Square Enix is swapping out the PC version of the original Final Fantasy VII on Steam for a new, “improved” build, and the change comes with few details and a couple of important caveats. A new version of the 1997 classic will be released on Steam “with an improved gameplay experience,” while the current release is getting rebranded as Final Fantasy VII – 2013 Edition and pulled from sale once the update lands.
According to the official Steam announcement, existing owners aren’t being left behind. If you already own the 2013 Edition, you’ll automatically get access to the new version at no extra cost, and both editions will remain in your library side by side. The catch is that the 2013 build will no longer be purchasable; only the new FINAL FANTASY VII (ALL CAPS) listing will be visible to newcomers once it goes live.
Square Enix hasn’t detailed what “improved gameplay experience” actually means yet, but community speculation points to parity with recent console ports, which added things like 3x speed, no‑encounter options, and built‑in boosters.
The bad news: saves won’t cross the generational gap. Square’s notice makes it clear that “save data will not be compatible between the two versions,” meaning saves from the 2013 Edition will only work there, and vice versa. Modders are also sounding the alarm that a new executable and changed data structures are likely to break a lot of existing tools and overhaul mods.
For now, the 2013 release is still on Steam and is currently discounted to under $5 in some regions, so if you specifically want that version for mod setups or save compatibility, the window is closing. Square Enix hasn’t given a date for when the new build will actually drop, only that more information about its features will come “at a later time.”
Source: Steam Community via Gaming on Linux
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