2020, the swan song year for the PlayStation 4, has borne gargantuan fruit for Sony. Three of Sony’s biggest exclusive titles, Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last Of Us Part 2, and Ghost of Tsushima, have produced grandiose sales numbers. The first to release of the big three, FFVII Remake, has recently been confirmed to have sold over 5 million digital copies worldwide. An impressive feat that will surely grow further. This total has given Final Fantasy VII Remake the top spot in terms of digital sales for both Sony and Square Enix.
Apart from crafting brand-new and overwhelmingly invigorating stories, this generation has provided fresh takes on classics. We were reunited with Lara Croft and platformed alongside Crash and Spyro. Kratos was born anew and Persona 5 became Persona 5 Royale. One of the best offerings Sony provided was a ground-up remake of a PlayStation 2 classic, Shadow of the Colossus. However, the creme de la creme of remakes and remasters, without a doubt, was Final Fantasy VII Remake.
The RPG brought fans, new and old, back to Midgar. The magical setting of one of Final Fantasy’s more beloved installments comes to life in the most beautiful way possible. Combat has been reimagined and modernized. The clanks of Cloud’s Buster Sword against bodies and steal are merely compliments to the elegance of the game’s shadows and lighting.
Given the multi-year hype leading up to the game’s release and the, across the board, positive reviews, the title’s success is unsurprising. That said, the fact that its digital sales have set records for Sony speaks volumes about Final Fantasy VII Remake. On the Sony side, Cloud and the gang are up against the likes of Kratos, Aloy, and Nathan Drake. When all is said and done, Jin from Ghost of Tsushima or Ellie and TLOU2 may catch up. But until then, it’s necessary to recognize the accomplishments of Square Enix, Sony, and Cloud Strife.
