FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE retells and expands the original FINAL FANTASY VII’s Midgar story; FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is the next installment, following Cloud and his companions beyond the city into a wider world. Remake is more tightly focused on its central narrative, while Rebirth gives players more room to explore, take on side quests, and play minigames. The intended order is Remake Intergrade first, then Rebirth.
So the short version is: these are two consecutive parts of a larger remake project, not two versions of the same game. If you are deciding where to begin, start with Remake Intergrade. If you have finished it and want to follow the party into new locations and a less linear-feeling structure, Rebirth is the continuation.
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Are Remake and Rebirth different editions of the same game?
No. They are successive installments in Square Enix’s multi-part remake project, not alternative editions of one complete game. Remake Intergrade covers the Midgar portion of the original story, with additional scenes and narrative layers. Rebirth is the second installment in the project and continues the journey after the party escapes Midgar.
That distinction matters if you are choosing which one to play: Rebirth is a continuation, not a replacement for Remake. The intended play order is FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, followed by FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.
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Think of the titles as chapters in an ongoing retelling. Remake takes the Midgar section and expands it with further scenes and narrative layers; it does not cover the entire original game. Rebirth then follows Cloud and the party as they leave the city and travel through a wider setting. Buying Rebirth alone therefore means beginning with the second installment of this project, rather than getting a fuller edition of the first one.
What changes in the story and setting?
| Game | Story scope | Setting and focus |
|---|---|---|
| FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE | The Midgar portion of the original story, expanded for the remake project. | Primarily focused on the events in Midgar and the party’s escape from the city. |
| FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH | The next part of the remake project, beginning with the escape from Midgar. | Cloud and the party travel across the wider world, visiting places including Junon, Costa del Sol, the Gold Saucer, and Cosmo Canyon. |
The scope is the clearest difference: the first game concentrates on one major section of the original story, while the second follows the party through a broader set of locations. Rebirth is still a story-led adventure; the larger setting adds more opportunities to branch into activities along the way.
Square Enix co-director Motomu Toriyama described Rebirth as beginning with Cloud and the party’s escape from Midgar, then telling the story of their journey across the world. That starting point links the two games directly: the city’s exit is the transition from the first installment into the next, not an unrelated new adventure. Places named in Square Enix’s description of the broader journey include Junon, Costa del Sol, the Gold Saucer, and Cosmo Canyon.
The contrast is about scope and emphasis, not a claim that one game contains a complete story and the other is merely optional. Remake gives Midgar a focused, expanded treatment. Rebirth widens the canvas and changes the rhythm by pairing its central story with more opportunities to explore and take diversions. Both remain parts of the same larger project.
How do the gameplay structures differ?
Remake: a tighter narrative focus
Director Naoki Hamaguchi described the first Remake as “very much a story-driven game.” Its structure keeps attention on the expanded Midgar narrative. That does not mean it has no exploration or optional activities; the useful distinction is that its overall focus is more concentrated than Rebirth’s.
If you prefer a more direct route through a defined stretch of the story, that focus may suit you. The setting and narrative are centered on Midgar, and the game’s place in the series is clear: it establishes this project’s expanded retelling before the party’s journey opens outward. It is not accurate to describe it as having no freedom or exploration; the distinction supported by the director’s comments is one of relative emphasis.
Rebirth: more ways to spend time in the world
For Rebirth, Hamaguchi said the team added more “freedom, choice, and exploration” in response to player requests. The game opens with a story-focused chapter, then lets players branch into exploration, side quests with their own storylines and activities, and minigames such as Queen’s Blood.
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- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: o "Graphics Mode" prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics o "Performance Mode" prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
In practical terms, choose Remake if you want a more tightly focused progression through the Midgar story. Expect Rebirth to offer more opportunities to decide how to spend time between major story developments. The added choice changes the pace and breadth of play, rather than removing the dramatic main story.
That opening-to-branching structure is useful to keep in mind if you are wondering whether Rebirth is all side content. Its opening chapter remains story-focused. The broader activities become another way to engage once the story has established its direction. Side quests have distinct storylines and activities, while minigames provide additional diversions; Queen’s Blood is one example specifically identified by Square Enix. The design description supports a broader menu of things to do, not a guarantee that every player will want to complete every activity.
The directors’ comments also help frame what “more open” means here. Hamaguchi called the original Remake a story-driven game and said the team responded to requests by adding layers of freedom, choice, and exploration in Rebirth. Read that as an intentional shift in structure. It does not mean the first game has no optional play, or that the second stops prioritizing the main plot. If you like to alternate between story and diversions, Rebirth makes more room for that pattern.
What does “Intergrade” add?
Intergrade is the enhanced version of Remake. It includes visual and system enhancements—improved textures, lighting, and background environments; Graphics and Performance modes; Photo Mode; and PS5 DualSense features—as well as FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a Yuffie-led side story.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesINTERmission takes place during the same general story period as Remake and provides a parallel perspective. It is an additional episode within the Intergrade package, not the next main installment; Rebirth is the continuation of the main journey. The official store lists June 10, 2021, as Intergrade’s release date.
That distinction can clear up a common naming question. “Intergrade” refers to the enhanced Remake package and its listed improvements; “INTERmission” is the Yuffie episode included with it. The episode follows Yuffie on a mission in Midgar and offers a parallel point of view during the general period covered by the main game. It adds narrative material, but it does not take the place of the next main installment in the sequence.
The enhancements Square Enix lists are specific: improved textures, lighting, and background environments; a choice between Graphics and Performance modes; Photo Mode; and PS5 DualSense features. These are presentation and system features associated with Intergrade. They are separate from the story-scope distinction between Remake and Rebirth, and they should not be mistaken for a different chapter of the main journey.
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Square Enix’s official store lists June 10, 2021, as the release date for Intergrade. That date identifies the release listing for this enhanced version; it does not provide a current price or tell you which regional or platform-specific listing is currently available.
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Does the platform change the content?
Square Enix support says the game content is the same across platforms, while graphics and optional settings may vary with the hardware. That means platform-dependent presentation or settings should not be confused with a different story. Availability, edition names, and current store listings can change, so check the listing for the platform and region you plan to use before buying.
When comparing listings, separate three questions: which installment it is, which edition or package is being sold, and which platform the listing covers. The title FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE identifies the enhanced first installment; FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH identifies the second. The platform can affect graphics or optional settings, according to Square Enix support, but its statement is that game content is the same across platforms.
Do not assume a particular platform or edition is mandatory simply because it appears in a store listing. Check the product page for the region and system you intend to use, and confirm what is included in that specific package. Platform availability and edition details can change. Current prices, stock, regional availability, and retailer terms are not established by the game descriptions, so compare live listings rather than relying on an old price or an assumed discount.
Which one should you play first?
- Start with FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE. It introduces this remake project’s expanded telling of the Midgar story and includes Yuffie’s INTERmission episode.
- Continue with FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH. It picks up after the party leaves Midgar and carries the story into the wider world.
The sequence follows the games’ narrative order. The available information does not establish that a particular platform or edition is mandatory beyond that order; confirm the current platform-specific store listing for the version you intend to play.
For someone new to this remake project, that order gives the story transition its intended context: first the expanded Midgar events, then the journey after the escape. For someone who has already played Remake, Rebirth is the next main installment, whereas INTERmission is an additional Yuffie-led episode associated with the first game. The distinction matters if you are choosing what to buy next: the side episode adds another perspective, while Rebirth moves the main journey forward.
If you are deciding between them based on play style, the research-backed comparison is about emphasis rather than a binary genre split. Remake is the more concentrated Midgar narrative. Rebirth keeps a dramatic main story but adds a wider world, side quests, activities, and minigames. A player looking for a continuation should choose Rebirth after Remake; a player who has not started should begin with Remake Intergrade.
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- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
Is Rebirth a sequel to Remake?
It is the next installment in Square Enix’s remake project and follows the party’s escape from Midgar. It continues the main journey rather than offering an alternate edition of the first game. Square Enix calls Rebirth the second title in the trilogy, so it should be understood as a later part of the larger retelling.
Do I need to play Remake before Rebirth?
The recommended order is Remake Intergrade first, then Rebirth. That follows the story progression from the Midgar portion to the party’s wider journey. The information here establishes that narrative order, but does not establish that a particular platform or edition is mandatory beyond it. If you are new to the project and want the story in sequence, start with Remake Intergrade.
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What does Remake Intergrade include?
Square Enix describes Intergrade as the enhanced version of Remake. Its listed features include improved textures, lighting, and background environments; Graphics and Performance modes; Photo Mode; and PS5 DualSense features. The package also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a Yuffie-led side story set in the same general period and told from a parallel perspective.
Does Rebirth replace Remake?
No. The games cover different portions of the multi-part project. Remake Intergrade focuses on Midgar, while Rebirth continues after the party leaves the city. They are not two editions of one game, and Rebirth is not described as a replacement for the first installment.
Is Rebirth more open than Remake?
Square Enix’s director described Rebirth as adding more freedom, choice, and exploration. Its broader structure includes a story-focused opening followed by opportunities for exploration, side quests, and minigames such as Queen’s Blood. The comparison is relative: Remake remains story-driven, and Rebirth still has a dramatic main story.
Which locations are in Rebirth?
Square Enix identifies Junon, Costa del Sol, the Gold Saucer, and Cosmo Canyon among the locations in the wider journey. Those examples illustrate how the story moves beyond Midgar; the games’ core difference is not simply a list of destinations, but the shift from a focused city narrative to travel across a broader world.
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Does Intermission come before Rebirth?
INTERmission is a Yuffie-led side story included with Intergrade, taking place in the same general story period as Remake and offering a parallel perspective. It is not the next main installment. For the main story sequence, play Remake Intergrade and then Rebirth.
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- An Expansive World: As the party searches for Sephiroth, explore the beautiful, expansive regions of the world and open up new areas to discover through unique forms of transportation
- Deepen their relationships to unleash powerful team based combos
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- Beyond the Walls of Fate: In this standalone adventure for fans and newcomers, Cloud and his comrades venture across the planet, their fates unwritten, making each step outside the dystopian city of Midgar fresh and mysterious
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s different between Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth?
Remake Intergrade expands the Midgar portion of the original story, while Rebirth is the next installment, following the party beyond Midgar. Rebirth has a broader exploration structure, with side quests and minigames alongside its main story.
Is Rebirth a sequel to Remake?
Yes. Square Enix describes Rebirth as the second title in the remake project’s trilogy. It begins with the party’s escape from Midgar and continues their journey.
Do I need to play Remake before Rebirth?
The intended order is FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE first, followed by FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH. That follows the story from Midgar into the wider world.
What does Remake Intergrade include?
It is the enhanced version of Remake, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments; Graphics and Performance modes; Photo Mode; PS5 DualSense features; and the Yuffie-led FF7R EPISODE INTERmission.
Is Intermission the same as Rebirth?
No. INTERmission is a Yuffie-led side story included with Intergrade, set during the general period of Remake. Rebirth is the next main installment.
Are the story contents different across platforms?
Square Enix support says the game content is the same across platforms, though graphics and optional settings may vary with hardware. Check the current listing for your platform and region for edition details.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Remake Intergrade is the expanded Midgar chapter and includes Yuffie’s INTERmission episode plus listed visual and system enhancements. Rebirth is the second installment, taking Cloud and the party into the wider world with more exploration, side quests, and minigames. For the intended story order, play Remake Intergrade first and Rebirth second; check the current platform-specific listing before buying.
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