10 Recent Video Game Bombs NO ONE Saw Coming
4. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024)
The words Final Fantasy and bomb are ones you don't typically expect to see together - unless you're referring to the enemy type. FF is colossal in the RPG world and essentially guarantees success with every release. That sentiment was clear in the (currently still ongoing) Final Fantasy VII remake project, which saw one of the most beloved entries in the series get a modern uphaul.
As expected, the initial instalment, Final Fantasy VII Remake, was released to huge commercial and critical success. There were some complaints about the poor pacing and deviations from the original story, but it would be foolish to call the game anything but a hit.
The second part of this remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, however, fell surprisingly short of expectations.
Rebirth faced much of the same criticism as its predecessor but still pleased fans and critics. That said, Square Enix confirmed (via PC Gamer) in their May 2024 financial report that the PS5 sales were well below expectations. Additionally, a report from industry analyst Daniel Ahmad (via Eurogamer) claimed it sold about half of what its predecessor did in the same timeframe.
Sometimes, the biggest franchises feel untouchable, but they're not immune to disappointing releases.