Which is the best version of Final Fantasy VII Remake? PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC, Steam Deck, and PS4 Compared

It’s strange and amusing to think back to 2015 and the incredible E3 where Final Fantasy VII Remake was first shown. Although we didn’t get to play the first part until 2020 on PS4, it’s been interesting to experience it again and again as Square Enix has released it on more platforms. Now, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

With the new Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox on the horizon, I’ve been diving back into this game on a bunch of different platforms – the Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck, ROG Ally (both Steam and Xbox versions), PS4 Pro, and PS5 (playing both the native PS5 version and checking how it runs on PS4). I wanted to see how it holds up on today’s hardware and figure out which version runs the best, so I can help you choose the perfect way to play!

This article compares the current version of Final Fantasy VII Remake to other recent updates and remakes from Square Enix. That includes looks at Final Fantasy IX’s 25th anniversary editions, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, 30 years of Chrono Trigger, Triangle Strategy, and the HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest I, II, and III. This comparison is based on the complete game, not the demo version.

Final Fantasy VII Remake release timeline

Final Fantasy VII Remake has seen a unique release history across different platforms, including new features and downloadable content. Before diving into the various versions and how they differ, it’s helpful to understand this release journey.

June 2015: Final Fantasy VII Remake is announced for release first on PlayStation 4.
April 2020: Final Fantasy VII Remake finally launches on PlayStation 4 worldwide as the first part of the Final Fantasy VII remake project.
June 2021: Final Fantasy VII Remake launches for PlayStation 5 as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade featuring Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode Intermission included and a plethora of visual improvements and fixes.
December 2021: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade launches for PC via the Epic Games Store.
June 2022: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade launches for PC via Steam with full Steam Deck Verification.
January 2026: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade launches for Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

Final Fantasy VII Remake feature differences across platforms

The original Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 4 only includes the main game. Enhanced visuals and the “Episode INTERmission” DLC featuring Yuffie were initially available only on PlayStation 5 and will be included in future versions of the game. The PlayStation 5 version, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, not only features the Yuffie DLC and improved graphics, but also a performance mode and fixes to visual problems like poor textures on doors, ground, and the sky that were present in the original release.

As a big Final Fantasy VII Remake fan, I was a little bummed to find out the PS4 version didn’t get some of the quality-of-life updates that came to the PS5, PC, Switch 2, and Xbox versions – things like being able to skip cutscenes easily or progress through the game a bit faster. Thankfully, the developers are fixing this! They’re adding the Streamlined Progression feature to the PS5 and PC versions right away, which will bring them in line with the newer ports. Right now, the original PS4 version is the only one still missing out on these gameplay improvements, but hopefully they’ll address that too!

Final Fantasy VII Remake visuals and performance differences across PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC, and PS4

The original Final Fantasy VII Remake for PS4 and PS4 Pro had some visual drawbacks despite generally looking good. Specifically, textures on floors, doors, and even the sky appeared low-quality on both consoles. While the PS4 Pro offered a sharper image, these issues were still noticeable. When the game was updated as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for PS5, these texture problems were fixed, resulting in a much clearer and improved visual experience.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade improved the game’s visuals with better lighting, fog effects, and fixed textures. It also included a performance mode that ran at 60 frames per second, though this meant a lower resolution. I played the original game on PS4 Pro and then the updated version on PS5 using the performance mode. Even at 30fps, the original game felt good to play, but the biggest improvements in Intergrade, for me, were the visual upgrades – specifically the fixed textures and enhanced lighting.

The images you see here were taken using a high-quality capture card, comparing the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (running at 60 frames per second) to the docked Nintendo Switch 2. The images have been zoomed in to highlight the differences between the consoles. For the clearest comparison, please view the full-size images, not just the smaller thumbnails in this article.

As a big Final Fantasy fan, I was really disappointed with the PC port of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. It honestly feels pretty rough around the edges. The graphics options are super limited, and I kept running into stuttering issues. What bothered me most was the forced dynamic resolution scaling – they didn’t even give us the option to use upscaling! It was a real step down compared to how well Final Fantasy XV ran on PC. Thankfully, it played much better on the Steam Deck – I noticed way less stuttering. In fact, I ended up finishing the whole game on my Steam Deck, and it was a fantastic portable experience, even if it couldn’t consistently hit 60fps. It was frustrating though, because with a mod, the game could have easily maintained a solid 30fps without the dynamic resolution scaling.

Please note that the images shown were taken using the screenshot tools on the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and the Switch 2 handheld device, as these are currently the only ways to capture gameplay from these systems. The images have been cropped to highlight the differences between them. For the clearest comparison, please view the full-size images, not just the thumbnails within this article. ‘DRS’ indicates that dynamic resolution scaling was forced on in the PC version of the game.

Even after the PC release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the PS5 version remained the superior experience, despite the PC being able to run at a smoother 120fps. Unfortunately, the PC version still hasn’t been properly optimized, and the recent PC release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth wasn’t much better. It lacks detailed graphical settings, sticking to basic resolution and frame rate options. It’s limited to a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, suffered from stuttering due to a lack of pre-compiled shaders at launch, and ultimately doesn’t look any better than the PS5 version.

I was excited that the release of Rebirth on multiple platforms, with features like DLSS, might finally lead Square Enix to improve the original Remake’s PC version. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. Surprisingly, the Switch 2 version is currently the only one that officially includes DLSS support.

I’ve been playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on my handheld PCs, and it’s still holding up really well! On the ROG Ally, I could mostly hit a solid 40-50fps at 1080p – though the game does dynamically adjust the resolution, so it wasn’t always perfect. Even in the DLC areas, it ran smoothly, especially indoors or during easier sections. On the Steam Deck, I could get around 40fps at 720p, but honestly, locking the framerate to 30fps made for a much more consistent experience. And playing on the OLED Steam Deck with HDR? That’s the real winner. In fact, the HDR on the OLED Steam Deck is the only reason I’d choose the PC version over the Switch 2 for handheld play – the Switch 2 just burns through battery way too fast when running this game.

This week sees the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S. The demo available didn’t showcase the areas where the game previously had issues on the PS4, like texture quality, nor did it show off the Yuffie DLC that was originally exclusive to the PS5. I’m happy to say that, based on my testing, the game – including the Yuffie DLC – runs very well on both new platforms. The Xbox Series X version is nearly identical to the PS5 version, offering the same graphical options and performance modes.

Let’s move on to the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. It’s a fantastic port of an already great game, and the way it uses DLSS is really impressive. However, there are a few minor visual issues – specifically with character hair and some slight graininess in certain scenes. You’ll mostly notice this when playing on a TV, and it’s particularly visible on posters and walls when you start the Yuffie DLC. Aside from that, and some blurriness in the menus when docked and played on a 1440p display, I have no complaints about Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2.

The images you see were taken using a high-quality capture card, showing the Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X running at 60 frames per second while docked. We’ve cropped the images to highlight the differences between the consoles. For the clearest comparison, please view the full-size image, not just the thumbnail. This allows you to see the noticeable graininess in the Switch 2’s environments and details, which is more apparent than on the PS5 and Xbox, even when those consoles are running at 60fps.

I really hoped for a mode that prioritized frame rate – something around 40fps at 120hz when playing handheld – but overall, this is one of the best games I’ve seen run on the Switch 2 so far. It might not sound like a huge achievement given the game originally came out on the PlayStation 4, but considering how poorly optimized some other games like Street Fighter 6 were on the Switch 2, Square Enix has done an amazing job. This version not only plays great in handheld mode, but it also loads much faster than I anticipated, based on my experience with other Switch 2 ports.

Final Fantasy VII Remake door comparison across Switch 2, PS4 Pro, PS5, Xbox, PC, and Steam Deck

I actually dedicated a whole section of the article to discussing that one door in Final Fantasy VII Remake. If you haven’t played the game on any system, you might be confused why I keep mentioning it – it’s something you might not even recall from previous versions. The reason it’s important is that on the PS4 and PS4 Pro, the door simply didn’t load properly, looking significantly outdated compared to everything else in the game whenever Cloud approached it.

The images you see were taken using a high-quality capture card, comparing gameplay from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (running at 60 frames per second) with the Nintendo Switch 2 (while docked) and the PlayStation 4 Pro. We’ve cropped the images to clearly highlight the visual differences between the consoles. For the best view, please see the full-size image, not just the smaller thumbnail shown here.

As a huge Final Fantasy VII Remake fan, I was so relieved when Intergrade fixed those annoying door loading issues on PS5 and PC! And thankfully, it looks like those problems are completely gone on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X too. While the Switch 2 version isn’t quite as sharp as the PS5 version – you can definitely notice a bit of a downgrade in resolution – I’m happy to report that doors and everything else load perfectly, even when playing in handheld mode. I’ve put together a comparison showing how the door looks on PS4 Pro, PS5, Xbox Series X, and the Switch 2 while docked, and another image showing it on the Steam Deck, Switch 2 handheld, and ROG Ally.

Please note that the images shown were taken using the screenshot tools on the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and the Switch 2 handheld device, as these are currently the only ways to capture gameplay from these systems. The images have been cropped to highlight the differences between them. For the clearest comparison, please view the full-size images rather than the thumbnails presented in this article. “DRS” indicates that dynamic resolution scaling was forced on in the PC version of the game.

Final Fantasy VII Remake load times across Switch 2, PS5, Steam Deck, Xbox, Xbox on PC, and PS4 Pro

Load times in Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS4 weren’t consistent throughout the game, depending on the chapter. To get accurate comparisons between platforms, I always started from the same point – a save file from Chapter 3. I measured how long it took to load that save, and also timed how quickly I could get to the main menu from the PlayStation dashboard, skipping all logos and animations by rapidly pressing the confirm button.

I tested Final Fantasy VII Remake across several platforms: the PS4 and PS5 versions, the PS4 version using the PS5’s storage, and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED models), and PC. I also tested the PC version on the ROG Ally. All load times listed below are in seconds, and if you see a range, it represents the fastest and slowest times I recorded during testing over several days.

Platform	Dashboard to title	Loading save file
PS5	3	1 – 2
Switch 2	14	11
Xbox Series X	12	3 – 4
Steam Deck OLED	17 – 19	16
Steam Deck LCD	20	21
ROG Ally Steam	9	11
ROG Ally Xbox on PC	28	14
PS4 Pro	21 – 25	30 – 32
PS4 on PS5	18	34
PS4 on PS5 SSD	13	24

The PS5 is clearly the fastest across the board. The Switch 2 performs very well too, and the Xbox Series X loads saves second only to the PS5. Xbox (both on console and PC) loading times can change depending on how quickly it syncs data, but it’s still generally slower than the Steam version. While this is typical, it would be great if Microsoft could speed up syncing and startup times to match Steam. As expected, the PS4 version is the slowest, but it benefits from being played on a PS5 with its faster storage. Overall, the PS5 and Switch 2 versions are the most impressive, especially considering how quickly Switch 2 handles third-party games.

Which version of Final Fantasy VII Remake is the best?

I’ll break down the best ways to play depending on whether you’re on TV or handheld. A lot of people want to revisit this game, and how you play really impacts the experience. Right now, the PS5, heavily modded PC (though it needs a lot of tweaking), and Xbox Series X versions offer the best visuals on a TV or monitor. The Switch 2 version still looks great if you’re using a monitor with a resolution of 1440p or lower. Don’t let me pointing out visual issues mislead you – it’s a fantastic game to play on the go and still looks good when docked. The PS4 version and the standard PC release are definitely the least enjoyable ways to play. I’m surprised the PC version hasn’t received more updates since it launched.

Please note that the images you see here were taken using the screenshot features of the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and the Switch 2 handheld device, as these are currently the only ways to capture gameplay from these systems. The images have been cropped to clearly highlight the differences between them. For the best view, please see the full-size images rather than the thumbnails shown in this article. “DRS” in the images indicates that dynamic resolution scaling was forced on the PC version of the game.

Which is the best portable version of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade?

When it comes to playing on the go, the Steam Deck OLED and other handheld PCs have fewer problems than the PC version. However, the Switch 2 offers the most consistently smooth experience with a clearer picture on its screen. While you can get faster speeds on the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, they often require adjustments and a fix using a mod to address scaling issues. The PC version can be improved for handhelds with some effort, but for the best experience right away – especially with great image quality, even in the Yuffie DLC – I recommend the Switch 2.

As a huge Final Fantasy VII Remake fan, I’ve been really impressed with the Switch 2 version. We’ve all seen PC ports go wrong, and while the Steam Deck version of Remake Intergrade is okay, it doesn’t compare to truly great PC ports like the Trails games. But the Switch 2 version? It feels like a really polished port, not something thrown together quickly, and honestly, it looks fantastic for a handheld. If you’re new to the game and want the best portable experience, I’d definitely recommend checking it out on the Switch 2.

Which version of Final Fantasy VII Remake should you buy today?

To wrap up this comparison of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, here’s a rundown of what each version of the game does best.

Final Fantasy VII Remake on PS4: Don’t buy or play this unless you have no other option. The only advantage is the free PS5 upgrade option for the base game here and you likely owning it through PS+ or it being very cheap in general to buy now.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on PS5: If you want to play on your TV, want the fastest load times, and don’t care about portable play (unless you stream to a PlayStation Portal or phone), this is the version to get and the best console version. Both the 60fps and 30fps quality modes are fantastic.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Switch 2: If you want the most stable and best handheld experience right now, this is the one to get. Just note that the battery life playing in handheld is quite a bit worse than I expected even compared to demanding games. While it is not bad docked, this is the one to get if you see yourself mostly playing handheld with some docked play or purely handheld.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on PC: I don’t recommend the PC version unless you are ok spending time modding it to fix the issues and lack of options. This is still one of Square Enix’s weakest PC ports of the last five years. With mods on desktop or even to play on the go via Steam Deck OLED, this is an acceptable version of the game. I also recommend the Steam version over the Xbox on PC version for playing on PC since the Steam release has faster load times. I would only buy this if you want to play on Steam Deck.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Xbox: If you have access to a PC handheld or play on Xbox Series consoles and PC, the Play Anywhere feature is a big selling point in addition to the Quick Resume feature on Xbox for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Unfortunately, the load times are longer here and vary depending on the syncing status and time like with other games on the platform. Both the 60fps and 30fps quality modes are fantastic on Xbox Series X.

Hopefully, this information helped you choose where to buy Final Fantasy VII Remake. And if you already have it, maybe it will inspire you to play it again with the new Streamlined Progression feature!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade can now be played on Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC. The original Final Fantasy VII Remake is available for PlayStation 4.

2026-01-21 14:03