 1, 2, 3 & 4

The original Final Fantasy VII is nowhere near as good as the remake collection. It still features classic characters like Cloud and Aerith, but they look like they’ve been through some stuff. While these plushies hold sentimental value, they don’t quite match the quality of newer releases.

Final Fantasy XIV Minion Plushies

The idea to produce Final Fantasy XIV minion plushies sounds like someone read fan tweets asking for them during a Square Enix marketing meeting. I get the intent, but I just don’t think they’re relevant enough.

The Final Fantasy XIV minion summons include a Spriggan, the Behelmeted Serpent of Ronka, a Crab, and a Baby Behemoth.

Related: Final Fantasy Fans Beg Developers to Keep Numbered Titles After FF16

The Spriggan is particularly awful, but definitely looks cuter than in the actual game. I’m just wondering who took a look at Final Fantasy XIV’s Spriggan and said, “That, that devil’s spawn should be a plushie.” Or take, for instance, the Giant Beaver plushie design. It’s destined to become an under-the-bed dust magnet or a chew toy for your dog.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will continue the story of Final Fantasy VII Remake, and some new faces will join Cloud Strife and his friends on their journey. Notably, not all of the playable characters from FF7 will join the party in FF7 Rebirth, which means you will have to use fewer beloved heroes than you might have expected.

As FF7 Remake only encompassed the Midgar section of the original game, Square Enix only made some of the characters from that section. This meant the party consisted of Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Aerith. Even Red XIII, who should have been playable in this game, was relegated to the role of an AI-controlled party member.

Related: FF7 Rebirth Release Date Trailer Confirms Popular Fan Theory

Yuffie Is Finally Joining The Main Cast In FF7 Rebirth

Yuffie was already made playable in FF7 Remake’s INTERmission DLC, but this was a separate entity from the main game, so you couldn’t play as her outside of her own storyline. This also meant that the Ramuh summon was out of reach, as it was restricted to the INTERmission DLC.

Yuffie’s time on the sidelines is ending, as she’s joining the party in FF7 Rebirth. This is actually a step up from FF7, where she was an optional party member and could be missed by the player. The Ramuh summon will also appear in FF7 Rebirth as a save unlock bonus.

It’s unclear exactly when Yuffie joins the party, but it will likely be after the Kalm flashback, as the INTERmission DLC ended with the party arriving in Kalm, so there’s not much wiggle room for her to join the group before then. She joins the group before Junon and will likely meet the party after they leave Kalm.

Red XIII Will No Longer Be An NPC In FF7 Rebirth

Poor Red XIII was nearly playable in FF7 Remake, but he was introduced to the story too late and forced to be an AI Party member. Red XIII’s time has almost arrived, as he will be a playable party member in FF7 Rebirth with his powers and abilities.

According to Square Enix, Red XIII will have a unique mechanic in FF7 Rebirth called Vengeance Mode. When this mode is active, Red XIII’s strength and speed are drastically increased, and he gains the ability to siphon hit points from the enemy. Vengeance Mode is tied to a gauge that fills up over time, and Red XIII can only use it when he has some meter left.

Cait Sith Makes His Return In FF7 Rebirth

Unfortunately, Cait Sith will also be making a comeback in FF7 Rebirth, in all of its immersion-breaking glory, with a bad Scottish accent in tow. The latest trailer for FF7 Rebirth has shown Cait Sith in action, with attacks themed around gambling mechanics, similar to his Limit Breaks from FF7. Cait Sith also has a command called “Mount,” suggesting two different move sets for the cat body on its own and for when it’s riding its giant plushie,

Sephiroth Will Be Playable In A Flashback

The overwhelming power of Sephiroth will soon be in the hands of fans, as he will be playable during the Kalm flashback in FF7 Rebirth, as he was in the original FF7. In the recent FF7 Rebirth trailer, Sephiroth and Cloud were shown using tandem moves against a monster that greatly resembles the Materia Keeper from FF7.

In FF7, the playable Sephiroth section was meant to demonstrate his overwhelming power compared to Cloud. Hopefully, this will be replicated in FF7 Rebirth, with the player being able to fully bring the might of the One-Winged Angel to bear.

Cid Highwind & Vincent Valentine Will NOT Be Playable In FF7 Rebirth

Unfortunately, we have to end things on sad news, as not all of the FF7 party members will be playable. The game’s developers have confirmed that Cid Highwind and Vincent Valentine will not join the party but will instead be AI-controlled characters, in the same manner as Red XIII in FF7 Remake.

Related: FF7 Rebirth Will End At Series’ Most Iconic Scene

The developers have confirmed that FF7 Rebirth will end in the Forgotten Capitol, so it’s likely that the decision was made to relegate them due to how late they appear in the story. There’s a good chance that one or both of them will be made playable in whatever DLC FF7 Rebirth is given, similar to how Yuffie was made playable in the INTERmission DLC.