Square Enix’s upcoming action role-playing game, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, will feature brand new story content built around Zack.
In a post showcasing highlights in the year 2024 on the PlayStation Blog, it is revealed that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will include new story content featuring Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion protagonist, Zack Fair.
The blog post states that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will feature more stories, more open lands to explore, and more surprises around every corner. One such surprise is that the game will feature brand new story content built around the legendary Soldier, Zack Fair. Whether this means there will be further deviations from the original timeline remains to be seen.
For the uninitiated, Zack Fair was first introduced as a non-player character in the original Final Fantasy VII (1997). He later appears in various Compilation of Final Fantasy VII works, such as Before Crisis, Last Order, Advent Children, and most importantly, Crisis Core, a prequel to the original game that delves into his backstory.
Despite Zack’s death before the events of Final Fantasy VII, he plays a crucial role in the game’s narrative. Cloud Strife, the main character, unknowingly incorporates parts of Zack’s past into his own due to traumatic events involving the two and Sephiroth. Though Cloud believes himself to be a member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, the true story belongs to Zack, with Cloud being his friend and a regular soldier. Zack sacrificed himself to protect Cloud from Shinra’s army, leading to Cloud’s distorted memories of the events.
Zack was not originally part of the development for Final Fantasy VII, but scenario writer Kazushige Nojima introduced him to add mystery to the storyline and complicate Cloud’s background. Designed by Tetsuya Nomura, Zack’s last name, “Fair,” contrasts with Cloud’s last name, Strife. The staff decided to use the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand on Zack’s character, providing more depth to his conceptual backstory.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set for release exclusively for PS5 on February 29, 2024.
