Today’s PlayStation State of Play put a fresh trailer on Final Fantasy Resonance — Square Enix’s first HD-2D Final Fantasy — and, more usefully for anyone with a DualSense, a free PlayStation 5 demo that covers the entire first chapter. Save data carries into the full game, which still launches Oct. 22, 2026.

Mel Gordon at PlayStation Blog framed the pitch as a what-if: “What if Final Fantasy had continued to push the limits of pixel art?” The game sends players to protect crystals and stop Veritas of the Dark, rendered in high-definition pixel art with chocobos, airships, an evolved turn-based battle system, and a more accessible take on the classic job system. Opening movies and other cinematics use a production method that renders 3DCG in pixel form so cutscenes stay dynamic without ditching the retro look.

Combat leans on a visible timeline of upcoming ally and enemy actions, plus a stagger gauge under each foe’s HP. Empty the gauge and the target skips its turn and drops defense — the usual “break the boss, then dump damage” rhythm, timed against the timeline. Complete story events to earn Visions (crystallized character essences); equip them, win fights, unlock abilities, then mix abilities across visions within a cost limit for synergies. Sanctums scattered through the world also yield visions of legacy Final Fantasy heroes.

The State of Play trailer’s headline cameo: Sephiroth. Players can find and challenge him for a special reward. Sweeping Staggers unlock Vision-specific Resonance finishers; story and side quests unlock espers that fight beside the party for three turns before a big exit move.

Platform note from Square Enix’s earlier reveal: Resonance is also listed for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam / Microsoft Store), not PS5 alone — today’s PlayStation Blog post is the PS5 demo and Sephiroth beat. The game rebuilds the first story arc of mobile Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a full console RPG rather than a straight port.

Dated Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026: if you want to test the HD-2D battles before October, the first chapter is live on PS5 now — and the One-Winged Angel is on the scavenger hunt list.

Sources