Everything we know about Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade

Final Fantasy VII Remake has only just begun. A mere year after the saga’s first entry debuted on PS4, developer and publisher Square Enix has revealed plans to launch a spiffed-up version of the game exclusively for the PlayStation 5.

FF7 Remake: Intergrade is the definitive edition of the game. It features new content, performance enhancements, and the big Remake-debut of everyone’s favorite party member, Yuffie.

Here's everything we know about FF7 Remake: Intergrade.

When is the FF7 Remake: Intergrade release date?

FF7 Remake: Intergrade will be released on June 10, 2021.

When is the FF7 Remake: Intergrade release date for Xbox Series X and PC?

The release date for FF7 Remake: Intergrade on non-PlayStation consoles has yet to be confirmed, but the latest trailer for Intergrade has confirmed the game will be exclusive to PS5 for at least six months, placing the earliest release date for Intergrade on December 10, 2021.

Is there a trailer for FF7 Remake: Intergrade?

Yes, there's one that you can watch right here.

The trailer initially walks us through familiar scenes from FF7 Remake that have been remastered for the new release. This includes straight-up spoiling the end of FF7 Remake.

It then shifts focus to new content that's exclusive to Intergrade, namely adding fan-favorite characters like Yuffie, Weiss, and Nero. Yuffie will be playable in the game's upgraded version during her specific adventures. You'll be able to use Yuffie to explore new sections of Midgar and fight in battle.

It's unknown if you'll be able to use her in other sections of the game like the Shinra Combat Simulator. Yuffie will be joined by a new character named Sonon Kusakabe.

The trailer clarifies that the Intergrade story takes place at least in part before Shinra drops Plate number 7 on Midgar. It’s unknown when the Intergrade narrative will conclude in relation to the main story. We also see that Fort Condor, the illustrious fortress from the original FF7 that housed a particularly large Materia, aptly called Huge Materia, has been transformed into a tabletop game.

The last big thing seems to be that players will be able to summon Ramuh in the DLC, who was absent in the original game.

This trailer seems to clarify involvement from the two Dirge of Cerberus characters spotted in previous trailers: Weiss and Nero.

Weiss appears to be a boss in the Shinra Combat Simulator that can be challenged by Cloud and his pals. Meanwhile, Nero is shown being challenged by Yuffie and Sonon in a setting that appears to be the real world. Perhaps he’s a boss that’s met during Intergrade’s main story?

Some have also claimed to spot Vincent, Dirge of Cerberus’ protagonist, in the trailer.

Square Enix also released an additional trailer on March 21, 2021 that details the extended and enhanced features that’ll come with the upgraded PS5 version of the game.

The trailer’s main focus is on showcasing the visual upgrades for the PS5 version of the main game. We see several early sequences from the game, many of them shown with a wiping effect to show the before and after. In general, animations look smoother, lighting is more dynamic, and various textures are seen in finer detail. Even subtler details like fog effects have been improved drastically, which are prominent in sections like the sewers, train graveyard, and Honeybee Inn dance sequence.

We also see the effects of different visual modes. The Graphics Optimization mode priorities displaying graphics at 4K resolution whereas Performance Optimization Mode prioritizes maintaining a framerate of 60 frames-per-second. Also detailed here is the addition of the Normal “Classic” mode where attacking and defending happen automatically. There’s also a fairly in-depth photo mode that allows for photos to be taken and edited during battle, cutscenes, or any other in-game moment.

There’s also a brief snippet of Yuffie and her partner Sonon fighting a massive Shinra robot, and a sequence where she’s platforming across boxes lined up on a piece of machinery.

What is the FF7 Remake: Intergrade Yuffie episode title?

As part of an April 2021 press release, Square Enix announced that the new Yuffie episode would be titled “FF7R EPISODE INTERmission.”

What is the FF7 Remake: Intergrade story?

The base game has the same story as FF7 Remake. According to a press release, Yuffie comes to Midgar to steal a powerful Materia from the Shinra Corporation that might be used to save her homeland, and these events happen concurrently with the main game.

Further details emerged in an April 2021 Famitsu column translated by Twitter user @aitaikimochi: “The main Avalanche branch ... wants to protect the lives of the citizens and free them from the grip that Shinra has on them,” one section about Avalanche reads. “In order to build ties with the Wutai Government, they assist them with a plan to steal the ‘Ultimate Materia.’”

When does FF7 Remake: Intergrade take place?

According to Nomura, the story in Intergrade begins while Cloud is separate from Avalanche. It’s unknown when precisely in the timeline that Intergrade will conclude. Nomura has said that Intergrade will go directly into FF7 Remake Part 2, implying the additional story might include a new bridge between the two games.

Who are the new FF7 Remake: Intergrade characters?

Yuffie Kisaragi is the biggest addition here. She’s an optional playable character from the original games, a ninja and Materia thief you can randomly encounter in the forests of the world. Her father Godo is the leader of the entire Wutai nation, which sort of makes her a princess. In the original, Materia is banned in Wutai, but she seeks to steal lots of it to restore glory to her homeland. Things are much more complicated and nuanced in this adventure, however.

FF7 Remake has already expanded the world considerably, making Avalanche a much larger network of eco-terrorists seemingly allied with Wutai operatives in an ongoing cold war of sorts.

Yuffie’s partner Sonon Kusakabe is a member of Avalanche and a fellow ninja from Wutai who wields a massive staff. He’s said to be a slightly older masculine character who’s unlike any other character in the saga.

INTERmission will also introduce a handful of new characters related to Wutai and Avalanche networks. The April 2021 press release notes the following:

Alongside Yuffie and Sonon, additional characters were introduced for FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, including Zhijie, a Wutain who acts as the point of contact between the new Wutaian government and Avalanche HQ, members of Avalanche HQ — Nayo, Billy Bob, and Polk, and Weiss, the sadistic ruler of Shinra’s top-secret underground research center Deepground.

Here are further details from Famitsu:

• Zhijie is a blonde Wutain who exists as a connection between the Wutai government and main Avalanche branch. He shows Yuffie around the Sector 7 slums.
• Nayo is a bespectacled woman born in the slums who’s a member of the main Avalanche branch who operates as an intelligence officer, of a sort. She’s the one who receives the request for help from Wutai, devises a strategy, and prepares fake IDs for Yuffie and others.
• For the main Avalanche branch, Billy Bob collects intel from people at bars around the Midgar slums. He is allegedly “very good with alcohol” and doesn’t get drunk.
• The youngest member of Sector 7’s Avalanche branch, Polk, is treated like everyone’s younger brother. He’s also very into a video game called Fort Condor.

• Weiss is “restrained to a throne hidden deep beneath Midgar and is only released when he is being experimented on” which sounds terrifying. He’s both a lab rat but also ruler of the Deepground research facility.

Weiss is featured briefly at the end of the announcement trailer for FF7 Remake: Intergrade, and it appears like he’ll be featured as a secret boss in the Shinra Combat Simulator. Previously, he only appeared in Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus. The Deepground network does include the Underground Test Site from the base FF7 Remake game where players can fight the Type-0 Behemoth, and early INTERmission footage show Yuffie and Sonon fighting Deepground soldiers. So it’s possible Weiss might factor into the narrative as well.

Who is in the FF7 Remake: Intergrade voice cast?

Square Enix announced the English voice cast for INTERmission in April 2021:

• Yuffie Kisaragi, voiced by Suzie Yeung
• Sonon Kusakabe, voiced by Aleks Le
• Weiss, voiced by Daman Mills
• Zhijie, voiced by Griffin Puatu
• Nayo, voiced by Ashley Boettcher
• Billy Bob, voiced by David Goldstein
• Polk, voiced by Daniel Amerman

What are Yuffie gameplay and combat like?

The aforementioned April 2021 press release notes that Yuffie “shines in both close and long-range combat” through the use of her oversized throwing star and ninjutsu techniques.

As a member of Wutai's elite corps of ninja operatives, her Unique Ability allows her to throw her iconic massive throwing star at enemies. During that time, she is able to attack with long-range ninjutsu that can be augmented with her Elemental Ninjutsu ability, which can change its affinity to fire, ice, lightning, or wind.

Another ability, called “Banishment,” does more damage based on how much ATB charge was spent before it. There’s also “Windstorm” that creates a gust of wind that damages nearby enemies and pulls them towards Yuffie.

FF7 Remake series director Tetsuya Nomura confirmed in a Famitsu interview that Sonon will not be playable and that you’ll only be able to control Yuffie for her chapters.

“However, you can select commands for Sonon in Wait mode,” Nomura said. “As a new feature, Yuffie can coordinate with Sonon to perform team combos."

These team-up combo attacks seem to resemble the Link-Strike maneuvers from Final Fantasy XV where characters would work together on a single attack when flanking a target. This is a strong indication that FF7 Remake Part 2 could feature the same mechanic.

What are the changes for FF7 Remake: Intergrade?

There are numerous changes that have been made to the game, solidifying FF7 Remake: Intergrade as the definitive edition. Here's every change that we know has been made for the re-release:

• Improved textures, lighting, and background environments. Players can switch between two game modes: A new "Graphics Mode" that prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; A new "Performance Mode" that prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
• There will also be a very decked-out Photo Mode
• DualSense integration like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers
• Harder difficulty settings for Classic Mode
• Optimized loading times
• New Summons and Materia will be added

Though it hasn’t been officially mentioned by Square Enix yet, there are rumors that blood will be added throughout Intergrade’s story due to its mention in the official ESRB rating. While there wasn’t a drop to be found in the original FF7 Remake, the original game was brimming with blood splatters. Just how graphic will it be?

Is FF7 Remake: Intergrade free if you own FF7 Remake?

Some of Intergrade is free if you own the original. You can upgrade your base game at no extra cost, bringing everything over, including your save file. However, note that you'll need a PS5 with a disc drive if you previously purchased a physical version of FF7R for PlayStation 4.

However, the free upgrade won't grant you the new Yuffie episode. You'll need to cough up an additional $19.99 for the INTERmission episode.

Will there be a second DLC for FF7 Remake after Intergrade?

No, there will not be further DLC stories following Yuffie’s episode. Nomura said in an interview with Famitsu that Yuffie’s episode is the last new story for the game. All focus will now go to FF7 Remake Part 2.

However, the director doesn’t count out making DLC for future games. Perhaps Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2 will have a Cat Sith episode?

Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade is coming to PS5 on June 10, 2021.