Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier: Closing Its Doors After a Year‑Long Rollercoaster
Just shy of a full year after its mobile debut, Square Enix has announced that the battle‑royale mash‑up known as Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier will be bowing out on January 11, 2023. The decision came from the game’s official website, and it’s a bittersweet farewell for players who spent countless hours navigating chocobos, dueling with melee weapons, and sniping from the rooftops of Midgar’s undercity.
Why Do the “First” and “Last” Moments Never Align?
The announcement’s wording is simple: the studio couldn’t deliver the service they envisioned. Even after regular updates, the experience fell short of the expectations that both Square Enix and the players deserved.
“After almost a year of hopping around on chocobos, banging it up in melee battles, and sniping from the rooftops of Midgar Undercity, it is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the end of service for Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier,” the statement read.
“Despite all our efforts to bring you regular updates with fresh and exciting content, we haven’t been able to deliver the experience that we were hoping to, and that you all deserve, so we have made the extremely tough decision to end service for Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier.”
Square Enix first pitched the game in early 2021 and released it on November 17 of that year. The title let fans dive into a world where the infamous “Final Fantasy” lore collided with the frenetic pace of battle‑royale: firearms, chocobos, and melee might all decide who’s the last one standing.
Seasonal Swaps and Cross‑Franchise Love
Just like the games we love, First Soldier had its own seasons, each tweaking the core formula. It also acted as a showcase for other beloved titles in the long‑running franchise, nudging players toward next‑generation spinoffs.
We won’t forget—shockingly, the livestream tweet from Square Enix that announced the closure also reminded us that the void left by the game will soon be filled by new Final Fantasy adventures.
What’s Next for You, Fans?
- Crash‑Course Alert: Crisis Core: The Culling 2.0 remaster drops this December, bringing classic storylines back with a fresh graphics overhaul.
- Rebirth on the Horizon: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is scheduled for Winter 2023, giving the original saga a new chapter.
- Seasonal Shift: Final Fantasy XVI hits the market this summer, promising a brand‑new narrative adventure.
Despite the good‑bye to First Soldier, your journey through the Final Fantasy universe continues. Whether you’re playing on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, or mobile, there’s still plenty to chase, uncover, and conquer.
So, grab your chocobos—just kidding, let’s load up those new titles instead. The saga never stops; it just changes its soundtrack.
