It’s impressive how much people love Yuffie Kisaragi, the Final Fantasy 7 series' spunky (and sneaky) thief from Wutai, given she was only an optional party member in the original. As might be expected, then, many people would like to try the Yuffie-focused DLC episode coming to the remake later this year. Yet, after the DLC announcement aired, many PS4 owners wondered whether they would be able to play the DLC without upgrading to the PS5 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Unfortunately, the DLC episode will be exclusive to the PS5 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. This means that everyone who downloads the PS4 version as one of their March PlayStation Plus games is out of luck, even if they play this version on the PS5. In order to upgrade to the PS5 version and access the Yuffie DLC, players must have purchased Final Fantasy 7 Remake outside of the PS Plus promotion. This is a rather baffling strategy, but it could shine light on some aspects of the DLC that have yet to be fully explained.
What the DLC’s PS5 Exclusivity Means for Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Future
Of course, the decision to make Yuffie’s story a PlayStation 5 exclusive could simply be a sales decision. In other words, it could incentivize PlayStation 4 owners to seek out an upgraded console, when there is otherwise little reason to upgrade. After all, for the first year of its lifespan, almost every blockbuster PS5 game will also debut on PS4. As a result, PS4 owners may not be in a hurry to upgrade, so perhaps this is why the Yuffie DLC marks the first time that a cross-generation PS5 game has exclusive content. It does not present an urgent need to upgrade to the next-generation console, but serves as a gentle nudge.
It’s also possible that Yuffie’s story demands the PlayStation 5’s increased processing power in some way. As the overall game will receive numerous technical enhancements on the PS5, the DLC could include set pieces too demanding for the PS4. These could include elaborate battle sequences, or some kind of location-switching system that relies on the systems’ lightning-fast load times, in the style of the upcoming Ratchet and Clank game. This could end up being very exciting if Yuffie encounters the Whispers in some form. While Cloud's encounters with the mysterious timestream protectors were disconcerting in the base game, improved processing power could result in something even more elaborate and nightmarish for Yuffie to overcome.
Alternatively, rather than taking advantage of the PS5 itself, the DLC may require features exclusive to the DualSense controller. For instance, stealth gameplay could integrate subtle changes in haptic feedback to reflect the movements of patrolling Shinra guards. Given how impressive this kind of feedback proved to be in PlayStation 5 launch title Astro’s Playroom, it’s not hard to see it being used to strong effect in Yuffie’s DLC story. This would be a clever way to justify PS5 exclusivity without needing to push the PS5 hardware to its limits.
While highly speculative, perhaps there is even a plot-based reason for Yuffie’s story to remain exclusive to the PS5. The full title of the PS5 version of the game is Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, with the added term being used in biological sciences to indicate a series of transitions before two things combine into a new form, potentially hinting at alterations to the plot of the base game. It's possible, for instance, that Cloud's otherworldly confrontation with Sephiroth on the edge of Midgar altered details of the past in ways the player will see playing Intergrade. If the Yuffie DLC’s plot is only compatible with the altered base game plot, it’s only natural it would be a PS5 exclusive.
Finally, there may be an administrative reason for the DLC release strategy. The developer may be consolidating its efforts behind a single version of the DLC, rather than needing to test it on two consoles at once. This could help to expedite development time and ultimately bring Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 to gamers faster. The more time the team needs to spend on Yuffie’s DLC, the less time it can presumably spend on continuing the adventures of Cloud and his allies. As it has already been about a year since the base game's release, fans and developers alike are probably eager to begin thinking about the next installment in earnest.
Why the DLC’s PS5 Exclusivity Could Cause Problems Down the Road
There are a few reasons why players who miss out on Yuffie’s exploits could be at a disadvantage later on. For example, it is possible that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 will integrate a save data bonus for those with a completed save of Final Fantasy 7. The game could, in theory, carry over the party’s stats from the first game, giving players a slight advantage as Cloud and friends heads to Kalm. It's quite possible that Yuffie will join the main party in Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2. Players who spend time with Yuffie in the new DLC may also be able to carry her stats over to future appearances. This could put anyone who hasn’t played the DLC at a disadvantage whenever the next game rolls around and they transfer their save data from PS4 to PS5.
Plus, it may be too early for Sony and Square Enix to make a promotional push for the PS5. While the PS5 has had an explosively successful launch, demand still greatly outweighs supply, Many, many PlayStation 4 owners would like to have a PlayStation 5, yet cannot get one due to stores running out of stock. Punishing those stuck with a PS4 by denying them access to the Yuffie DLC may rub some players the wrong way. Being forced to watch someone else play the DLC online could deprive players of an exciting adventure on their own.
Still, no matter what happens, it is exciting to see Yuffie return. Her story raises all sorts of interesting points regarding the larger Final Fantasy 7 universe, and could provide some exciting teases for the next segment of Cloud’s journey. While it would certainly be nice for both PS4 and PS5 owners to access Yuffie’s story, PS5 exclusivity will eventually become the norm, and players will have to take it or leave it regarding Yuffie’s DLC.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade launches June 10 for PS5.
