English Final Fantasy XIII demo will be brand new, downloadable (if it happens)
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Aug 20th 2009 at 5:40PM } 
Click to embiggen.
Square Enix is undecided about releasing a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII in the States, but if it does, it won't be available on disc form. Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase commented, "we are thinking of providing it in a downloadable format," reiterating earlier sentiments. However, don't expect to play a localized version of the PS3 demo. Instead, "if we were to provide the demo overseas, it would be a completely new version." The game has progressed quite a bit since the release of the Japanese demo, meaning Square Enix would be more inclined to show something new ... if they decide on actually making one in the first place.
Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII (GamesCom 2009)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LegendaryRedass @ Aug 20th 2009 5:43PM
Make it now!!!!!!
skyzbig @ Aug 20th 2009 5:43PM
We (PS3 users) could have had a demo months ago if Square hadn't have been pure dickholes.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 5:44PM
Shame on Square Enix for wanting to make money.
(Coming from a fellow PS3 user).
WREturns[FBI Sweatshop Investigation Task Force] @ Aug 20th 2009 5:46PM
I'd say they're being diluted dickholes at best...
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 20th 2009 5:47PM
it wouldnt make sense to get a demo now for a game that is a year away
sony boy @ Aug 20th 2009 6:05PM
c'mon. don't be such a dick to 360 owners.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 6:11PM
ummmm They Would have made MORE money if they would have released it with the Advent Children Blu-ray like they did in Japan...
Marrvia @ Aug 20th 2009 7:47PM
It's a 100% guarantee that I will be buying this game on day 1 anyway. So I say, just concentrate on finishing the game and forget the demo. I can't control myself, if they release a demo, then I will have to play it, and to me, it will make the game have less of an impact when it is released. As a matter of fact, I wish they wouldn't show anymore of the game at all. The more surprises, the better.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 5:44PM
I hear the Xbox360 version requires you to download 3 separate files.
I'm going to hell for that, aren't I?
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 20th 2009 5:44PM
but you will get my upvote
Joystiq May Not Hate MRLN As Much As First Suspected @ Aug 20th 2009 6:34PM
If God has no sense of humor, then yes you are.
RogueJedi86 @ Aug 21st 2009 1:41PM
I don't get it. :(
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Aug 20th 2009 5:45PM
Hopefully the new demo will show outdoor levels.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 20th 2009 5:46PM
hopefully it won't be 5GB like the other one.
SpaceFox @ Aug 20th 2009 5:53PM
Yes, hope it's even more. More I get to play the better...
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 20th 2009 6:02PM
it would take like an hour to download, and like 5 to install though...
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 6:12PM
they REALLY need to make games/Qore/DLC download and install AUTOMATICALLY....
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 20th 2009 6:19PM
i know! like whenever i get a PSN card, the first thing i do is buy the new rock band 2 dlc. and installing each one separately is way too much of a hassle.
also, we should be allowed to download things while playing multiplayer. i pretty much play multiplayer only on my PS3, so that pretty much means i can't play anything while downloading stuff.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 6:23PM
I tend to download stuff when I'm about to step out or when I go to bed....lol
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 20th 2009 6:57PM
sadly, i'm not patient enough for that. i'm the type who grabs brownies out of the oven before they're done, and then realize that i didn't put on oven mitts.
Ashitaka @ Aug 20th 2009 7:25PM
"also, we should be allowed to download things while playing multiplayer."
As much as I would like them to do that... You know that's impossible... right? I mean, it's common sense not to download stuff when you want to play games on your computer. Unless you want lagfest...
So that will never happen. Either play multiplayer game or download stuff.
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 21st 2009 6:24PM
my connection is amazing, it won't slow _me_ up.
Xoonaka @ Aug 20th 2009 5:55PM
Rank me among the ones who won't even play the demo if it's the same day or after the release, which is seeming more and more likely from his comments.
tmmoore_nc @ Aug 20th 2009 5:56PM
So, it'll be the first paid demo this generation, then?
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Aug 20th 2009 5:58PM
*cough*
Halo 3 beta
*cough*
ysdarkfact @ Aug 20th 2009 5:59PM
If you don't count Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, then maybe.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 6:16PM
by "paid demo" do you mean a Demo that the consumer pays for or one that a Console maker pays for??
Cause GT5:Prologue is a Demo....albeit a demo with more cars than some racing games but still a damn demo....
Temidien @ Aug 21st 2009 11:38AM
*cough* Metal Gear Solid 2 demo bundled with Zone of the Enders *cough*
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 6:14PM
Well I already played the Japanese one....but IF they release a NEWER version AND in English then I will most likely play it as well....still dont understand WHY they wouldnt release the Demo over here the same way they did in Japan in the first place....
Ashitaka @ Aug 20th 2009 7:26PM
Exclusivity, it seems...
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 20th 2009 8:05PM
what?
eNrique @ Aug 20th 2009 10:46PM
Because it would have been unfair to rrod machine fanboys.
Another great contribution of rrod mahcine to gaming!
mgsrocks1 @ Aug 20th 2009 11:44PM
Because the Xbox360 version isn't finished yet.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 21st 2009 6:59AM
that s just bullshit.....they could have released it on a DVD as well....
mgsrocks1 @ Aug 21st 2009 10:27PM
I know it's bullshit. I want to try a demo so badly because this is the first Final Fantasy game to interest me and will be the first Final Fantasy game I play. I recently bought Mass Effect for $20 from Game Stop and loved the whole universe.
gmoya90 @ Aug 20th 2009 6:20PM
i own the japanese version along with the movie but if they release newer version where you can summon that be sweet!! and new area like that snow area be sweet!
hurry up square!!
tafuub @ Aug 20th 2009 6:23PM
The only reason there doing a new demo is because they changed the graphics. Now we all get Xbox360 graphics. Yahhh....what a bunch of bullshit.
Claws @ Aug 20th 2009 6:43PM
dude theres not much difference between the ps3 and 360 graphics so stop being a fanboy and just enjoy the game
Sly [Planeteer | Power of Teets & Crumpets] @ Aug 20th 2009 6:58PM
if anything is gonna take a hit, it's the sound, not the graphics.
McWilly @ Aug 21st 2009 5:19AM
Sound, CGI cutscenes and probably the Japanese voiceover (space issues) but definitely not visuals. The 360 has the superior GPU after all.
Joystiq May Not Hate MRLN As Much As First Suspected @ Aug 20th 2009 6:35PM
I'm totally buying a PS3 just for the demo.
ryohazuki @ Aug 20th 2009 6:47PM
square could have totally brought the demo with the US release of advent children complete, but the obvious poor sales of the blu ray would have made it not worth their time. Face it, square knows that the majority of americans just dont care anymore. The few that do... well each one has just commented on this now.
I've been playing and enjoying the demo since May, and I'd be excited if they did bring a downloadable demo of a different section of the game here!
ibetnoonehasthisname @ Aug 20th 2009 8:55PM
Please...do it for your (almost) most loyal fan.
NeoMahi @ Aug 20th 2009 9:20PM
What the hell is the matter with Square-Enix? They've become complete and absolute morons. Its as though they're intentionally trying to piss everyone off and screw themselves over because they get off on it.
Multiple gaming companies including Capcom, have stated that they see better sales in a game when they release a demo for the game. Gamers want to know what they're getting into before they buy it. The game may look colorful and flashy but is it going to run properly.
The way I see it, is that game companies that don't release a demo of a game, to me means they're fearful their game isn't good enough. They figure, if we release a demo, they're gonna play it and not like and we'll lose money. Well, they're gonna wait for reviews in that case unless they're just some mindless goober that buys anything at first site. SQUARE, IF YOU HAVE ANY FAITH IN YOUR GAME, YOU'D BETTER RELEASE A DEMO FOR IT OR IT COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU! I haven't been a big Final Fantasy gamer at all, but this one has peaked my interest. That means, because I'm new to it, I'm definately gonna be skeptical. It looks good, but am I gonna like the gameplay. You're showin some weakness and lack of faith in your title to me when a demo is released.
You might wanna re-think that through.
chrisredfield31 @ Aug 21st 2009 7:45AM
There have been many releases that did have demos. I think S-E was good on releasing them but this time they ran into a wall because MS wanted one too due to their deal and since it wasn't doable (original demo was on Bluray) they either had to make a new demo, or not at all and they chose not to.
The whole FFXIII mess is quite sad really because S-E wanted more money, and gave into MS even though they were already late into development. The game had to be modified and developed a certain way to cater to DVD, graphics abilities that both had to be capable of, pretty much this led to business deals that hurt the gamer in the end. If they stuck to their guns, none of this mess would be happening.
Danny @ Aug 21st 2009 7:55AM
The loyal fanbase is such that even without gamers new to the franchise it'd likely go platinum. I'll pre-order it without one, though a demo is most welcome. (and they know that)
ColorblindMonk @ Aug 20th 2009 9:54PM
Sweet. If they release a demo now, I can have it ready by my birthday... in December.
OrientalSoulman @ Aug 23rd 2009 10:49AM
IF they do release a demo for western markets it's not going to be for a while. Even if the 360 wasn't included we would still have to wait for localisation. At the end of the day, Square-Enix is a Japanese country and first and foremost they're looking out for there own. Japanese and American companies have been doing this for years, with the UK constantly getting shafted with late or even a lack of release for some great games. We speak english but yet they refuse to localise (I use that in the loosest sense of the word, since you basically just need to switch the video output to Pal....) the game for the UK cos they don't wanna piss off non English speaking Euro-Gamers....
For Square the prospect of parity across both consoles for their game is probably a big issue, but you'd still have to wait for it to be localised anyway... Also, you do realise the game isn't coming out in the west till next year. Why release a demo now...?? If they did they would have to release another one around game launch, becuase people would forget. You can say they won't, but they will. That's how people are, they'd be hyped for a month and then in 6 or so months when the game drops they'd have to pay again to stir up the hype train AGAIN and remind people of this demo that they've probably played a million times and are now bored of. That's why they won't release the Blu-Ray demo (even just with subtitles)....
Render @ Aug 24th 2009 6:37PM
I'm all for a little more taste of FFVIII. I bought the japanese advent blu-ray with demo. It was a really good demo. The only thing I wished they fixed was some frame rate issues. Especially when the action gets tense. I wouldn't mind for some slight toned down graphics if the action was smoooooth. Frame rate issues makes for some crappy user experience.
Render @ Aug 24th 2009 6:41PM
whoops, I mean FFXIII.