Final Fantasy VII’s original PC port finally got modern QoL — but your saves didn’t

Square Enix gave the original Final Fantasy VII a modern tune-up – and forced most players to start over

What changed: the 1997 Final Fantasy VII on PC now behaves like the modern ports players have been asking for – 3x speed, an option to turn off random encounters, a “battle enhancement” that fills Limit and heals HP/MP in combat, and autosave. What didn’t: your old save files. The new build replaced the 2013 Steam edition on sale today and is available on GOG for $11.99 (with a 60% GOG launch discount through March 8), and owners of the older Steam edition receive the upgrade free – but saves aren’t compatible between versions, so expect fresh playthroughs.

Key takeaways

• Free upgrade for 2013 Steam owners, but save-file incompatibility means most players must restart — an awkward tradeoff for a “quality-of-life” relaunch (IGN, Gematsu).
• The update is explicitly QoL: no story changes, just modern conveniences that put the PC build on parity with other contemporary ports (IGN, Gematsu, ActuGaming).
• GOG’s DRM-free release leans into preservation — and a 60% launch discount until March 8 makes this the cheapest legal way to grab the classic on PC right now (GamesPress).
• Cloud saves are present but limited (three computers, internet required), a detail users should note if they expect unrestricted sync across machines (Steam page).

This is a comfort update, not a re-release that rewrites history

Square Enix’s new build is the sort of housekeeping modern players want. Three-times speed and the ability to disable random encounters change the experience dramatically for repeat players and convenience seekers; “battle enhancement” and autosave remove filler annoyances that made the 2013 PC port feel archaic. Multiple outlets — IGN, ActuGaming and Gematsu — point out there are no narrative or gameplay rewrites here. Think of it as usability surgery: the bones and storyline stay intact, but the UI and pacing get tuned up.

The uncomfortable observation: the PR line forgets to mention the restart penalty

Square Enix is handing the update out for free to existing Steam owners, and the old 2013 edition remains in libraries for those who want it. That sounds generous — until you read the fine print: save data from the 2013 Edition won’t carry over. IGN and Gematsu both flagged that incompatibility. For a game people have replayed for decades, forcing new playthroughs because of an updated executable or save format is a real friction point. You can call it a tradeoff for modern features, but it’s a customer irritation the announcement glossed over.

Why this matters now

Timing isn’t accidental. Interest in the original spikes every time the Remake trilogy headlines or when ports for Rebirth to Switch 2 and Xbox loom. Re-releasing a durable, polished original gives Square Enix a low-effort, low-risk product to sell into that attention cycle — and it’s cheaper to do than building fresh ports from scratch. GOG’s DRM-free push (60% off to March 8) also signals preservation and accessibility are part of the messaging, not just a storefront tactic.

The question Square Enix didn’t answer

Why aren’t saves compatible? Neither store pages nor initial coverage explain whether the mismatch is due to engine changes, file encryption, cloud sync differences, or simply a decision to avoid legacy bugs. That’s the single technical detail that changes whether this feels like a helpful refresh or a disruptive relaunch for long-term players.

What to watch next

• Steam forums and GameFAQs for player reports on 3x speed stability, achievement behavior, and whether any performance regressions crop up.
• Square Enix statements clarifying the save incompatibility or announcing tools to convert saves (there’s no official fix yet).
• Community modders — expect attempts to bridge save files or add further QoL tweaks if demand spikes.
• GOG sale window ends March 8, 2026 at 6 PM CST — a concrete date if you’re deciding whether to buy now or wait.

Short version: the original Final Fantasy VII on PC is finally playable by modern standards without emulation headaches or the old port’s rough edges. It’s a welcome, sensible polish — provided you don’t mind starting over.

TL;DR

Square Enix relaunched the original Final Fantasy VII on Steam and GOG with 3x speed, no-random encounters, battle enhancements, and autosave — and sells the updated build for $11.99 (GOG has a 60% launch discount until March 8). Existing Steam owners get the new version free, but save files from the old 2013 edition aren’t compatible, forcing most players into fresh playthroughs. Watch Steam forums, Square Enix statements, and modding communities for save-conversion tools or technical clarifications.