Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Final Fantasy VII Remake will be free on PS Plus, but subscribers can’t upgrade it

By Giovanni Colantonio February 26, 2021

Sony revealed the next round of PS Plus games, which is headlined by Final Fantasy VII Remake. The catch is that players won’t be able to upgrade it to the upcoming PlayStation 5 version.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is will be available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 subscribers to download starting on March 2, though it seems that PS5 owners will just get the PS4 version of the game. The announcement comes one day after Sony unveiled Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, a PS5 upgrade of the game that features new content.

The PS Plus version of Final Fantasy VII Remake will not be eligible for an upgrade to Intergrade, according to Sony. That adds a layer of confusion to an already strange upgrade system. Those who bought the game on PS4 can upgrade to the PS5 version for free, but they have to buy the game’s new content separately. It’s not clear if PS5 owners who claim the game will be able to add the new Yuffie chapter to it, or how much that would cost.

The rest of the PS Plus lineup is less messy. PS5 owners can grab the new Annapurna Interactive game Maquette for free the same day it launches. The indie puzzle game features voice acting by Bryce Dallas Howard and a unique perspective shifting mechanic.

PS4 and PS5 users can also grab third-person shooter Remnant: From The Ashes, while PSVR owners can grab Farpoint. All of March’s new PS Plus games will be available on March 2 and will be redeemable until April 5.

Topics

Giovanni Colantonio

Section Editor, Gaming

Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…

Gaming

Don’t skip over our 5 favorite minigames in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Fort Condor characters

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is not only a fascinating retelling of one of gaming's most beloved titles -- it's also among the most feature-rich games of this generation. From vast open areas to explore that teem with activities to densely populated cities and tense dungeons, there's at least 100 hours worth of content to uncover here if you've got the time and energy to complete it all.

As you work through the game, you'll find that a surprising amount of this playtime sees you engaging with minigames, both to advance the story and just for fun to earn optional rewards. And though there are a few duds scattered along the way -- we're looking at you Gears and Gambits -- most of the minigames you'll encounter offer a unique and enjoyable diversion for Cloud and friends. We've gone through a tough elimination process and decided on our picks for the top five minigames in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
5. Dolphin Course

Gaming

Like the best RPGs, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth gets sidequests right

The mayor of Under Junon in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Among its many highlights, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth makes simple sidequests a lot more engaging than I had expected. Take an early-game sidequest called When Words Won’t Do. On a surface level, it’s a simple escort mission where players must get a dog from Under Junon to Crow’s Nest unscathed. I did not initially have high hopes for this sidequest due to the poor reputation of escort missions; thankfully, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth defied that fate. To make this optional content more worthwhile, Square Enix gave it a strong narrative backbone.

When Words Won’t Do is actually a story about parents struggling to let go of their kids. Under Junon’s mayor sends players on this quest to help her son and unborn grandchild, and Barrett wonders if he’ll ever be able to let Marlene go during the mission. That’s thematically fitting for an escort mission where you can’t keep something out of your sight.

Gaming

PS4 vs. PS5: which console should you buy in 2024?

PlayStation 5 controller and PS5.

PlayStation 5 has been available for several years now, and it's easier than ever to find it in stock at retailers. The new-gen hardware makes big upgrades over its predecessor, letting gamers enjoy better graphics, shorter loading times, and support for the fancy DualSense controller. It's also much more expensive than PS4, so while PS5 is better than PS4 in most regards, it might not be ideal for frugal shoppers.

But is PS4 or PS5 the better choice in 2024? Does the aging PS4 really make sense to purchase right now, or should you opt for the PS5? From pricing and available games to storage and resolution, here's a closer look at these two popular consoles.
PS5 vs. PS4 vs. PS4 Pro specs
Even a cursory glance at the specs of the PS5 shows that it’s in a different league than the PS4 (and even the PS4 Pro). Sony has improved the capabilities of its platform in every way, adding more efficient storage, faster compute parts, support for larger capacity disks, and support for higher resolutions. We know there are two versions of the PS5 -- the Standard Edition and Digital Edition -- both of which will offer the same specs (with the exception of the omission of a disc drive with the Digital Edition).