Square Enix’s highly anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has secured the fourth spot among the top-selling games in the US market so far this year, according to the latest sales tracking data from Circana. However, despite this respectable chart position, multiple industry analysts have reported that Rebirth’s sales figures remain significantly lower than those of its critically acclaimed predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

While Square Enix has yet to officially disclose Rebirth’s sales numbers, industry insider Daniel Ahmad claimed last month that the game had sold “about half” the copies of Remake during the same post-launch period, describing its performance as “underperforming sales-wise.” This assessment has been further corroborated by analyst Mat Piscatella, who revealed that Rebirth’s US sales are down by a double-digit percentage compared to both Remake and the recently released Final Fantasy XVI, which Square Enix described as enjoying “extremely strong” sales.

Piscatella’s analysis puts Rebirth’s lifetime US sales at 14th among all Final Fantasy games, a stark contrast to Remake’s position as the second-best-selling entry in the series within the region. This disparity is particularly notable given that both titles were PlayStation exclusives at launch, with Rebirth’s lower sales figures attributed primarily to its status as a direct sequel rather than a fresh reimagining.

The divisive narrative direction taken by Remake, which departed significantly from the beloved original game’s storyline, is believed to have contributed to Rebirth’s underwhelming commercial performance. While Remake captured the attention of long-time fans and newcomers alike with its stunning visuals and innovative gameplay, the sequel’s continuation of the narrative may have alienated a portion of the audience who preferred a more faithful adaptation.

Despite the sales figures, Rebirth has been widely praised by critics for its open-world design, humor, and wealth of minigames. In our Eurogamer review, we described it as “an overstuffed but lovable re-imagining,” although the game’s controversial ending has also sparked debate among fans.

As Square Enix prepares for the eventual release of the trilogy’s concluding entry, the company faces the challenge of regaining the momentum and widespread appeal achieved by Remake.

The diminishing returns of Rebirth may prompt a reevaluation of expectations and marketing strategies for the final installment, ensuring that the ambitious remake project can deliver a satisfying conclusion while resonating with both long-time fans and newcomers to the iconic Final Fantasy VII narrative.

While Rebirth’s commercial performance may have fallen short of expectations, its critical acclaim and chart positioning underscore the enduring popularity of the Final Fantasy franchise. As Square Enix continues to streamline its game development pipeline, the company will undoubtedly seek to learn from the experience and apply those lessons to future releases, ensuring that its beloved franchises can captivate audiences on both creative and commercial fronts.

Tags: Action role-playing game Adventure game Fighting game Final Fantasy Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Square Enix