April Fools’ Day has always been a special occasion in the gaming industry. It’s the one day when developers and major publishers unleash their most creative and humorous ideas, crafting elaborate pranks that range from hilarious to outright bizarre. But, sometimes, these jokes can become real content. One such example has come to life in Square Enix‘s Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis.
During this past April Fools’ Day, Square Enix released a piece of artwork imagining what Final Fantasy VII would look like if it were set in a Japanese high school setting, rather than the dystopian world fans are familiar with. As it turns out, the artwork wasn’t just a throwaway gag.
Square Enix has officially confirmed that the school-themed costumes and weapons showcased in the prank will indeed become actual content in Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis. The alternate universe setting is being dubbed Rival Fantasy: Ever Crisis Academy Seven.
Interestingly, this isn’t just a cosmetic update. The new content, which is set to launch in May, will come with its own original storyline. Square Enix has already revealed the character models and themed weapons for four characters involved in this school saga: Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and, of course, Aerith.
The high school-themed story centres on Barret Wallace, who takes on the role of a teacher with a burning ambition to defeat the rival school’s baseball team, the Shinra Private Academy. To achieve this, he sets out to build a powerhouse team with top-tier talent like Cloud.
However, things don’t go smoothly, as Cloud remains largely indifferent to Barret’s grand plans. Drama inevitably unfolds, dragging in familiar faces such as Tifa, Aerith, and Zack into the fray. How this will be translated into gameplay is certainly something to keep an eye on, especially for those eager to see their favourites in a different light.
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is currently available on PC and mobile devices.
