Square Enix has unveiled a slew of new Final Fantasy 7 action figures, leaving the community on cloud nine or the slums of Midgar, depending on which one you’re talking about.
First of all, the good. Soon, fans will be able to get their hands on an action figure. (opens in a new tab) from Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Cloud in a dress from the infamous Honey Bee Inn quest. The mission involves Cloud cross-dressing so that he can infiltrate a mansion where Tifa is being held.
Some fans were wary ahead of the release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake as the original has become quite dated, though fears were soon put to rest. While the Honey Bee Inn is treated as a rough-hewn brothel in the original, what you get (opens in a new tab) in Remake it is a more inclusive cabaret nightclub (opens in a new tab). It’s a true highlight of the game, leaving fans craving Honey Bee Inn-themed Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith collectibles ever since.
AHHHH IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING JUST CONFIRMED THE VERSION OF THE CLOUD FIGURE DRESS WE HAVE WON ALL OF YOU pic.twitter.com/moEC1zom1vJuly 20, 2022
Now the bad. Square Enix is also releasing a more retro Cloud action figure that comes with an NFT. (opens in a new tab) if you feel like shelling out something extra. The move comes in partnership with the NFT ecosystem Enjin, which bills itself as an “eco-conscious blockchain destination.” [users]which is “committed to carbon neutral NFTs (opens in a new tab)“by 2030.
The pre-order page for the new figure also includes a “caution before buying” section that reminds potential buyers that they “may lose access to the NFT digital certificate of authenticity and the digital version of the figure” if the services of Enjin are not available in the future.
Excuse me, the new FF7 OG Cloud Bring Arts figure is WHAT?!?!?!?!?? 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/9coApT58D5July 21, 2022
While it’s not too surprising to see Square Enix turn one of their most recognizable figures into an NFT, it’s been something that fans have been opposed to for a long time. Not only are there lots of environmental concerns (opens in a new tab) around NFTs, but Final Fantasy 7 is packed with environmental themes and features a group of freedom fighters trying to take down a mega-corporation that is killing the planet.
One of Barrett’s iconic lines even became a meme. (opens in a new tab) after Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda started the year (opens in a new tab) expressing the hope that NFTs and blockchain technology will become a “major trend” in the industry. Matsuda has been adamant about that, though he recently said it was “too soon.” (opens in a new tab) to make blockchain games based on Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. The community outcry even prompted Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki Yoshida to assure fans that there were no plans to introduce NFTs into the MMO.
The new figures are part of Final Fantasy 7’s 25th anniversary, which also involved the reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and a Crisis Core remaster in a stream recently.
Here are more of the best JRPGs to play in 2022 if you don’t feel like waiting for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
