FFXIII still on track for 2009 release

By Robert Purchese Published 25 February, 2009

Development work "going favourably".

Final Fantasy XIII director and writer Motomu Toriyama has said "development is going favourably for a 2009 launch".

That puts the PS3 role-playing game back on track after Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada said the Dragon Quest IX delay may have a knock-on effect.

Toriyama's words spill from the pages of Japanese magazine Famitsu, read and translated by bookworm Kotaku.

Toriyama added that the FXIII demo - due April 16th as part of the Advent Children Complete Blu-ray - will be over an hour long, and designed to be played over and over again.

The content, he said, doesn't reach up to when heroine Lightning meets Snow, the bandana-wearing blonde one with a cheesy grin.

Final Fantasy XIII won't be released here until after April 2010. Europe and North America will also gain an Xbox 360 version, although Square Enix won't start working on that until the PS3 game is on the way to shops in Japan.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Vice.Destroyer #1 3 years ago

    There will be people that are going to be happy that FF13 will be on the 360, but is it not a bad idea to start producing a Xbox version after you can buy a PS3 version? It will have lost a lot of momentum and 'cool' and will be as well received as BioShock was on the PS3 after the Xbox boys got their game.

  • Erinan #2 3 years ago

    If Square were to include English subtitles on the japanese version of the game, they would be God.

    One can only hope.

  • Dr.Mott #3 3 years ago

    I thought that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were being released at the same time in the West, with Japan not getting the 360 version at all.

  • bmxbandit #4 3 years ago

    I still cant believe we're getting it a year late because of greedy fucking Microsoft and their attitude of "lets not make games ... just buy other peoples and piss off millions for the hell of it!" ... its beyond a farce how desperate MS have gotten this generation.

    Square, you used to be cool. Now you just produce medicore RPG's for a platform that doesnt want them. Idiots.

  • insincere_dave #5 3 years ago

    This isn't just MS's "fault". Square usually take a few months to port from Japanese to English anyway. Whilst this is happening they'll also port it to Xbox 360 adding maybe a month or two delay. To summarise... there would have been a big delay anyway, now it's just a bit longer because it's going multi-platform.

  • Les #6 3 years ago

    "Now you just produce medicore RPG's for a platform that doesnt want them."

    The platform wants them. The intended customers just don't want the platform.

  • VicViper #7 3 years ago

    While I'm happy that we're getting it sooner rather than later (Alot later than 2010), I kinda of wish they would put more effort into some of thier IPs other than final fantasy.

    I was going to say I would love a console version of TWEWY but then I'm not sure that would work all that well or hell just hurry up with kingdom hearts 3 or a remake of Vagrant Story.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/09 @ 16:47

  • Freek #8 3 years ago

    I thought that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were being released at the same time in the West, with Japan not getting the 360 version at all.

    Yup, and that's the anoying bitt. Due to development on the 360 version not starting yet it's probably going to delay the PS3 version in the West.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/09 @ 15:59

  • Les #9 3 years ago

    Oh,

    And on Square being cool: After experiencing Nippon Ichi/Atlus games, I think part of the past 'coolness' was being caused by not being able to experience the competition here in the West.

  • DrDamn #10 3 years ago

    @Les
    Incidentally Disgaea 3 by Nippon Ichi is published by Squenix in the UK.

    @VicViper
    The Vandal Hearts games were SRPG's (Like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea) and made by Konami. Vagrant Story maybe?

  • bmxbandit #11 3 years ago

    [link url=http://gamer.blorge.com/2 009/01/15/blame-microsoft-for-final-fantasy-xiii-delay-on-ps 3/
    ]http://ga mer.blorge.com/2009/01/15/blame...[/link]

    And i'm sure theres a million other links.

    I find it amazing so called 'gamers' still dont know about this ... it was huge news at the time ... it still is.

    MS have pissed off millions at the expense of 1 title that people wont be buying for their system.

  • Les #12 3 years ago

    "Incidentally Disgaea 3 by Nippon Ichi is published by Squenix in the UK."

    Publishing is of course different from developing but I'm glad they still have an eye for quality. ;)

  • bmxbandit #13 3 years ago

    Nope, I seriously doubt they will.

    MS paying for FF13 is one of the biggest mistakes they'll ever make.

  • Widge #14 3 years ago

    clichelol

  • Steroyd #15 3 years ago

    Square, you used to be cool. Now you just produce medicore RPG's for a platform that doesnt want them. Idiots.

    Square started to really lose it since FFX/Kingdom Hearts...

    The Enix part had Level 5 help do Dragon Quest VIII for pete's sake... -_-

    Nippon Ichi and Atlus are where it's at these days.
    Edited by 2 at 25/02/09 @ 17:21

  • Goodfella #16 3 years ago

    There are a lot of JRPGs on the 360 already

    Yeah, and they're all shit.

  • ZuluHero #17 3 years ago

    I'll be getting this on 360. not only did Microsoft save me from having to buy a PS3, the game will probably (and ironically) look better on the 360 as well :)

    Thanks Microsoft, your millions spent have made this one lone gamer happy (it seems).

  • Goodfella #18 3 years ago

    It's another in a very long line of PS3 exclusives that the 360 has claimed.

    If by 'very long line' you mean 2 games then yeah, spot on.

    Isn't the PS3 lead platform for this? So, ZuluHero, highly doubtful it will look better on the 360.

  • Slipstream #19 3 years ago

    Demo with replayability. Nice stuff.

  • alimokrane #20 3 years ago

    Seriously, does anyone here HONESTLY believe the "work on the 360 version has not started yet" bulls*** ??

    If the game is to show up 5-6 months in US/EU after the JP version which is due by the end of this year and the launch is supposed to be SIMULTANEOUS on both 360/PS3, NO WAY in hell can they port a big production like FF13 in 6 months - simply no way. So I suggest, they stop that crap already ... I honestly dont understand why they're doing ... to spare the feelings of the PS3 fanboys ? For goodness sake.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/09 @ 18:03

  • Pedrolot #21 3 years ago

    FF13 Versus is where its at. 360lol.

  • Steroyd #22 3 years ago

    @almikrone

    Why would SE lie about the development of FFXIII? They've been building FFXIII for the PS3 since day one, so it's no stretch of the imagination that they won't start proper development till after it's launched in Japan where there won't be a Xbox 360 version at all.

  • bmxbandit #23 3 years ago

    We have facts about the delay caused by MS, and we have crap from fanboys trying to defend it.

    I believe the facts.

    Square really dont seem to understand how big of a mistake they've made.

  • Les #24 3 years ago

    "We have facts about the delay caused by MS, and we have crap from fanboys trying to defend it."

    I just don't get why everyone gets so worked up about having to wait for a title until it's finished or who caused its development cycle to be so long. It remains to be seen whether the title is any good. And it's not like there's a huge draught of games until its release whenever that may be.

    In the end SquareEnix are the only ones responsible for any 'delay'. They took MS's money (seems more likely than deliberately driving the company into the ground out of a hate for all things Sony - though stranger things have happened in business). It's not like they were forced.

  • kaya08 #25 3 years ago

    @bmx bandit
    Yes doubling your potential customers is a blatantly silly idea.
    All FF games take about 9 months to reach europe this will be the same, whats the issue?
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/09 @ 19:36

  • lambtron #26 3 years ago

    Wait a minute bmxbandit - are you seriously trying to argue that MS paying for Final Fantasy is somehow going to prove to be a catastrophic error for them? What's going to happen exactly - are there going to be people burning their xbox 360 in the streets in protest? Maybe no one will ever buy a 360 ever again? Perhaps MS will be shut down by the European Court of Human Rights for crimes against humanity?

  • TexMurphy01 #27 3 years ago

    As someone already mentioned, I would prefer japanese speech with english subs / menus.

  • LittleVoice #28 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • Rash' #29 3 years ago

    trebell, GTA hasn't been exclusive to PS since San Andres, Resi since RE4, and WWE since the last Xbox. Certainly the number isn't as small as two but seven is a bit of a stretch.

  • ZER0RAIN #30 3 years ago

    If the game was released only on the PS3 it would end up being the worst selling ff game of all time.Granted MS shelled out a lot of money to get it Square would have been stupid to not put it on the 360. That is 27 million more consumers worldwide. A third party software developer just simply cant go with one system any more. Especially with a game as huge as ffXIII.
    Edited by 1 at 26/02/09 @ 03:42

  • Daikon #31 3 years ago

    Square started to really lose it since FFX/Kingdom Hearts...

    Yes, those are such terrible games *rolls eyes*

    Square really dont seem to understand how big of a mistake they've made.

    And you really tond seem to understand how bad of a grammer you make.

  • Steroyd #32 3 years ago

    If the game was released only on the PS3 it would end up being the worst selling ff game of all time.

    No it wouldn't Metal Gear Solid is a testamant that established franchises can sell on the PS3 (hell it's outsold MGS3 already, not bad for a console with 1/5th the userbase that the PS2 had when MGS3 launched...), lord knows where people get the notion that these established franchises would suddenly struggle is beyond me.

    Yes, those are such terrible games *rolls eyes*

    My sentence was supposed to convey that after those games were released Square had gone to shit, with the exception of Enix's/Level 5's Dragon Quest VIII 4 - 5 years later, I've bought SE published games during that period of time, but the stuff developed from Square (internally) themselves have been uninspiring for a while.

  • EvilBob_leeds #33 3 years ago

    This is getting a bit silly,

    Scenario i) Console company X fronts the money for a game studio to develop a game fortheir console. Console owners benefit from getting a game that otherwise might never have been made. Console company X benefits from the association with a quality piece of in house developed software (see LBP, Zelda's and Halo)

    Scenario ii) Console company X pays out money hand over fist to bribe a 3rd party company to not release a game for Console Y. No one benefits except for the owners of the 3rd party company who all get new Speedboats.

    Who precisely does (for instance) the Lost and the Damned coming out solely for the 360 benefit? 360 owners are no better off for the game not coming out on the PS3. Admittedly Rockstar did get speed boats out the deal. This kind of behaviour shouldn't be applauded by fanboys squealling "We got exclusive X lolzor"; it's shite and Microsoft's anti competitive behaviour at it's worst. I know Nintendo and Sony have both been guilty of this in the past, but at the moment it seems to be Microsoft's main strategy and it sucks. Having said that MS do deserve a big pat on the back for the whole XNA thing, which has the potential to be a really awesome tool for the gaming community.

    And as for doubling up users, you'd be surprised. Whereas FFX sold pretty damn well in the US and EU, XII sold relatively poorly in the rest of the world, meaning Squeenix made almost half their sales in Japan alone. At the time the PS2 was more or less ubiquitous and FFXII was an awesome addition to the series. TBH sales for the series seem to be in decline in the west at this moment, despite the quality of the games remaining high.

    And the wait between FFX Japan and FFX Europe - 6 months. The wait between FFXII Japan and FFXII Europe - 11 months. Settle in for the wait.

  • Drpwnage #34 3 years ago

    Depending on your Fanboy mindset, select A,B or C accordingly:

    A - M$ are teh Sux they bribed Squenix

    B - Squenix are teh sux they accepted bribe from M$

    C - $ony are teh sux they should have bought exclusivity in the first place

  • cyber_nicco #35 3 years ago

    Not to derail all the other points, but was there ever any evidence that MS paid them to make this for 360? I mean, why wouldn't they make it for 360?

  • Les #36 3 years ago

    "Not to derail all the other points, but was there ever any evidence that MS paid them to make this for 360? I mean, why wouldn't they make it for 360?"

    Good question. Given the generally poor quality of video gaming journalism it's often hard to find out the truth. Reports at the time seemed to suggest that there was an exclusivity agreement in place between Square and Sony. If this is true and Square broke it, it seems unlikely they did this without a big incentive as they would have to pay damages to Sony. A pointer in this direction is the fact that the game remains (as far as we can tell at this point) an exclusive in Japan. Given the small 360 installed base over there (despite the gazillion JRPGs released on the system) it might not have been worth it for Square/MS to break an existing exclusivity deal for that region.

    Another thing is the announced simultaneous release. AFAIK Square isn't exactly known for its multiplatform development skills. Might not be unreasonable to deduct that a simultaneous release basically means the PS3 version will be delayed. Square wouldn't do that without a good business incentive (= money) as it means needlessly delaying revenues thus cost them money.

    But in the end it's mainly speculation as it's not really a custom from either the platform holder's side or the publisher's side to admit money was being exchanged for favours. Probably due to the explosive nature of some of the userbase... ;)

  • sneetch #37 3 years ago

    @bmxbandit
    We have facts about the delay caused by MS, and we have crap from fanboys trying to defend it.

    I believe the facts.

    Square really dont seem to understand how big of a mistake they've made.

    What facts? Surely you're not considering that blog entry as facts? The random opinions of "internet man" aren't facts.

    If you want some facts here they are: the European release of FF games has always been months after Japan. That is a fact and here are the last 6.

    FF VII JP January 31, 1997 NA September 7, 1997 EU November 17, 1997

    FF VIII JP February 11, 1999 NA September 9, 1999 PAL October 27, 1999

    FF IX JP July 7, 2000 NA November 14, 2000 EU February 16, 2001

    FF X July 19, 2001 NA December 20, 2001 EU May 29, 2002

    FF XI PS2 JP May 16, 2002 NA March 23, 2004
    FF XI Windows (PC) JP November 7, 2002 NA October 28, 2003 PAL September 17, 2004
    FF XI Xbox 360 NA April 18, 2006 JP April 20, 2006 PAL April 20, 2006

    FF XII JP March 16, 2006 NA October 31, 2006 PAL February 23, 2007

    So what has Microsoft changed, exactly? The closest Square Enix have ever come to a simultaneous worldwide release was FF XI on the 360 after all. Square have said that the XBox version will not slow down the PS3 version but no doubt they are "teh lie" or whatever you kids are calling it these days. As for Square's "mistake", I don't think one or two incoherent ranting fanboys who think they know their business better than they do will concern them too much.

    Welcome, bmxbandit, your particular brand of OMG IRANGRY AT EVRATYHING 4 NO RAISEN!! will fit in nicely around here.

    Edit: clarifying something
    Edited by 3 at 26/02/09 @ 18:36