Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Confirms Fortnite Inspired Highwind Skydiving

Following numerous online jokes and memes after the initial reveal earlier this year, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi has confirmed that jumping out of the Highwind airship was partly inspired by Fortnite. In the third and final entry of the remake trilogy, the massive airship serves as the central transport mechanic to fly around the world map.

Unlike the original PlayStation 1 role-playing game where players simply dropped to the ground or teleported out upon arrival, the modern entry requires realism and immersion. Players will pilot the airship and launch their party members off the side, skydiving down to the map below. This gameplay loop immediately triggered a wave of jokes comparing the mechanic to the popular battle royale game.

When asked about the connection by GamesRadar, Hamaguchi admitted that the team did draw a bit of inspiration from Fortnite. The developer noted that they will not lie about the influence. Interestingly, the inspiration arrives despite Final Fantasy 7 not having a direct collaboration with Fortnite, unlike other titles such as Apex Legends which featured a crossover event utilizing a similar squad-dropping mechanic.

The third entry follows previous installments in the remake project. Hamaguchi also addressed story elements regarding Aerith from the previous game, noting that players might change their opinions by the conclusion of the final chapter.