It was only a month ago since Square Enix announced that its popular RPG title Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be ported into the PlayStation 5, with the addition of having an exclusive PS5 DLC named Intergrade. With this announcement, there seems to have been an increase in buyer interest in the title's merchandise. So much so, that Square Enix has recently issued a warning against counterfeits of the upcoming FF7R version of the Aerith Play Arts Kai figure.

For those not familiar with the toy scene, the Square Enix Play Arts Kai lineup is arguably one of the most sought-after in the industry. Catering to fans of the Square Enix universe who are also avid toy collectors, the Play Arts Kai figures almost always come alongside the launch of a new game from the company. This was seen when Square Enix released Play Arts Kai figures of Final Fantasy 15 protagonists Noctis, Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto. And then, later on, when Final Fantasy 7 Remake was announced, pre-orders of Play Arts Kai figures featuring the FF7R characters started to go live online.

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In a recent post by the official merchandise Twitter account of Square Enix North America, the team cautioned and warned the public that there already seems to be bootleg versions of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Aerith Play Arts Kai figure that can be purchased online. Square Enix confirmed that the figure was still in the process of production, and therefore could not have been shipped to their partner warehouses or retailers.

The team reiterated that these third-party toys were not official Square Enix merchandise, so it is impossible to predict its quality if a fan decides to purchase the Play Arts Kai figure through unofficial channels. With the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Aerith figure lined up for release this summer 2021, Square Enix is asking its fans to be patient and wait for the official launch before they try to get their hands on the item.

With pre-orders still available on the official Square Enix online store, the company is encouraging its Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans to consider purchasing there instead of third-party sellers. However, once the pre-order period closes, fans may be hard-pressed to buy the figure at its original value, given how Play Arts Kai figure prices often skyrocket after their release. For fans who are unable to buy the figure during its pre-order, settling for unofficial merchandise may be the only way for them to add this figure to their collection.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available now for PS4, with the PS5 version available on June 10th.

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