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No Final Fantasy XIII in Europe, US this year

Published on 16th January 2009 by Joe Martin

Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy XIII won't be launching in Europe and the US until 2010.

Square Enix's president, Yoichi Wada, has confirmed that the upcoming Japanese RPG Final Fantasy XIII won't be available in the US or Europe until 2010 in a comment to Reuters, via The Guardian.

The PlayStation 3 RPG will still be launching in Japan by the end of the year however, according to Wada.

More depressingly, Square Enix will not even begin working on the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII, which was announced by the previously Sony-loyal developer at E3 last year to much uproar, until after the PlayStation 3 version of the game is finished.

The comments therefore reinforce the notion that Square Enix is hoping to launch the title on both platforms at the same time in the West, rather than giving Sony a years advance on the Xbox 360 in Microsoft's most successful territories.

When Final Fantasy XIII is finally released in the West then it will have been in development for more than four years, having been publicly unveiled back in 2006. The game was originally planned as a PlayStation 3 exclusive, but some pressure from fans (and Microsoft) saw Square Enix confirm an Xbox 360 version of the game too, somewhat controversially.

Exact details on what fans can expect from the game are somewhat scarce, but it is known that the game will return to the Active Time Battle system and will feature lots of very young, androgynous-looking boys and girls with neon-coloured hair. The graphics are set to be particularly spectacular too.

Are you eagerly awaiting the release of Final Fantasy XIII, or are you sick of samey Japanese RPGs? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

16 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Mentai 16th January 2009, 13:10

The Active Time Battle System is hardly samey, it's one of the biggest innovations to the JRPG genre. You'd have to just hate JRPG's in general to not be excited about this game. Though here's hoping it has a better main character than FFXII.

Paradigm Shifter 16th January 2009, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mentai
You'd have to just hate JRPG's in general to not be excited about this game. Though here's hoping it has a better main character than FFXII.

Agreed.

Although I really detested the whole of FFXII - a pity, as I'd really been looking forward to it. I played it for about 45 minutes, then gave up in absolute disgust as I disliked the characters so strongly.

I wonder if this means that the PS3 version will be less buggy, or superior in other ways? Or simply that they need the extra coding time for Cell and RSX...?

liratheal 16th January 2009, 13:23

I bet they do it to see Westerners e-dramaing over it :D

I'm tempted to import a Japanese copy tbh.

Arkanrais 16th January 2009, 13:25

FF Versus XIII is the one I'm waiting for. looks a hell of a lot more interesting to me that XIII. also haven't seen Versus with the X360 listed as one of its release platforms either. is it coming to Xbox?

also about getting it done on PS3 first; good I say. get it done on one console right first instead of releasing it buggy as a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. release on multi-platform.

Paradigm Shifter 16th January 2009, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by liratheal
I bet they do it to see Westerners e-dramaing over it :D

I'm tempted to import a Japanese copy tbh.

Haha... yeah... as long as it gets released, I'm generally happy. If the UK/EU release is significantly behind the US one, I'll probably import a US copy, given the PS3's lack of region locking. :D

I'd really like it if they gave us the option of dubs or subs, though. Some of the English language voices in FFX and XII just drive me nuts!

talladega 16th January 2009, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter

I wonder if this means that the PS3 version will be less buggy, or superior in other ways? Or simply that they need the extra coding time for Cell and RSX...?

You know that it's only being released on PS3 in Japan....

Anyways, I think FF is poo so whatever....

kylew 16th January 2009, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by talladega
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter

I wonder if this means that the PS3 version will be less buggy, or superior in other ways? Or simply that they need the extra coding time for Cell and RSX...?

You know that it's only being released on PS3 in Japan....

Anyways, I think FF is poo so whatever....

You are required to grab a bucket, fill it with poo, and place your head firmly in the bucket for 20 minutes.

devdevil85 16th January 2009, 15:40

That's so ridiculous how they are holding the PS3 version back until the 360's is ready. Why does it matter to them? What incentive do they have to do this? Either way their game will sell bookoos (PS3 or 360)....

themax 16th January 2009, 15:56

My guess is that they will be using the localization period to port it to the 360, and since both will be occurring at the same time, chose to go ahead and release it when the 360 is ready. Then again, it's easier to say that Microsoft more than likely worked out a deal this way, in order to ensure the 360 version has a chance to sell more in the West since they know the PS3 version will sell more in Japan over the 360 version.

Either way I will get it when I get it. I haven't enjoyed Final Fantasy since FF8, and I am looking forward to White Knight Chronicles moreso than Final Fantasy this time around. Trying to resist importing it as we speak. I haven't been too impressed with RPG's this generation (Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesperia, Last Remant, and the other samey titles this gen) with the exception of Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3 and those are SRPGs.

D3s3rt_F0x 16th January 2009, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylew
You are required to grab a bucket, fill it with poo, and place your head firmly in the bucket for 20 minutes.

Well its been pretty poo for a while now for me since at least IX anyway.

Angleus 16th January 2009, 17:33

:( one of my most anticipated titles really

Redbeaver 16th January 2009, 19:58

if those japanese versions come with English subtitles, im soooo buying it rofl

Paradigm Shifter 16th January 2009, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by themax
...with the exception of Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3 and those are SRPGs.

Both of those are extreme amounts of awesome, though. Disgaea is always going to be great for the humour and the sheer size... Valkyria is probably the most I've enjoyed a game in several months. LittleBigPlanet has barely been touched since I opened Valkyria. :D

rollo 17th January 2009, 12:17

360 version isnt comming out in japan

so this release doesnt suprise me

think ill import a version if it has subtitles and screw the 1 year wait

choupolo 19th January 2009, 11:39

My first experience of FF was and imported copy of VII in Japanese. I had no clue what was being said, but it was still awesome. :D I beat Sephiroth at the end with my most powerful spell - Ice 2!

I eventually bought it again when it was released in the UK and got to enjoy it properly.

Of course recent FF's and their super annoying English voice acting is a huge drawback - a subbed version would be perfect.

Molajoku 29th January 2009, 14:11

PLEASE...For the love off all things small and furry please please please do not dub this one with crappy US voice acting.

I waited so long for ff12 and managed to play it for a full hour before my ears began to bleed and I couldn't go on. I've only just got the un-dubbed version with subtitles and I have to say it's a very good game but it’s such a shame it couldn’t have been like that in the first place.