PSA: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo unlocks its Junon section today

destructoid.com:

For those who already tried the demo for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, there’s now more in store. Today, the demo has expanded with an open-world section of Junon for players to roam about and explore.

Announced during the dedicated State of Play, the original demo gave you access to the first chapter of Rebirth, with a party of Cloud and Sephiroth in the game’s opening. Now, the new update, “Dawn of a New Era in Junon”, is available for free for the demo.

It follows Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII several hours into the game as they emerge onto the outskirts of the fortified stronghold Junon. The update is made specifically for the demo and features a small piece of the open world. Within the new section, players can ride Chocobos, use the new Item Transmuter to craft items, take on Combat Assignment missions, and more.

If you played the first section with Cloud and Sephiroth, you’ll receive the Kupo Charm and Survival Set in the full Rebirth game. You’ll also get to skip the Nibelheim section, though you can still play it again, which I definitely will. Save data from the “Dawn of a New Era in Junon” section won’t transfer, as it is special to the demo. Still, fans and newcomers can try out new forms of exploration and use powerful synergy attacks with your teammates.

Alongside Junon, the Performance Mode will receive some face-lifts due to player feedback. As reported by the great Steven Mills, the demo will look much better than it did before at 60 fps. While I really enjoyed the demo, there were some problems with the graphics. Fortunately, the upgrades will make for a great time, making now the perfect time to dive in.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches onto PS5 on February 29. The demo is available now on the PlayStation Store.