Final Fantasy VII has long been a fan-favorite story, thanks to its rich world-building and dynamic character relationships. With the rebooted storyline in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, an age-old fan discussion has resurfaced: who will Cloud ultimately end up with?
In an interview with Inverse from last December, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi commented on the relationship between Cloud and Aerith, suggesting that their bond is more akin to a sibling-like dynamic rather than a romantic one.
“There can be many different interpretations of what this scene truly means for each player. But Aerith has always been this sort of sisterly character pulling Cloud along and encouraging him. She is feeling what is to come and understanding her fate. She’s still pushing Cloud along and leading him in this way, and it shows her pure-heartedness and inner strength.”
The original Final Fantasy VII and its remakes have always portrayed Cloud's relationships with Aerith and Tifa in a way that leaves much room for interpretation. Fans who view Cloud and Aerith as a romantic couple were surprised by Hamaguchi's comments, sparking widespread discussions and debates within the fanbase.
Almost a month after his initial remarks, Hamaguchi clarified in an interview with Automation that his comments had been misunderstood, possibly due to a language barrier. He emphasized that no one at Square Enix would make definitive statements about the nature of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s character dynamics outside the game itself.
"As creators, we will continue to convey the relationships between our characters through our content," Hamagucho said. "For example, no one will make any official statements about who Cloud likes, who Aerith likes, and so on."
For now, players can continue to explore the evolving story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which is now available on Steam and compatible with the Steam Deck. Be sure to use our price comparison tool to find the best deals on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth!
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