Final Fantasy VII Revelation is set to give players far more freedom than the previous two Remake trilogy entries, with the Highwind airship becoming available relatively early in the game. That one change will reshape how players explore the world, letting Cloud and the party travel across major regions, revisit earlier locations, and take on side content at their own pace.
Director Naoki Hamaguchi shared new details about the game in an interview with Denfaminico Gamer. He explained that players will get the Highwind early enough to make it a major part of the experience, not just a late game reward. Once unlocked, the airship will allow players to fly freely to many areas, including islands and returning locations from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
The game will still have a guided main story, so it will not be a fully unrestricted open world at every moment. Some areas may be blocked, and certain story sections may lock the party to a specific continent. Even so, Hamaguchi made it clear that Revelation will offer a much broader sense of freedom than the series usually gives players.
The Highwind will change how exploration works in the final Remake chapter
The Highwind has always been an important part of Final Fantasy VII, but Revelation appears to be treating it as a core gameplay feature. Players will be able to fly across the world, visit different regions, and jump into side content before they are fully ready for every challenge.
That structure is closer to open world games where dangerous areas can be reached early, even if the enemies there are too strong. Hamaguchi said players may run into difficult optional battles, lose badly, and decide to come back later. This gives exploration more risk and makes the world feel less like a strict checklist.
Several regions from Rebirth will return, but they will not simply be reused in the same form. Some locations will receive light design changes to make exploration more interesting. One example is the Grasslands, where Chocobo Piko’s growth will allow players to fly over parts of the region.
| Feature | What it means for players |
|---|---|
| Early Highwind unlock | Airship travel becomes part of the main experience much sooner |
| Returning world map | Previous regions will come back with some exploration changes |
| Side content freedom | Optional content can be tackled in a flexible order |
| Strong enemies | Players may find battles they are not ready to win yet |
| Story structure | The main path still follows a planned order |
| Midgar exploration | The iconic city will return as an explorable area |
| Underwater content | The underwater world will appear in some form |
Midgar and underwater areas will return in Revelation
One of the biggest details from the interview is that Midgar will be explorable again. This matters because Final Fantasy VII Remake was built almost entirely around the city, while Rebirth moved the party into the wider world. Bringing Midgar back in Revelation gives the final chapter a chance to connect both parts of the trilogy more directly.
Hamaguchi also hinted at the return of characters connected to Deepground, including Nero and Weiss. That suggests Midgar may include more than nostalgia. It could become an important story location with links to earlier Compilation of Final Fantasy VII material.
Underwater exploration is also returning in some capacity. Hamaguchi did not share specific details, but he confirmed that the underwater world will appear in the story. In the original Final Fantasy VII, underwater travel opened another layer of exploration, so its return could add more variety to Revelation’s world design.
Side content will be more flexible while the main story stays focused
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is not abandoning structure. The main story will still unfold in a set order, especially when it comes to major story battles. However, side content will be much more open. Optional weapons and other challenges can be approached when players choose, rather than being tied strictly to the main path.
That could make the final entry feel larger and more personal. Players who want to focus on the story can keep moving forward, while others can spend time exploring, testing difficult battles, and revisiting familiar places.
Guest characters will also join the party at times, and some will become controllable. That adds another layer of variety to combat and may help the final chapter deliver a broader cast experience than the first two games.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation is shaping up to be the most open entry in the Remake trilogy. By giving players the Highwind early, bringing back Midgar, adding underwater exploration, and expanding optional content, Square Enix appears to be building a finale that feels wider without losing the story driven structure that defines the project.
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