Final Fantasy XIII launches March 9, 2010 on PS3, 360
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Nov 13th 2009 at 10:30AM } 
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Final Fantasy XIII will launch in North America and Europe on March 9, 2010, just a few months after it debuts in Japan and nearly four years after it was originally announced. Since that time, Square Enix's flagship role-playing game has become a multiplatform project -- the English version will debut on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously -- as well as the first part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. It's also no longer the highest-numbered Final Fantasy game.
"We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise -- FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations," said John Yamamoto, president, chief executive officer and official title shouter of Square Enix, Inc. "Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010."
And you'll have to look -- we hear Q1 2010 is already swamped with immersive gaming experiences. That's not a complaint!
Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Shadow Hog @ Nov 13th 2009 10:32AM
Nice; I was wondering if this game'd EVER come out. Might be worth a rental... and then purchase, depending on how much I like it.
Or just putting it on my B-Day list, I dunno.
Trey @ Nov 13th 2009 11:22AM
Little do you know that March 9th is merely the date where they announce the announcement that FFXIII is delayed.
I Are ODST @ Nov 13th 2009 12:19PM
Yay! That's my birthday!
TypeF @ Nov 13th 2009 1:18PM
@Trey
Haha i agree with you i'm sure they will delay it when it almost reaches to that date. They always do with all the other FFs. I really want to play ffvs13 more though but i'm still getting this one.
DrunkMiffy @ Nov 13th 2009 1:24PM
Little do you know it's also MY birthday!
Nineteen88 @ Nov 13th 2009 1:34PM
Heh, I wanted to say that March 9 is 2 days after my birthday ..
Funny we share the same thoughts ..
xbox420king @ Nov 13th 2009 1:55PM
Mine is on the 11th
Shadow Hog @ Nov 13th 2009 3:26PM
So, uh, why is my comment voted down? I don't recall saying anything wrong. If anyone would care to explain, it'd be appreciated
Shadow Hog @ Nov 13th 2009 3:27PM
+">_>"
AerialAngel87 [PSN ID - AerialAngel] @ Nov 13th 2009 4:28PM
On my birthday as well :)
Fausk @ Nov 13th 2009 9:56PM
8 Days after my birthday! So many March birthdays on Joystiq.
TheSaiyan @ Nov 14th 2009 2:00PM
Actually my birthday is the 13th! Looking forward to this game highly!
Shadow Hog @ Nov 14th 2009 10:38PM
Mine's actually April 4th.
Knight Marquise @ Nov 13th 2009 10:33AM
Long in coming, but surly worth the wait.
Temidien @ Nov 13th 2009 11:20AM
That's what she said?
Anemos @ Nov 13th 2009 11:33AM
"Now, an exclusive never-before-seen look at Final Fantasy 13."
*Shows a generic 15 second battle.*
Who is that guy anyways.
Anemos @ Nov 13th 2009 11:34AM
I hope that guy was crushed by the long-awaited NA/EU release date.
Literally.
XBL: xGeneral DEATHx PSN: Deeth82 [Planeteer | Power of General Hostility and Angst] @ Nov 13th 2009 12:13PM
Don't call me Shirley.
Vcize @ Nov 13th 2009 1:55PM
He didn't. He called you surly.
afrokenjonny @ Nov 13th 2009 2:59PM
date can't come soon enough, but again i must ask: why are there transformers in this game?
Y. Kurokawa @ Nov 13th 2009 10:34AM
Wow - I was expecting this one much later. 'Tis welcome news.
But now it puts this one in Q1 2010 too. My wallet cries in agony....
Nobledevil @ Nov 13th 2009 10:34AM
Wow, that's earlier than I thought. I figured it was going to be June or in the Summer. Q1 2010 is now officially worse for me than Q4 2009 for games.
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Nov 13th 2009 10:35AM
Gotta say that's pretty soon. Now I have to decide. Do I get it on 360 or Ps3?
NaeemTHM @ Nov 13th 2009 10:37AM
I'm going to just wait for the reviews and see which one fared better. If the scores are dead even I might get it on the 360 for the achievements.
mywhitenoise @ Nov 13th 2009 10:45AM
PS3 of course, that's what it was optimized for.
xtremeholymuffin @ Nov 13th 2009 10:48AM
I would say PS3, but only because I've heard that the original language track might not be on the 360 version due to the lack of Blu-ray and I'm a total weaboo about such things.
NaeemTHM @ Nov 13th 2009 10:50AM
"PS3 of course, that's what it was optimized for."
You're probably right, I mean they spent 80% of the time developing the game for the PS3. I'd actually be surprised if the 360 version was just as good.
AsherR [Planeteer | Power of The Hoff] @ Nov 13th 2009 10:51AM
Unless the 360 version suffers, I'm going to get it on that just to help support Square's decision. Oh and I don't even have a PS3 yet. :X
Y. Kurokawa @ Nov 13th 2009 10:53AM
PS3 for me - simply because I don't want to fumble with more than one disc. :P
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 13th 2009 10:57AM
I'm getting it for the PS3. Just like a Halo on a PS3 sounds weird, a Final Fantasy on an XBox just doesn't seem right to me... But that's just me.
Also, I'm counting on some special content for FFXIV - just like Japan is getting. That will most likely be PS3 exclusive as FFXIV is a PS3 console exclusive.
Elranzer @ Nov 13th 2009 11:05AM
"I'm getting it for the PS3. Just like a Halo on a PS3 sounds weird, a Final Fantasy on an XBox just doesn't seem right to me... But that's just me."
I felt the same way about Final Fantasy VII. A Final Fantasy on a Sony system just seemed weird. Nintendo was the original home of Final Fantasy.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Nov 13th 2009 11:15AM
I'll get it on 360 because I don't have a PS3, I hope it's not too dumbed down.
B. Marriner @ Nov 13th 2009 11:40AM
I also have both systems. I want to get it on PS3, but, Xbox Live's MajorNelson (Larry Hyrb) just tweeted a cool way to score some free Xbox exclusive DLC. That's a deciding factor for me - looks like I'm going 360 with this one:
http://twitter.com/majornelson/status/5683480466
Mazrael @ Nov 13th 2009 11:40AM
FFXIII's were actually developed on PC using Crystal Tools, keeping the PS3 in mind. Also, they claim that CT has all the chip timings of both consoles, and it'd be about reallocating the power usage..
Snowblind @ Nov 13th 2009 12:01PM
@B. Marriner
It's probably an avatar item, or dashboard theme. Not actual content for the game.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 13th 2009 12:57PM
Easy. It's a multiplatform game, so you get it for 360. That's how it goes with just about everyone, including me.
HeXeN @ Nov 13th 2009 1:07PM
@Tmac
That usually is the argument here but this time around the 360 version is probably the water down port .
eNrique @ Nov 13th 2009 1:42PM
I like to add that, I expect to sell more on the 360 because of, the all mighty...
God of War 3
bluetev @ Nov 13th 2009 1:44PM
Well, as far as I am concerned, either one of two things will happen - 360 owners buy this game and prove that they deserve to get non-shooter games on their console, or this game flops on 360, ensuring that all future RPGs stay on PS3. I am betting on the latter, seing that Lost Odyssey, Blue dragon both supposedly FF-killers with huge hype (back when 13 was PS3-exlcusive) and both failed to hit even 1 milion, and even the magnificent Mass Effect sold barely 2-2.5 milion on 360, less than the "commercial failure" that was LBP
umm....hello??? @ Nov 13th 2009 1:58PM
I'll probably go with the PS3 'cuz that's what they started the programming for it with....now I just need to find out when the REAL release date is so I can set aside my vacation days to play it...
zefur @ Nov 13th 2009 2:26PM
Other then tmacs post this reply chain is stupid how can everyone who says they are going to get it for xbox instead of ps3 get grayed out thats just fanboy rage right there
Jason Statham (Has a ps3 now) @ Nov 13th 2009 3:23PM
"get grayed out thats just fanboy rage right there"
Well what did you expect? This is a sony thread.
el serpiente @ Nov 13th 2009 3:45PM
What did you expect? You were flame-baiting, numbnuts.
Quattro @ Nov 13th 2009 4:15PM
I'll be getting it on PS3 as I have for all multiplat games lately.
Not that I have anything against the 360, it just really sounds like it's been on it's last legs.
NaeemTHM @ Nov 13th 2009 10:36AM
People EVERY Final Fantasy has taken 3-4 years to develop. Quit giving Square shit about it!
I'm probably alone in this sentiment but I didn't really enjoy the last two main Final Fantasy's (X and XII). XIII however looks absolutely insane and I can't wait to check it out in March.
acefondu @ Nov 13th 2009 10:40AM
X was great but XII's story blew chunks. Fun gameplay still.
zefur @ Nov 13th 2009 10:46AM
@acefondu
XII was bad but I also hated X cos it was crap
But people will always have there own personal favourites wont they
acefondu @ Nov 13th 2009 10:47AM
Yep to each their own.
Vcize @ Nov 13th 2009 10:48AM
X was the awesomest FF of all.
X-2 and XII were both pretty "meh" though. Actually I take that back...X-2 sucked.
Y. Kurokawa @ Nov 13th 2009 10:51AM
It's only recently that FF's have taken this long - back in the Famicom and Super Famicom days - some were released within a year of each other.