Final Fantasy VII launched on this day in Japan back in 1997, and today, Square Enix has announced that it has officially registered January 31st as "Final Fantasy VII Day" with the Japan Anniversary Association.
Final Fantasy VII director and Final Fantasy VII Remake project producer Yoshinori Kitase has issued the following statement:
"The 31st of January 1997, the day that Final Fantasy VII came out, was not just a significant day for the Final Fantasy series, but also marked when so many big things started moving for those of us who worked on the game.
I remember being overwhelmed at the breakneck speed with which video game technology was evolving, but also dreaming big things for the future.
With the establishment of this official anniversary day, I will now always remember these things, and hold them dearly in my heart."
Final Fantasy VII is one of the most beloved video games of all time and has sold almost 14 million copies worldwide since 1997. It is credited by some as giving the JRPG mainstream acceptance in the west and transforming the Final Fantasy series into one of the most popular video game brands of all time.
As well as the recent remake project, the original Final Fantasy VII has also been made available on the Switch and Xbox.