Square talks FF Versus XIII "difficulties"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 9 August, 2010

Versus XIII and Agito XIII a long way off.

Final Fantasy XIII spin-off games Versus and Agito won't be released for ages, Tetsuya Nomura has revealed.

The Japanese RPG legend has sprayed Twitter with an information explosion, saying that "there are a number of unannounced titles" to be revealed before the two games are released.

Unveiled in 2006, Final Fantasy Versus XIII is a PlayStation 3 exclusive action role-playing game that's part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII compilation.

Also unveiled in 2006, Final Fantasy Agito XIII is a PlayStation Portable exclusive that is without a confirmed Western release.

"Versus has had many difficulties," Nomura said on Twitter (translated by Andriasang)

"And past method of production have been completely inapplicable, but these are the difficulties of birth, so we are working hard. We have a lot to announce, but because we're going in order, I can't say too much yet."

By order, Nomura means promoting games in the order of their release.

Nomura said Square is casting voice actors for Versus and Agito as we speak. PSP Parasite Eve game The 3rd Birthday's recording "will end shortly". Then it's on to Agito.

Nomura confirmed Versus and Agito will skip the German show gamescom, due to run next week. "There are a number of unannounced titles. These will come before Agito and Versus. Some have finished voice recording. Announcements will take place in Japan."

Tokyo Game Show?

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 10 months ago

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  • Machetazo #1 2 years ago

    There are unannounced titles that will come before Versus and Agito...The announcements, I'm guessing, not the release of those, because that would be ridiculous. Hopefully, new Mana, for HD platforms. I'd see that, or some kind of SoM on download platforms - bring it back!

  • Widge #2 2 years ago

    of course it'll be a cheap port, did you SEE how bad the 360 FFXIII port was?

  • telboy007 #3 2 years ago

    Be interesting to know what these issues are to be honest... the fact the Squareenix don't seem to like making HD towns? Their PS3 engine isn't really geared towards a more action RPG? They are changing a lot of the game due to the mixed feedback on XIII? What?!?

  • alimokrane #4 2 years ago

    Is it the PS3 that is really to blame though? I don't think so to be honest.

    Square Enix has been struggling BIG time with making RPGs in current gen consoles and that includes Xbox 360 RPGs. Look at The Last Remnant on 360 and Final Fantasy 13 on 360/PS3 .. they both took AGES... I think it's a simple case of Square's production processes not transitioning well to current gen in my opinion.

  • Velios #5 2 years ago

    I think the whole idea of these spin-off games is complete bollocks to be honest. They are often late, and uninspired - why don't they just focus all their efforts on creating fresh games instead of milking soured teet of last years final fantasy game (that wasn't that good anyway)

  • Eraysor #6 2 years ago

    Alas, FFXIII was so pitiful I don't think I'll be touching this one with a bargepole.

  • NotSoSlim #7 2 years ago

    Nothing to do with PS3 as they have the engine, more to do with how crap FF13 was and everyone crying out for a more open game with towns!!

    Serves them right for getting complacent with FF name.

    As for Mickey...no surprise he jumped on this one as any delay must be due to PS3 even tho the PSP game is also delayed!! Moron
    Edited by NotSoSlim at 09/08/10 @ 12:38

  • NimbusTLD #8 2 years ago

    Hopefully they're going through a major design overhaul on Versus after all the negativity aimed at XIII's linearity...

  • alcides #9 2 years ago

    @Eraysor

    hear hear.

    Square are making fools of themselves by announcing games before they are even clear about how to make them, design characters way before they even know anything about the back story, stage situations with ominous looking middle age execs when there clearly is no backup in terms of WHATEVER!

    This usually turns into a tragedy, like FF13's shit scenario.

    They blather about making games differently, but they are STILL wanking with one hand and making CG movies with the other while development hasn't yet started. Did you know FF's cinematics are always done before the game is even vaguely finalized? That's why the story makes no freaking sense.

  • Whitster #10 2 years ago

    @Alcides

    I can believe that of the last few, although I thought FF12 was pretty good, but the classics era of 6-9 the plot and gameplay felt pretty solidly linked together.
    Edited by Whitster at 09/08/10 @ 12:44

  • FuzzyDuck #11 2 years ago

    mickey2010 talks of "difficulties" making friends, trolls EG forums.

    /fixed.

  • NotSoSlim #12 2 years ago

    Every recent FF game the alter it completely from the last when a continuation with improvements would suffice. Also think the emergence of games like Mass Effect have skewed there thinking as Mass Effect 2 was more shooter than rpg imo tho enjoyable

  • Tuffty #13 2 years ago

    I can only assume that the difficulty of creating Versus XIII is, oddly, creating an RPG with towns and an open world map for this generation. Development costs are huge, and even creating a town in a FF game must be a lot of work. I doubt you would see cut and paste jobs of buildings but with a different colour, it's FF so everything is going to be meticulously detailed.

    I doubt even an open world map, towns and a new combat system in what appears to be a darker setting like VII, will please anyone either. Seeing the outcry of criticism at the differences between X to XII, and now from XII to XIII, I don't think there is a happy medium when it comes to FF anymore.

    Me, I secretly hope Versus comes to the 360 so I can get to play it. Seems really interesting to me.

  • darth_paul #14 2 years ago

    after FF13, they can keep it. one of the worst games this generation. a real letdown

  • coomber #15 2 years ago

    My fingers are still sore from where I got so badly burned by FFXIII. Worst thing I have played this gen by a mile.

  • des #16 2 years ago

    lol

  • alcides #17 2 years ago

    @Whister

    I am right. Which makes you... not right. FF's cinematics were ALWAYS canned BEFORE the main game was finalized. It certainly was the case for FFIX at the time when cinematics where done in the USA (understand, in Honolulu Hawaï - yes that studio existed, yes it made cinematics for FFs, and yes it was the same guys who did the movie that more or less killed square. I remember seeing pictures of the stuff they were selling at auctions after they went out of business).

    I remember reading about it in what used to be a serious publication at the time, french monthly Joypad.

    It is the case, for example, of FFXIII where Gado points his gun at Snow for a dramatic effect in the trailer, whereas in the game a U-turn is made (he was just JOKING hahahaha. ha.)

    In FF, the games' progressions and stories are made around the cinematics, not the other way around. Everything builds up to that cinematic. Then they ad filler in the form of real time models with less and less polygon.

  • Dylbot #18 2 years ago

    Surely I can't be the only person that actually enjoyed FFXIII? It's a little bit too much like FFX, maybe, but there's nothing it does particularly wrong.

    And the 360 port isn't that bad, while we're on the subject. Except for when you're on the Archylte Steppe. Then it's all HHNGGGGHHH FRAMERATE.

  • Killerbee #19 2 years ago

    Come on, the FFXIII hate is completely misplaced. Sure it wasn't as good as any of VI to X inclusive but that is more down to the high standard of the earlier games in the series. If they sorted the overly long "levels", the linearity and excessive hand holding, it would be great. XIII does have great character design, the story is good and most of all the game's battle system is one of the best.

    I am actually looking forward to Versus a lot.

  • man.the.king #20 2 years ago

    @mickey2010

    "the dangers of working on a sony exclusive im afraid , with the ps3's terrible archietecture seemingly designed to make delays and things as arkward and costly as possible for the devs
    i also doubt this title will remain a sony exclusive and will make its way over to the 360, where the dev costs will be too cheap to port for them not to . "

    And....the asshole's back.

  • BuddyChrist #21 2 years ago

    FF13 had amazing visuals and a story written by carebears on acid.

    Do you love your grandma? Well Square Enix have gone and made her look better, and given her a whole new battle system!!!!

  • james-mw3-mw3 #22 10 months ago

    Ah gawd! Nearly a year later and still everything is effed up... At this rate we are going to see this for the PS4 :p