Final Fantasy Resonance did more than show another trailer at PlayStation's September State of Play. Square Enix released a free PlayStation 5 demo immediately and used the showcase to reveal Sephiroth as a challenge players can encounter in the game.
The demo contains the entire first chapter, including the opening story and the game's evolved turn-based combat. Square Enix says progress can carry into the full release, turning the demo into a genuine head start rather than a disconnected preview.
Resonance is built around an HD-2D approach that mixes pixel characters with modern environments and cinematics. Its battle system uses a visible action timeline, stagger mechanics and equippable Visions that unlock abilities and can be combined into different builds.
The State of Play trailer also confirmed that legacy Final Fantasy heroes are part of the Vision system. Sephiroth is being treated differently: players can find and challenge him, with a special reward waiting for those who win.
That reveal gives the demo unusually good timing. Players can now test the first chapter for themselves while the biggest new surprise from the showcase is still fresh, without having to wait for launch day.
Final Fantasy Resonance launches for PlayStation 5 on October 22, 2026.
