While game collecting is, by its very definition, as old as the medium itself, it’s safe to say that the hobby has exploded in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. With everyone hunkering at home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was inevitable that gamers, new and old, would get nostalgic for the classics. While sales of individual games pushing past the $1 million mark are far from normal, plenty of new and old titles have begun to command some staggering prices. When it comes to PlayStation 5 games, however, one title has, all things considered, gotten insanely expensive: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade.
As detailed on PriceCharting, the Intergrade version of Final Fantasy VII Remake has shot up in value. At the time of writing, loose copies of the game are averaging just under $100 (well, technically, $97.55), with complete-in-box copies coming in a bit higher at $110. Those looking for a sealed copy will have to shell out even more, with recent sales averaging out to around $150.
Of course, some caveats are worth mentioning. For starters, PriceCharting sources most of its data from sold eBay listings. Games tend to cost a smidge more on eBay as opposed to a local purchase since sellers are looking to make up for the fact that eBay takes around 15% of the sale price, give or take, once fees and taxes are added up. Secondly, for the purposes of this article, we’ve only included standard editions of retail releases — things can get even pricier if you begin adding special editions and limited print games into the mix. For example, sealed collector’s editions of Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate III can easily go for $1,500.
So, why have North American copies of Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade gotten so expensive? It’s hard to nail down a definitive answer, but having asked a few collectors, it seems like it largely comes down to two things. With the game launching in June 2021, it looks like Square Enix issued a smaller-than-normal print run, perhaps anticipating that gamers would opt for a digital copy rather than waiting for an Amazon delivery or venturing outdoors to pick up one at a brick-and-mortar store. To add insult to injury, the physical version of Remake: Intergrade includes a one-time use voucher to access the game’s Yuffie DLC, which means that most used copies of the game are, for all intents and purposes, useless.
For those who are desperate to add a sealed copy to their collection, there is one route you can take. Instead of picking up a pricy North American copy, just snag yourself a PEGI/European version of Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade, which (at the time of writing) will only set you back around $40.
