Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Ice Cream Wasn’t a Kingdom Hearts Tribute
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth features a scene in which Elena, a Turks faction character, enjoys sea salt ice cream—the same flavor consumed by Roxas in Kingdom Hearts 2. The visual similarity sparked speculation among fans that the moment was a deliberate tribute to the Kingdom Hearts franchise, which has previously crossed over with Final Fantasy.
However, Naoki Hamaguchi, director of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, clarified in an interview with The Gamer that the ice cream moment was not intended as a Kingdom Hearts reference. The similarity appears to be coincidental rather than a planned homage.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the final installment of the ongoing remake trilogy, which has been reimagining the original 1997 game—now nearly 30 years old—for contemporary audiences. The game is expected to release in 2027.