The one that keeps coming up
Before launch
Is this Final Fantasy XVII, or a spin-off?
Neither label appears in Square Enix's material. It is an adaptation of the first story arc, "Lapis", of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, and the first Final Fantasy built in Square Enix's HD-2D style. It carries no number. Nakashima told Noisy Pixel the team treats it as "a complete standalone game".
Do I need to have played Final Fantasy Brave Exvius?
No, on the developers' own word. Nakashima told RPG Site that familiarity is not necessary and the game stands independently. Director Hiroto Furuya has said the team wanted "a flat playing field where regardless of if you're a long-time fan or if this is your first Final Fantasy, we wanted to make it so that you could easily dive in", and said Vision perks were kept from being game-changing so series knowledge does not turn into an advantage.
Is the combat turn-based or action?
Traditional turn-based, rather than the ATB of earlier entries. Square Enix's PlayStation Blog post describes a timeline showing the order everyone acts in, a Stagger Gauge that stops an enemy acting when emptied, and Resonance moves tied to each Vision.
How long is it?
Square Enix said 30 to 40 hours for the main story and 60 to 80 hours to complete everything; VICE reported those figures on 16 July 2026. Nobody has finished the game, so there is no independent check on them yet.
Does the demo save carry into the full game?
Yes. Square Enix's PlayStation Blog post of 3 September 2026 says save data carries over. The demo covers the opening through the end of chapter one, roughly three to five hours, on all five platforms.
Is Sephiroth in the demo?
As an optional fight, according to RPGFan's demo post, the only source that says so. Square Enix's PlayStation Blog post and press release, describing the game: "Players will be able to find and challenge Sephiroth in hopes of winning and unlocking a special reward." Whether he appears in the full game as a Vision has not been answered — asked directly by RPG Site, Nakashima said the team has been "avoiding mentioning either/or if that will be the case" and wants "players to discover for themselves".
How many Visions are there, and who are they?
26 at launch, per Nakashima to RPG Site. The full roster has not been published anywhere we could read. Named in official screenshots and trailers and in the hands-on previews: Cloud, Terra, Noctis, Lightning, Firion, Onion Knight, Vaan, Clive, Zidane Tribal and Cecil Harvey — the last two each got their own official Vision trailer in late September; a July report adds Bartz Klauser, Squall Leonhart and Tidus. Yuna is reportedly not among them, and Brave Exvius had over two thousand characters.
Is there any multiplayer or co-op?
None has been announced. Steam lists the game as Single-player and the US Nintendo eShop listing says "Single system (1)". That is why this guide has no multiplayer page.
Is it coming to Game Pass or PlayStation Plus?
It has not been announced for Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online. It does launch day one on Xbox Series X|S through the Microsoft Store, which is not the same thing. Square Enix has not said whether that changes before 22 October.
Is there DLC or a season pass?
Nothing announced. Nakashima to RPG Site, reported 7 September 2026: "As of now, there are currently no plans for additional Visions. We wanted to make sure our focus and all our resources were allocated towards ensuring a satisfying and fun main game experience." He added that commercial success and strong reception "does open up possibilities". Square Enix is reportedly prioritising the core experience over DLC.
Will there be a sequel covering the rest of Brave Exvius?
Not announced. Nakashima told Noisy Pixel the team is approaching the project as if "this is the one game", with no sequel currently in development and all resources on this release. Whether later Brave Exvius arcs are ever adapted has not been stated.
Are there difficulty options?
Three, per VICE's July report of Square Enix's details: Casual, Normal and Expert. No source we read says whether the setting can be changed during a run or whether anything is locked behind one.
How does it run on Switch?
The only measurements anywhere come from RPG Site playing the demo: the Switch version targets 30 fps and drops below it at times, at sub-native resolution; the Switch 2 version targets 60 fps handheld, looks crisp and showed no major performance issues. Square Enix has published no console frame-rate target. The Platforms page has the rest, including Steam Deck and ROG Ally.
Are there reviews yet?
No. The game is not out, and no review embargo date has been announced. Everything anyone has written comes from a timed hands-on at gamescom or Tokyo Game Show, or from the free chapter-one demo.