Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth looks set to bring back chocobos in a big way. Thanks to details revealed in the recent release date trailer as well as our time with a hands-on preview of the game, we can confirm that both chocobo racing and chocobo riding will be in the game. However, it also looks like Square Enix won't be including chocobo breeding.
Releasing February 29, 2024, action RPG Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is set to include the return of everyone's favorite kaleidoscopic racing fowl. From our hands-on time with an early demo build of the game, we're pleased to report that the chocobos handle fantastically in Rebirth's open world. The lovable giant birds accelerate and decelerate with a realistic weightiness that puts even the chocobos of Final Fantasy 16 to shame.
What's more, the beloved beasts can be customized with a range of hats, body armor, and boots, allowing you to mosey about atop a bird that truly expresses your own sense of style. While the preview only gave us a sneak peek of some of the available cosmetics, we saw a special mercenary clothing set, as well as sets based on the Shinra trooper armor and the Ruby Weapon - one of Final Fantasy 7's terrifying endgame bosses.
Unfortunately, the chocobo breeding minigame from the original Final Fantasy 7 will not be featured in Rebirth. Speaking with IGN, game director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that there would be no chocobo breeding system, though there would be an "enhanced new chocobo capturing feature".
The release date trailer also revealed a return of the chocobo racing minigame which Hamaguchi expounded upon in his IGN interview. Set in Rebirth's Gold Saucer casino, these races pit chocobo against each other in pursuit of fabulous prizes.
"For the Rebirth chocobos, each of them has their own unique name and they are able to enter the Gold Saucer races. There's also equipment that is specifically designed for chocobos to equip that will enhance their stats and it will affect their performance in chocobo races... So, in terms of play hours that can be devoted, it's quite, you know, copious amounts of hours that one could spend on chocobo racing."
With this in mind, it looks like there's plenty of chocobo goodness to go around. Even if we can't breed the creatures, the capture system and chocobo races look poised to provide hours of fun for fans of compelling minigames and oversized poultry alike.
Looking for something to play while you wait for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? Our lists of the best JRPGs and best single-player games will have you covered.
