For a while, fans assumed Final Fantasy VII Rebirth would eventually receive a DLC expansion.
After all, Final Fantasy VII Remake had Episode INTERmission, a short but memorable side story that introduced Yuffie Kisaragi.
Many expected Rebirth to follow that same pattern, especially with the number of characters who didn’t get much spotlight this time around.
But by 2025, interviews confirmed that those expectations had been put to rest, and that was for the best.
Did Square Enix Ever Plan a Rebirth DLC?
Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Square Enix originally planned to create DLC for Rebirth.
Early planning stages included story pitches and drafts, with consideration of Vincent or Cid as possible main characters.
But as development went on, the team took a moment to rethink their priorities. They eventually realized fans cared less about extra content and more about seeing the trilogy reach its end.
Why Was the DLC Canceled?
According to Hamaguchi, the studio reached a point where they had to choose between producing DLC or speeding up the release of Part 3.
They decided the trilogy’s finale should come first. While that may have disappointed those hoping for new content or playable side stories, the reasoning made sense.
Rebirth was already massive in scope, filled with activities, side quests, and minigames that offered far more content than most RPGs.
Adding more DLC on top of that would have stretched the team thin and delayed the project even further.
What Lessons Did Square Enix Learn From the First Game?
Hamaguchi also mentioned that the developers took lessons from their previous experience with INTERmission.
Since the DLC entered production only after the Remake was wrapped up, it naturally slowed down work on the next title.
The developers decided not to repeat the cycle and instead pushed forward with the third game, using their full capacity to bring the story to an end without distractions.
Could There Still Be DLC in the Future?
This isn’t to say Square Enix completely ruled out the idea of DLC forever.
Hamaguchi said the team might look into additional content after finishing the trilogy, but it would apply only to the last game.
Whether that would take the form of bonus missions, epilogues, or even a completely new standalone title is still undecided.
The focus right now is on channeling every bit of creative and technical effort into finishing the trilogy.
It’s worth remembering that fans have been waiting years between releases already. Final Fantasy VII Remake came out in 2020, and Rebirth followed four years down the line.
Had Square Enix chosen to release a Rebirth DLC, the development timeline for Part 3 might have slipped to 2028 or beyond.
The choice to forgo DLC keeps development moving smoothly, with Hamaguchi hinting at a possible 2027 release for the finale.
Was It a Smart Decision in the End?
It made sense from a practical view since the studio no longer needed to rebuild everything from zero, like it did when moving from Remake to Rebirth.
All the preparations, tools, and resources are set so that the team can move straight into full production.
On the bright side, the ending will arrive sooner and in better shape than before. As some players have pointed out, Rebirth arguably doesn’t need DLC anyway.
There’s already no shortage of storylines, areas to uncover, and extra content. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII all got well-rounded arcs and proper attention.
While fans might’ve loved a separate chapter for Vincent or Cid, the truth is that Rebirth already covers so much ground that adding another expansion might have been redundant.
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