FFXII to cost extra in Japan

By Ellie Gibson Published 2 December, 2005

But what about over here?

Square-Enix has announced that Japanese Final Fantasy fans will have to pay more than they would normally do for a PS2 game if they want to get their hands on the next instalment in the series.

At a press conference in Tokyo, a Squenix representative said the game, which launches in Japan on March 16th, will be priced at 8990 yen (around £43). Most PS2 games retail for 7410 yen (£35) - so that's a mark-up of just over 8 per cent.

So will European gamers have to pay a higher price, too? Squenix was unavailable for comment when we tried to contact them this morning, but it's always a possibility - previous Final Fantasy games have carried a higher-than-average price tag in Europe before, apparently due to the increased costs of extra discs and bigger boxes.

Squenix also announced that the FFXII main theme music is being composed by producer Taro Hakase, who said he's been hard at work on the project for two years now.

A CD single of the song, which is titled Kibou (Hope), will hit the shops before the game itself and will be available as a special edition - complete with a DVD featuring footage of FFXII and interviews with Hakase - for 1680 yen (£8).

'FFXII to cost extra in Japan' Screenshot 1

Squenix has also signed a deal with Japanese drinks company Suntory to produce a new beverage by the name of Final Fantasy Potion. It's an energy drink containing herbs such as hyssop and lemon balm, and will be available in a "premium box" bundle that includes a specially designed bottle and an FFXII Art Museum card.

Final Fantasy XII is out in Europe next year, probably some time around autumn.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 6 years ago

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

  • Machiavel #1 6 years ago

    Eh? 7410 * 1.08 = 8002.8

    The mark up (according to your given average figure) is more like 20%

    Edited by 1 at 02/12/05 @ 14:56

  • Flightrisker #2 6 years ago

    I would give out but in fairness Final Fantasy last a lot more than 8% longer than most games anyway so fook it.

    As for Potion, sounds delicious!

    They should do a whole rang. Potion, then a 2L Potion called Mega-Potion, then X-potion , Phoenix Down* etc



    *disclaimer - Phoenix Down will not actually bring you back to life...

  • Tonka #3 6 years ago

    For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.

  • ecureuil #4 6 years ago

    To be picky, Phoenix Down never bought any FF characters back to life..

    I'd still go for a FF based energy drink, though.

  • tengu #5 6 years ago

    Don't they normally do this with FF games?

    Sucks, but I know I'll be first in line to pay whatever they want for it. My ass is theirs.

  • Artemus #6 6 years ago

    Christ the PS3 will be released quicker in Europe than this.

  • tengu #7 6 years ago

    Yeah, the delays have been really horrible (I'll be amazed if we see FFXIV appear during the PS3's life span at this rate.), but at least we have Kingdom Hearts 2 in March to look forward to in the meantime :)

  • Blerk #8 6 years ago

    Final Fantasy XII is out in Europe next year, probably some time around autumn.

    Pshhhhhyeah, right! I'll believe that when I see it!

  • Feanor #9 6 years ago

    So what'll be out in America and Europe first - FF12 or the PS3?

  • neuroniky #10 6 years ago

    @Tonka: great citation. Probably the best movie I've seen last year.

  • kenty #11 6 years ago

    bah can't wait to wait 8 million years just to have a crippled, slow, bordered badly adapted Squenix style PAL version.
    If i can't easily procure a US copy and a console that's capable of running it then I guess I'll be missing out on this one just like I did FFX.

  • Aysir #12 6 years ago

    Yeah it really is high time Squenix did a proper PAL conversion if they want us to pay more. Else i'll just have to settle for the inevitable International version to get all the extra goodies PAL normally gets.

  • Kami #13 6 years ago

    Mmm... mana potions...

    Oh, sorry. Where was I? Final Fantasy XII looks pretty good, yes indeed. Potions? *drools*

  • karlidog #14 6 years ago

    The US demo (bundled with Dragon Quest VIII) is bloody fantastic, so I've got really high hopes for this instalment - no more turgid, slow battles, no more random monster encounters, actual freedom to wander and explore the world rather than following a narrow, predetermined path. Hopefully no irritating, trial-and-error boss fights bookended by unskippable cutscenes this time, too.

  • sephy #15 6 years ago

    I'm confused

    here it said that Nobuo Uematsu composed the main theme, which is performed by Angela Aki.

  • The-Bodybuilder #16 6 years ago

    Yes, I've been waiting to play an j-rpg where I play a young spikey-haired shmuck with a giant sword and a team of rejects who travel around have random turn-based fights just to finf out "I'm the only one that can save the world".

    /just realised he mocked jrpgs in an eg comments thread.
    /waits for backlash.

  • admir #17 6 years ago

    played the demo of FF12 and i like it so far. it came with dragon quest 8 which rocks by the way. when dragon quest comes out in EU go and get it only if u like RPGs.

  • firefly #18 6 years ago

    True Phoenix Down's in-game effectiveness is rather random (well actually entirely non-random to be fair) death in battle it can handle so if you've just been fighting a few too many ATB random battles then it will be able to revive you. However if, for instance, you've had Sepiroth's sword slice through your torso in real time then you'll probably be out of luck (of course not one person in Final Fantasy VII considered the fact that they may be able to just use a Phoenix Down). So maybe the disclaimer should claim life-giving properties but mention that it only works for death in ATB/turn based battles.

    Anyway I'm in favour of the range of Final Fantasy themed beverages - perhaps they should add Ethers to it (ignoring the obvious possibly something in a Red Bull type energy drink) and possibly an Elixir which just combines the two. They could branch out in other directions too - perhaps a range of Final Fantasy branded Tents for those who are in the world map or are near a save point. Of course the results would vary - the earlier versions wouldn't be too effective and would ultimately be superceeded by Cottages and the like, the latter ones (with the exception of the rather inconsistent IX version) would be totally effective, and eventually they'd be made completely redundant by new fangled save points with restorative properties (funny how nobody in Spira thought to just hang out by a save point all the time and just keep using it whilst Sin attacked).

  • absolutezero #19 6 years ago

    No one dies on FFVII they only get knocked out, Phoenix Down removes the KO.

    Anyway The Dragon Quest games are always more expensive because the publishers know that the game will sell no matter what. Don't expect the price to be increased over here because it has'nt before. The fan-base for Squuenix RPG's just is'nt that big.

  • WulfBane #20 6 years ago

    I have played the Demo, which came packed with DQ"S VIII, from the two levels of play i.e. one with ASHE & the second with VANN, did nothing for my jerk meter. I rather wait for the real McCoy. Until then I'll play my DQ"S VIII, Magna Carta & Kingdom of Paradise (PSP).

    Charging extra after waiting for a game this long sounds like customer rape to me. Yes, I agree the box edition will cost a bit more since they do pack a poster or a mini guide but for the normal bunk it should cost less.

    Rogue Galaxy, from the makers of DQ'SVIII, will be a game worth waiting for.