Final Fantasy 7 Remake arrived as a technical and artistic triumph, but its timing may have been its greatest weakness. Released during an era where AAA gaming has become synonymous with corporate greed, rushed launches, and predatory monetization, this lovingly crafted remake found itself swimming against the tide of industry dysfunction.

The modern gaming landscape is plagued by issues that would have been unthinkable during the original FF7's 1997 release. Day-one patches, season passes, and games-as-a-service models have eroded consumer trust. While FF7 Remake largely avoided these pitfalls, it couldn't escape the broader context of an industry that prioritizes profit over player experience, making even exceptional games feel like anomalies rather than the standard they should represent.