Final Fantasy Versus XIII on hold [update: Square denies]

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jun 18th 2008 at 2:33PM }

Final Fantasy Versus XIII has been temporarily suspended and its programming team transitioned into assist mode, according to a translation of a Famitsu interview with Versus director Tetsuya Nomura (scanned here). Nomura explained that Square Enix's top priority is completing work on Final Fantasy XIII, which means the Versus team has placed its project on ice and headed across the hall to lend a hand. A few remaining designers are still working on conceptual art for Versus, and the story is supposedly complete. Despite the stoppage, Nomura did confirm that Versus will still be featured at Square Enix's pretentious, invite-only "DKΣ3713" event in August, alongside Plain Old Final Fantasy XIII, in non-playable format (read: "a minute of ambiguous footage in a closed theater").

Update: Square Enix has denied the report, but has confirmed that staff members from Versus are aiding FFXIII's development.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Tags: breakingnews, DK3713, final-fantasy, final-fantasy-versus-xiii, square-enix, tetsuya-nomura

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 18th 2008 2:36PM

"Plain Old Final Fantasy XII"

XIII

samfish @ Jun 18th 2008 2:43PM

It's ok. I make that mistake all the time.

...I HATE roman numerals!

J.Goodwin @ Jun 18th 2008 2:36PM

Presume this is meant to say Plain Old Final Fantasy XIII, it would be quite disappointing to be treated to footage of a game that's already released.

This is a really strange article though, Square/Enix seems to be having no trouble with their 360 RPGs...

tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 18th 2008 2:38PM

Specially footage from an already released game that wasn't very good.

j/k...kinda

J.Goodwin @ Jun 18th 2008 2:47PM

I'm not sure. I haven't managed to get to the first save point in Final Fantasy X, so I'm probably not the person to comment on it.

(I only got a PS3 in the last several months and never owned a PS2, and I do intend to get to it eventually, but it's hard to play games in SD...and it was frustrating to go through half an hour of bullshit then get killed before even getting to the first save).

Noshino @ Jun 18th 2008 3:01PM

What are those SE 360 RPGs? Project Sylpheed? the only title that comes to mind is Infinity Undiscovery, which is being developed by tri-Ace, an independent studio...

Anyway,uh, didn't FFXII take about 5 years?...

They have always been more focused on their key franchises, FF and DQ, for which they usually take their own time for development...

Oh, and the problems SE was having with PS3 development were due to work on the Unreal engine, but development with the it was smoother after UE3 came out...

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 18th 2008 3:19PM

@J.Goodwin

It could be that because FF is the flagship franchise for Square Enix that they are taking their time to make it perfect. Especially when you consider that it will be one of only two Final Fantasy games to be released on the current generation of consoles (presumably).

They could also be having problems with the PS3 architecture like some other developers have. We are not privy to that information so everything is just speculation or a deduction from these comments above. I would not extrapolate that Square Enix is having trouble on the PS3 because they have showcased some 360 games that are rumored to be exclusives. I would probably think that they are simply putting more work into FF because of the expectations associated with the title. With the new IP's on the 360 there are really not many expectations at all. If those games bomb no one really cares but thats not so with Final Fantasy.

I do not know exactly how to read into it but I would point to MGS 4 as evidence that good things come to those who wait. Also, keep in mind they were simoultaneously developing two FF games at one time which would also lenghten development cycles. It looks like they want to get FF finished so they are pulling the team off VS.

Jakka @ Jul 9th 2008 12:26PM

"They could also be having problems with the PS3 architecture like some other developers have."

Must...not...make...a...delay...station...joke...

ViagraFiend @ Jun 18th 2008 3:55PM

Actually, theyre trying to just make sure that they can get FFXIII finished quicker than expected.

I doubt that they are having problems with the PS3 architecture because they are using an engine built on it. Knowing Squeenix, they probably know the PS3 architecture better than some Sony developers.

And yeah, its been known that the Unreal Engine was giving everybody problems on the PS2 in the early going. After all, it was built with PCs in mind.

ViagraFiend @ Jun 18th 2008 3:57PM

god damn it. PS3*

Too bad I cant edit my post like James did.

Cheater.

browntown @ Jun 18th 2008 5:03PM

Square has not developed any 360 games, they're just publishing games, tri-avce are making them. But u have to remember that those games aren't ff games.

Wes @ Jun 19th 2008 3:59AM

@J. Goodwin
I was thinking its not an issue with PS3 programming problems but rather...

*RED ALERT* *RED ALERT*, MGS4 apparently has made a 'small impact' on ps3 sales in the UK, *RED ALERT* *RED ALERT*. Oh no, its too late. The PS3 development-assistant teams have arrived fresh from helping other developers. They have whips and are coming for the versus team. Quick, everyone run into XIII's office. But don't tell Bob the graphic artist. We don't like Bob.

atrimus @ Jun 18th 2008 2:37PM

why is Square showing a non-playable format of a 2+ year old last-gen rpg?

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 2:41PM

Man, you guys are killing James for a simple typo?

I am going to be on you guys like hawks from now on, pointing out every single mistake you make :)

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 18th 2008 2:44PM

Your hawks eyes will explode if you try to point out every single mistake that I make.

=p

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 2:47PM

worst part is my grammer/punctuation is prety poor, so I usually dont even notice typo's :)

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 18th 2008 2:55PM

Was that intentional?

Vcize @ Jun 18th 2008 3:06PM

I don't think it was...

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 3:12PM

LMAO, yes it was Fid, unless "typo's" is grammatically correct and "prety" actually is in the dictionary :)

amart @ Jun 18th 2008 3:36PM

lol was it intentional to misspell "grammar" as well... you didn't mention it.

Titanium_Orchid @ Jun 18th 2008 4:01PM

Hawx... Its spelled "Hawx"

Vcize @ Jun 18th 2008 5:31PM

It's, not its.

atrimus @ Jun 18th 2008 2:42PM

they're only developing two 360 rpgs, and one of those (Star Ocean 4) doesn't even have a release date. still, if putting Versus on hiatus means XIII will come out sooner, then i'm all for it.

J.Goodwin @ Jun 18th 2008 2:49PM

Star Ocean, Infinite Undiscovery, and Last Remnant, which of these is not like the other?

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 2:55PM

J.Goodwin, IU is being developed by Tri-Ace, published by SE, so infinite Undiscovery is not like the other :)

LR is being developed by both Tri-ace and SE

J.Goodwin @ Jun 18th 2008 3:14PM

Ok thanks Pojo,

I was under the impression that those guys were inside the monster now. I guess that technically Game Arts is still independent as well, but I have them pretty indelibly linked with SE too.

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 3:29PM

Yeah, I your basically right, I dont hear anything from Tri-ace until SE uses them for something

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 3:29PM

Yeah, your basically right, I dont hear anything from Tri-ace until SE uses them for something

Wes @ Jun 19th 2008 4:10AM

What I would think would be an awesome ironic twist of fate would be if the reason the Versus team was transfered to FFXIII was to built a second-engine that runs off the xbox 360 platform using the already-existing assets to get it ready for dual-platform release.

Making Square Enix having 3 games in development for the 360 and no longer 2. Sounds like something that would be annouced pretty soon as a 'trick up Microsoft's sleeve' they have been hinting at about at e3?

Perhaps Square Enix may have been convinced by superior GTAIV sales on the 360 and realized they could possibly triple their profits by doing a dual-platform release?

Of course, that's probably all hogwash. They just love the PS3 and want the PS3s games out sooner for the sooner enjoyment of gamers.

Brodie-san @ Jun 19th 2008 4:34AM

Never really understood the whole "Let's make TWO FF games at the same time!" concept.

Like, making ONE is a time intensive process in itself. Why split the resources and delay both ?

samfish @ Jun 18th 2008 2:44PM

So does anyone think FFXIII is still coming out in 2008 at this point?

creid @ Jun 18th 2008 2:47PM

If it isn't playable in June, it isn't going to be complete by December.

xFenixKnightx @ Jun 18th 2008 2:48PM

Thousands do. They can be found here. PS3fanboy.com

PojoMofo @ Jun 18th 2008 2:50PM

I will be shocked if we see it this decade, but is anyone really shocked?? I mean they never announced anything, so why people assume otherwise is beyond me

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 18th 2008 3:34PM

No way 2008. I'm gonna guess late 2009 early 2010.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 18th 2008 3:37PM

@Fenix @Samfish

I think people are hoping that it will release in 2008 but I do not think anyone has convinced themselves it will be out.

I think FF and Gears Of War II will both be delayed into the Q1 of 2009. Fanboys everywhere want this as soon as possible but I think everyone agrees that its better to have the game polished as opposed to rushed.

Martez @ Jun 18th 2008 3:41PM

I'm putting money on it being ready by next summer, but pushed back for the holiday season in 2009.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 18th 2008 3:46PM

yea im not putting my chips on that. would i like it to be out this year? hell yes. but these things take time and i would rather wait then have them rush it out before it's done.

i really dont expect it anytime sooner than this time next year, and probably later than that.

xFenixKnightx @ Jun 18th 2008 3:58PM

Mcpoop

No way Gears 2 is getting delayed! My free Xbox LIVE GOW2 "Bare Your Teeth' dashboard theme sais November 2008 right on the bottom in bright bloody letters!

:P

NATO_Duke @ Jun 18th 2008 4:05PM

I would be shocked if it came out before 2009. I would imagine they want it to be pretty darn polished for their first PS3 release. The PS2 versions were very good looking games, and I would think they are again going to push the bar as high as they can.

Cant wait for FFXIII! Versus I wasn't as concerned with.

Mr Khan @ Jun 18th 2008 4:39PM

No way. I'm putting my bet in for October 2009

Dash @ Jun 18th 2008 2:47PM

That sucks, I was looking toward Versus more than the "standard" FF XIII.

PSRT @ Jun 18th 2008 2:56PM

Tom Petty is awesome.

Gavin @ Jun 18th 2008 3:08PM

I watched the REALLY long Peter Bogdanovich documentary on Tom Petty recently and I had The Waiting in my head for a week and now I'm gonna have it stuck in there again. Yeah, the guy is pretty much a genius and recommend watching the film if you are a fan.

As for FF, I still haven't gotten around to finishing XII.

PSRT @ Jun 18th 2008 8:47PM

I haven't even finished X... :S

And I just might take that recommendation of yours. How long is "long", though?

Mutant @ Jun 19th 2008 10:30AM

It took a while for me to make the connection even though I'm a huge TP fan. The lyrics were familiar but the image threw me off. Final Fantasy and Tom Petty make a very strange mashup.

My iPod is playing The Waiting as I write this.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 18th 2008 2:57PM

Bad News... but then again I though working on three FFXIII games at the same time was ambitious. Only part that upsets me is an adult themed Kingdom Hearts game (Nomura confirmed Versus will be like Kingdom Hearts but much darker) is gonna get delayed because of this.

Of course they COULD make it up to me by announcing Drag-On Dragoon 3...