Article for those who dont want a video: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/final-fantasy/after-13-years-a-new-version-of-final-fantasy-7-is-replacing-the-current-version-on-steam-and-square-enix-hasnt-explained-whats-different/
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/games/39140/announcements/detail/514107648813039663
Square Enix has announced a brand-new version of Final Fantasy VII for Steam. This is not a patch. It’s a replacement.
The existing release will be renamed FINAL FANTASY VII 2013 Edition, while a new version becomes the default Steam listing. Existing owners get both versions for free but save files will NOT be compatible between them.
I don’t know exactly for what. Other games do not rely on additional servers, even if they support Steam Cloud Saves. You can play them without online connection, then your data wouldn’t load off course. But the games usually start. In this case however, the game does not even start. I think it is kind of a DRM to check you own the game.
I mean this came up when I posted the story myself, and I immediately tried to launch the game to test it and it worked fine. Another user reported it was fine too.
To be clear, I’m not defending them using their own account service for the cloud saves either, because it is dumb to do so when Steam offers that functionality.