Final Fantasy XIII posts (Subscribe to this feed)

We don't think $500 is cheap, either. But if you look at it from the angle of "price reduced $100," then it seems marginally more significant. We were thrilled about the PS3 price cut, but some of Sony's biggest devs are speaking out against it. Not so much against it, but they think it's not enough to make a difference. First was Konami, now we're getting a wag of the finger from Square Enix's European and North American subsidiaries president, John Yamamoto.

Yamamoto said "I think USD 500 for PS3 is still a bit expensive for most gamers. Most of them think that price is still high." In addition to that, he demanded a price cut for Europe as well. While we'd be all about that, the PS3 has only been launched there recently. Oh well, it might happen. Does this mean Final Fantasy XIII will go multiplatform? We doubt it. Don't you?

A lot of people have been keeping their fingers crossed for an announcement by Sony and/or Square Enix about Final Fantasy XIII releasing this holiday season. We've said it before, we'll say it again: not happening. It's not just that -- don't expect to see any Square Enix game get a release before April 2008. That means everything, no exceptions, the end.

Is this really that hard for people to swallow? Final Fantasy XII hasn't even been out a year and people expect the next one to be coming out already? How long did it take to make XII again? Exactly. Don't expect Versus any sooner and despite what you may have heard, The Last Remnant is not that far in production! Star Ocean IV was barely announced, Kingdom Hearts 3 isn't even past the drawing board, and Parasite Eve 3 (that's right, Nick's gonna say it) is still a secret ... and not the supposed phone game. Basically, it's official that nothing from Square Enix is coming until the next fiscal year, but we're not torn up. We're going to have a packed holiday season.

One of the most persistent Xbox 360 rumors (right up there with Metal Gear Solid 4) has been officially debunked at the highest level. Of course, we're talking about Final Fantasy XIII. But, how high is the highest level? How about a Square Enix executive? Specifically, IGN reports Square Enix's Shinji Hashimoto stated that the company has no current plans to make any more Final Fantasy titles on the Xbox 360. When asked about Final Fantasy landing on Wii or 360, Hashimoto stated, "For the Wii, we have FF Crystal Chronicles in production ... As for FF on the Xbox 360, it's currently a completely blank page."

Being Xbox 360 fanboys, this is where we are contractually obligated to note that Hashimoto's statements don't necessarily rule out future games in the series or even a delayed port of Final Fantasy XIII itself. Hair splitting aside, it looks like any hope of the next installment of Final Fantasy landing on the Xbox 360 has been crushed.

[Via Joystiq]

Whilst generally an exciting collection of quotes from some of the top names at Square Enix it is hard not to be disappointed by Toriyama's statement that the games in the Fabula Nova Crystallis series will be kept largely separate. We had harboured hopes of cross-game cameos. Imagine two Final Fantasies where the main characters from each game meet up and help each other get through a problem before going on their separate ways again. Sadly this doesn't look likely, though the games will link with each other through a "vague crystal theme," as Nomura puts it. Same as all the previous FF games then?

Nomura's thoughts on the tone and style of Final Fantasy Versus is a particularly interesting read. For those of you who suffer from fears that the series will be moving over to other consoles, then let me put them to rest. Both Nomura and Toriyama make it clear that they couldn't do the things they're doing without the power of the PlayStation 3. Make sure you check out all of the quotes over at the NeoGAF forums for more info.

With so many games coming out later on this year (ostensibly), a lot of PS3 fans have almost forgotten about the two biggest titles in the wings: Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII. Their exclusivity used to be put in question almost daily, continually put down, then revived as a rumor again for no apparent reason. Ever since a ton of hard-hitting titles started appearing, those rumors have died down because it seems the PS3 has more going for it than these two games and everyone is starting to realize that. So, what's up with those two titles, anyway?

It appears that neither are going to release before the end of this fiscal year (March 31, 2008). GameStop's website recently moved MGS4 from a 2007 release to a March 2008 release, but chances are it'll come out in April or May. Just because ... it'd be a good start to the next fiscal year, you know?

FFXIII hasn't been moved on their site, but Square Enix president Yoichi Wada made a statement regarding the game at a financial briefing in Tokyo: "It will still take a bit more time. At the very least, [a release] this fiscal year is definitely out of the question." IGN claims a May 2008 release at the earliest. We second that. When do you guys expect the game to get the ol' release?

Following a financial briefing in Tokyo today, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada gave clear indication of when to expect Final Fantasy XIII -- er, rather, of when not to expect the fair-haired rpg. "[The game] will still take a bit more time. At the very least, [a release] this fiscal year is definitely out of the question," said Wada. Square Enix's fiscal year ends March 31, 2008.

Wada's forecast comes just a day after Konami indicated that Metal Gear Solid 4 would squeeze into stores before the end of the fiscal year.

Nope! No traditional Final Fantasy XIII for you today. On this day, we've got two high-res screens that have popped up thanks to Square Enix Party 2007. One is from Versus, the other is from Agito, which we've chosen to feature to the right. The full-size is also available here if you'd like to see it better.

Now, if the latter is supposed to be on phones, how the heck does it look this good? Unless "mobile" means... handheld. In which case, we're very excited to get our hands on it. There's not much else to say except we wish we were at this party! Oh, we'd also wish we knew anything about these games. That would probably help.

Square Enix is planning to make Final Fantasy XIII a decade-long franchise, according to FF Versus XIII producer Shinji Hashimoto. We already knew Square Enix was planning on spanning FFXIII much in the way it revisited Final Fantasy VII across multiple years and multiple consoles, but now we have a tentative timeline for how long the company plans to focus its effort on the series.

"Different from something like VII, which we expanded upon afterwards, with Fabula Nova Crystallis FFXIII, we've thought about an expansive world setting from the start," said Hashimoto in an interview with Nintendo Dream translated by IGN. "Under the idea of wanting everyone to be sucked into the world for 10 years, we're preparing a number of categories."

Hashimoto also classified four groups of developers working on four distinct aspects of the Final Fantasy series: the Nova Crystallis group, the Ivalice Alliance (Final Fantasy Tactics, Revenant Wings), the Crystal Chronicles group (that works "exclusively on Nintendo hardware," according to Nintendo Dream) and the MMO-centric Final Fantasy XI group.

Does this mean we'll be waiting until at least 2017 for Final Fantasy XIV? It's unclear, but regardless, we'll have to play nicely with XIII's characters for many years to come.

As Microsoft's Boris Schneider-Johne put it, "one down, two to go". Microsoft is probably very happy to get its grubby mitts on the likes of Devil May Cry 4, but two of Sony's major exclusives -- Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid 4 -- remain unclaimed. Of course, both games have had their share of rumors stating otherwise. Enter a recent issue of the Australian Playstation Magazine, which contained an interview with Square Enix director, Motomu Toriyama. In particular, one quote has made it around the internet in record time: "... in terms of formats we're reaching ... it's not simply exclusive to the PS3 and mobile phones." It's easy to read this quote and assume Toriyama is referring to the imminent arrival of Final Fantasy XIII on the Xbox 360, but that's making quite a leap. Final Fantasy games have all enjoyed success on multiple platforms, ranging from the DS to upcoming PSP ports to even the Gamecube. It's just as likely that Toriyama is referring to the DS, Wii, PSP, or even another movie. Furthermore, he could easily be talking about spin-off titles and not Final Fantasy XIII itself. Hell, Final Fantasy XIII is already set to have three titles (Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito XIII).

In other words, don't expect Final Fantasy XIII to jump ship anytime soon. It's still possible of course, but Toriyama's comments are not confirmation of a 360 version.

[Via Joystiq]

Square Enix director Motomu Toriyama hasn't told PSM Australia anything other than what we've already known: Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII is a collective of projects that has never been declared exclusive to one platform. Yet, when Toriyama suggests that Fabula Nova Crystallis "isn't just limited to three titles" and that "it's not simply exclusive to the PS3 and mobile phones," so many of us are willing to take a leap of faith, heralding these words as a death knell for Sony, and as a confirmation of FFXIII on Xbox 360. Before you join the feverish mob, remember to draw a distinction between the primary game, currently exclusive to PlayStation 3, and the general series, already totaling three titles (Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito XIII) and at least one loose logo, Haeresis ("Dissidia" is also possibly linked to FFXIII).

Toriyama has merely reaffirmed that, like Final Fantasy VII, the FFXIII brand will be spun into an array of disparate shards, conveniently linked by a popular title. We may yet see a spin-off on 360 -- or even a port of the PS3 games -- but don't jump to that conclusion based on the PSM interview. Yes, we've still got Haeresis (and possibly Dissidia) without a home, but either DS or PSP, or dare we say Blu-ray, DVD, and UMD, are just as valid destinations as Xbox 360 -- don't count out PlayStation 2 or Wii either. Given all the fuss that Final Fantasy rouses, Square Enix would do best to deliver on all of 'em.

The moral is: Final Fantasy XIII -- the game -- is still exclusive to PlayStation 3.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

This time we've found the scans containing the interview with Square-Enix's Motomu Toriyama. We've read them, sure. We've decided to give you some of what we learned and let you read the rest. Some of this was already known, some of it is speculation, but all of it is Final Fantasy deliciousness.

We already knew the game was going to take on the FF8 approach -- more science-fiction than fantasy (technology-wise, cities with big buildings not made out of wood or thatch or brick). Fine by me. As an aside, I've heard tons of whines about that particular entry into the series and I'd like to hear why it rubbed you the wrong way. Personally, the FF thorn(s) in my side are IX and Mystic Quest. I wouldn't call FF7 sci-fi based because it was one city that was "technologically advanced"... it was more industrialized than sci-fi. FF8 was sci-fi. FF8 had the Gun-Blade. So does XIII. What're the odds?


We also know the battle system is going to be a revamped ATB system -- pushed to its limits as far as speed goes. This, to me, is also a great move. Not sure how many of you dared to demasculinize yourselves with Final Fantasy X-2, but that was easily the greatest rendition of ATB to-date. If they're going to make it faster with XIII, I'm on board. Just so Lightning isn't girly like those three ladies were. She doesn't seem to be.

The game is being built from the ground up with the PS3 in mind. The high-definition capabilities, the Blu-ray, the multi-core mumbo jumbo... it's all needed to run this game in the way Square-Enix desires it. Online? They're thinking about it. Wonder what they'd do. Either way, expect a whole new level of expression on character's faces and gestures.

Mini-games are a possibility, but they'd probably be dragged out into their own full-length releases. Hopefully, these will be cheaper and on the PS-Store, because I won't dole out a constant stream of $60 for mini-games-gone-full.


There's a bit more info in the scans, but we're not going to go into every title and what's already known about them. If you want to play a little bit of catch-up, go ahead and check out the scans. We're going to find some news not relating to Square-Enix.

The Australian PSM had an interview with Square-Enix's Motomu Toriyama. It was all right. He mostly talked about the main Final Fantasy XIII game. But he was asked a question that wasn't expected and he gave an answer that was even less expected.

What was asked? Dunno. What was said? "In fact, the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII project isn't just limited to three titles -- there are many different aspects. In terms of the formats we're reaching, as well, it's not simply exclusive to the PS3 and mobile phones. There is more."

Now, before all the competing consoles do a jig and cry in happiness for a game they wouldn't even play, this doesn't say anything about the exclusivity of XIII and Versus XIII. What we're gleaning from this is another game for another platform -- maybe Crystal Chronicles on the Wii actually takes place in the same universe? Or an Advent Children-style short movie where the two main characters of the games meet and duke it out? It's pretty interesting to think about -- oh, a graphic novel! Maybe.

Nick Doerr taps his fingers impatiently, waiting to hear the mail delivery truck to roll past his apartment complex's mailbox hut. Every day, he wonders if that new issue of EGM will arrive. Since the month of the magazine and the actual month are never the same and the delivery dates appear arbitrary, it's little more than a guessing game. However, he's a reason to be excited this time around. Final Fantasy XIII is coming. Maybe.

We reported a long time ago that there might be a demo coming out this year for FFXIII: Crazy Latinese Subtitle and estimated its arrival... let's see... after TGS'07 -- the demo itself was scheduled to be completed by E3'07. Apparently EGM had a little blip inside an issue (it may have been the April issue) confirming such a demo heading to the PS-Store. If we're already hearing that, can we expect it sooner? E3 is just around the corner and down a block, so maybe we'll get that demo then, instead? Whatever, keep your ears open.

For some reason, we feel like this news is a little older than "6:36AM"... probably read it in a few applications. But we're not here to talk about them! We're here to discuss Georga Fornay's comments in a French-language newspaper about Final Fantasy XIII. Who is he? President of Sony Computer Entertainment France. What'd he say? Let's eavesdrop.

"The development costs of games have exploded, and it has become more difficult to have exclusives, outside of our own games. But we have for launch day [in France] 30 games, including MotorStorm, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Virtua Fighter 5. Moreover, we are expecting 200 games [for the PS3] by the end of 2007... As far as Final Fantasy XIII goes, I can tell you that the exclusivity is in discussion."

Some may twist this into thinking that Sony might be losing exclusivity to the coveted Square-Enix title. We remain cautiously optimistic. Perhaps Square was looking at going to other consoles, but Sony realizes they need this game (need is a tricky word, but let's go with it). They tell Square to sit down, enjoy some brunch. Let's discuss. Basically, instead of assuming the title was exclusive and that may be changing, let's assume it was not exclusive, but Sony is finally making that jump. Besides, there were never those "Only on PS2!" stickers when Final Fantasy X, X-2, and XII were released. Those were all over games like Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Know what we're saying? How do you feel about this?

The PS3 exclusivity rumor train is unstoppable these days. Just days ago it was revealed that both Devil May Cry 4 and Ace Combat 6 were going multiplatform, and now we hear, courtesy of GameSpot, that the one of the biggest exclusives of all may be spreading the console love as well. Yes, it appears that Final Fantasy XIII -- you know, "that RPG" -- could be jumping the fence in search of greener pastures. In an interview with Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, Georges Fornay, president of Sony Computer Entertainment France, hinted at the possibility. Fornay noted that development costs for games have skyrocketed, making it difficult for 3rd party developers to produce exclusive titles. Said Fornay, "As far as Final Fantasy XIII goes, I can tell you that the exclusivity is in discussion." Square-Enix has yet to comment on Fornay's statement.

Final Fantasy creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, recently added fuel to this rumor, stating that the FFXIII's White Engine is capable of multiplatform development, and that he believed making FFXIII a multiplatform game would be a "wise" decision. Is the Xbox 360 about to pick up another of the PS3's heavy hitters? Only time will tell. If Final Fantasy XIII were to come out on Xbox, would it sway your decision to get a PS3?