Square Enix to Bring Final Fantasy VII to iOS in 2015

[MacRumors]

During Square Enix's E3 event that was held this morning, the company announced plans to bring iconic game Final Fantasy VII to iOS "before the end of summer" this year. Little detail was made available on the game aside from an upcoming release date, but it appears it's a port of the original PS1 game and not the Final Fantasy VII remake that was announced by Sony earlier this week.

Square Enix has made the first six Final Fantasy games available on iOS devices, but Final Fantasy VII for iOS will mark the first Final Fantasy port coming from a PlayStation game. Released in 1997, Final Fantasy VII was the first game in the Final Fantasy series created for PlayStation and it quickly became one of the most popular Final Fantasy games.

In 2013, Square Enix producer Takashi Tokita said in an interview that a release of Final Fantasy VII was "years away" from release on iOS because of the space limitations on the platform. "It's that currently, space will be an issue," he said. "Phones won't be able to contain the space it takes. It's over a gigabyte. People are probably going to have to wait for a few years."

Prior to 2015, Apple limited the size of apps to 2GB, but in February, that limit was expanded to 4GB, perhaps making games like Final Fantasy VII more feasible on iOS. A PC port of Final Fantasy VII comes in at over 3GB, so it's possible that the 2GB size restriction was the limiting factor.

A game that's 3GB in size will be a tough sell to customers who have 16GB iPhones and iPads, but upcoming features in iOS 9 could help slim down the install size of Final Fantasy VII and other games that take up a lot of storage space. App Thinning, a feature Apple introduced at WWDC, allows developers to optimize apps for specific devices for the first time. For example, a game being played on the iPhone won't be required to download all the iPad art assets, saving much needed space.

The App Store and operating system optimize the installation of iOS and watchOS apps by tailoring app delivery to the capabilities of the user's particular device, with minimal footprint. This optimization, called app thinning, lets you create apps that use the most device features, occupy minimum disk space, and accommodate future updates that can be applied by Apple. Faster downloads and more space for other apps and content provides a better user experience.

Square Enix also gave an update on Kingdom Hearts Unchained X, its upcoming smartphone game. Unchained X was previously announced in May, but as of today, Square Enix has confirmed that it will be available worldwide when it launches.

Article Link: Square Enix to Bring Final Fantasy VII to iOS in 2015

 

[fel10]

Already got this for my PS3 and Vita, but I love this game so much, I'm definitely getting for my iDevices. So stocked for the remake.

 

[Zxxv]

Not holding breath

 

[Cougarcat]

Don't really care anymore now that a remake is actually happening.

 

[iCloudStrife]

Safe to say I'll be slamming this onto my iPad the second it hits the App Store. Awesome!

 

[rv.public]

App Thinning, a feature Apple introduced at WWDC, allows developers to optimize apps for specific devices for the first time.

This is called "Slicing" (one aspect of App Thinning), but iOS 9 also includes another aspect of App Thinning called "On-Demand Resources" which allows for loading assets from the app store on demand. So as the user progresses through the game, more assets are downloaded and unused assets are removed.

 

[AngerDanger]

In 2013, Square Enix producer Takashi Tokita said in an interview that a release of Final Fantasy VII was "years away" from release on iOS because of the space limitations on the platform. "It's that currently, space will be an issue," he said. "Phones won't be able to contain the space it takes. It's over a gigabyte. People are probably going to have to wait for a few years."

Well, it's still compliant with XKCD's definition of 'a 'few':

 

[RoboCop001]

SO MUCH YES!

Classic FF VII on the subway. Remake at home. FF VII everywhere.

I wonder if they'll keep the remake turn-based or if they'll adopt a similar battle system to FF XV? I don't mind that system. I'm really stoked for that remake, especially since the director and designer from the original are directing and producing it! YUUUSSSS!

 

[Sonmi451]

I have like $16 in my iTunes account. Gonna save it for this!

 

[RhythmGuru]

Don't really care anymore now that a remake is actually happening.

I so want to buy a PS4 to play the remake, but I don't have much time for gaming anymore...family and all. However, a pocket edition that I can play at lunch and out and about, that's what I'm talking about.

 

[Cougarcat]

I so want to buy a PS4 to play the remake, but I don't have much time for gaming anymore...family and all. However, a pocket edition that I can play at lunch and out and about, that's what I'm talking about.

It's coming "first to Playstation," so it should come to the PC too. Maybe even the Mac, Square Enix is pretty friendly with Feral these days.

 

[Dark Void]

This is not the kind of game you play casually on a tablet. This is worthy of quitting your job, stop bathing and playing all day long with residual cheeto cheese underneath your fingernails.

 

[LordQ]

Still better than the whole Nintendo E3 presentation.

 

[macsrcool1234]

Yet Apple slapped everybody in the face with a base 16gb model for one final year.

 

[Zxxv]

This is not the kind of game you play casually on a tablet. This is worthy of quitting your job, stop bathing and playing all day long with residual cheeto cheese underneath your fingernails.

haha you did that too (thumbs up)

 

[JoeyEatWorld]

My favorite game as a kid. I have already purchased this game about 5 times in my life, and I will do it 2 more: for iOS, and for the PS4 when it comes out. The latter probably not for another 2 years though.

 

[autrefois]

iOS 9 also includes another aspect of App Thinning called "On-Demand Resources" which allows for loading assets from the app store on demand. So as the user progresses through the game, more assets are downloaded and unused assets are removed.

What a horrible idea. What if you're out of WiFi / cell range? What if the game or its resources are no longer available (dev goes out of business, doesn't pay their yearly subscription, etc)? What if the App Store is down, or Apple discontinues or changes this feature and the developer doesn't update their app: then you're just stuck?

I have a better idea: why don't Phil and Apple stop skimping on device space instead? Why should I have to be constantly downloading things (or parts of things) that I purchased instead of storing them locally if I want?

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

I fail to understand why this game would be 3GB on iOS when the original PlayStation version was 1.95GB max (650MB CD x3 disks). Also modern compression algorithms (H.264 video, AAC audio) are superior to what you had on PlayStation at the time, so the game should be smaller.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

This is wonderful news!

What a great game Final Fantasy VII was on the original Playstation. Such cool music and a superb story.

Playing it on a 13" iPad would be a joy. This is the game we've all been waiting for.

 

[goinskiing]

I have bought every Final Fantasy 7 on all available platforms, super excited to have my mobile Final Fantasy Collection complete through 7. Oh, and this E3 made me glad I already bought a PS4, the FF7 HD Remake is just a bonus.

 

[Deelron]

I fail to understand why this game would be 3GB on iOS when the original PlayStation version was 1.95GB max (650MB CD x3 disks). Also modern compression algorithms (H.264 video, AAC audio) are superior to what you had on PlayStation at the time, so the game should be smaller.

This, not to mention there's already pretty large games on the store, Real Racing 3 takes up ~2.7 GB on my iPad Air 2.

 

[DemonMF777]

I fail to understand why this game would be 3GB on iOS when the original PlayStation version was 1.95GB max (650MB CD x3 disks). Also modern compression algorithms (H.264 video, AAC audio) are superior to what you had on PlayStation at the time, so the game should be smaller.

But back then screen resolution was only 640 x 480... So retina/HD graphics will surely up the storage space needed.

 

[Hastings101]

FFIX please???

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

What a horrible idea. What if you're out of WiFi / cell range? What if the game or its resources are no longer available (dev goes out of business, doesn't pay their yearly subscription, etc)? What if the App Store is down, or Apple discontinues or changes this feature and the developer doesn't update their app: then you're just stuck?

You're right. Facebook should stop waiting until you navigate to a page and just download all of the pictures you might ever find onto your iOS device. Likewise, Safari should just download all of the content from the entire internet onto your iPhone. Apple Music should have the entire iTunes music library downloaded onto your iPhone.

Or you can recognize the fact that the internet is pretty darn prevalent these days. You'd have to go on a several day trip into the wilderness to go more than a few days without an internet connection. And if you do choose to go on such a trip, did you bring a means of powering your iOS device? If you're so determined to game in the wilderness for a week on your iPhone, why not bring a satellite internet case with you (yes, satellite internet is a thing, and you can get a connection to your iPhone from anywhere within Earth's atmosphere if you are so inclined. Also, the internet exists on Pluto thanks to the Deep Space Network... I don't think there are any iPhone cases capable of connecting to it, though.)

 

[Traverse]

And stop buying their games because they're at support is pitiful. There are apps that I've never been updated for the iPhone 5 screen and some apps quit working and we're just pulled even though people paid for them.