Square Enix admits FFXIII screen fakery

By Oli Welsh Published 15 February, 2010

Identical PS3 and 360 shots were "altered".

Square Enix has admitted that some Final Fantasy XIII screenshots it released last week, which purported to show the PS3 and 360 versions of the game but were virtually identical, were "altered".

In a statement to Kotaku, the company said that the screens were intended for "pre-production", "non-promotional" use, and their release was a mistake.

It was Kotaku that noticed that the screens were absolutely identical save for the controller button prompts.

Square Enix said it would release new screens soon, but argued that the two console versions were as close as could be anyway. "Unfortunately we did mistakenly include screenshots taken for pre-production (non-promotional use only) in our latest release of assets," ran the statement.

"Screenshots from the final game intended for the press kit will be released shortly. As shown in our recent demo tour and Microsoft's X10 event, there is no material difference between the two consoles."

North American spokesperson Sonia Im said on her Twitter: "These were not meant to be released as a comparison of FFXIII on the two consoles... Aside from easily being proven as altered, and this method not being one we use, we don't feel there is a need to enhance the X360 FFXIII... This was obviously not intentional."

Remember kids, there's only one place to get genuine, independent comparison images and analysis, and that's our own Digital Foundry. Check out DF's tech analysis of the final PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII, and look out for a full face-off around the time of its release on 9th March.

We also have an interview with the game's producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu Toriyama for you to peruse.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (59) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • clearblue #1 2 years ago

    Naughty naughty

  • Psi #2 2 years ago

    Phoney! hey check out these big fat phoneys!

  • Widge #3 2 years ago

    mongs mongs mongs

  • altitude2k #4 2 years ago

    Cheating scum!

  • telboy007 #5 2 years ago

    So does this mean the 360 version looks better?

    *runs for cover*

  • JahB #6 2 years ago

    that's gonna make for an interesting face-off

  • menage #7 2 years ago

    So?

  • Dizzy #8 2 years ago

    What has happened to console gaming when devs are proud that the two versions are the same.

  • CosmicFuzz #9 2 years ago

    360 is clearly TEH MEGATONZ

  • JonFE #10 2 years ago

    "...we don't feel there is a need to enhance the X360 FFXIII..."

    What about the PS3 FFXIII then?!?

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #11 2 years ago

    Don't blame the devs, this is a cock up on the part of publisher marketing people.

    If I had a penny for every developer who's howled in rage at PR people putting out screenshots from months-old builds that make the game look rubbish, or highlight some feature that's since been cut, or (like this set, presumably) photoshopped to mock up UI schemes, I'd have enough cash to fund a game of my own.

  • Tuffty #12 2 years ago

    But maybe SE is lying through their teeth again, I mean who's to say those screenshots aren't the 360 version with the PS3 menu's overlaid?!

    If anyone wants a good laugh then I suggest reading the comments at the Kotaku thread. Fanboys at both camps claiming of conspiracy theories, an outcry for a public apology, how the battle meter in the PS3 edition is just slightly more red than in the 360 version...

    Sometimes I wonder if there would be as much crticism about FFXIII at all if it had remained a PS3 exclusive because I've read enough comments across a lot of gaming sites from Sony fanboys who are still hurting that their once flagship title has gone multiplatform.
    Edited by Tuffty at 15/02/10 @ 10:22

  • GreyBeard #13 2 years ago

    But maybe SE is lying through their teeth again, I mean who's to say those screenshots aren't the 360 version with the PS3 menu's overlaid?!

    Not likely given that the Japanese PS3 version has been out for months already and has been screenshotted/youtubed to death :p
    Edited by GreyBeard at 15/02/10 @ 10:30

  • Tuffty #14 2 years ago

    ^ Oh I know, I was only mucking about. I should really have put a '/sarcasm' somewhere in my last post XD

  • woodnotes #15 2 years ago

    It's AMPED all over again.

  • The-Bodybuilder #16 2 years ago

    /harry hill voice

    There's only one way to find out......FIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!

  • N3rdga2m #17 2 years ago

    really not sure yet which system to buy this on???? achievements vs not changing discs vs which will look/play the best

  • alimokrane #18 2 years ago

    I want to know though, why would u alter these screens for pre production anyway ??? What's the point of that ?

  • Guitarnerd87 #19 2 years ago

    "I mean who's to say those screenshots aren't the 360 version with the PS3 menu's overlaid?! "

    Clutching at straws much? PS3 version is already out and complete.

  • Murton #20 2 years ago

    I want to know though, why would u alter these screens for pre production anyway ??? What's the point of that ?

    Deliberate leak to drum up some press?

  • Shikasama #21 2 years ago

    I wish people would get off the graphics on games. There's more to it.

  • Sunyavadin #22 2 years ago

    GAMES DEVELOPER in Bullshot admission shocker! Stay tuned for other headlines such as "Oil discovered in Saudi Arabia", "Pope confesses to Catholic leanings" and "US President revealed to be BLACK!"

  • TeaFiend #23 2 years ago

    I am getting it on Xbox 360 as I do not own a PS3. My housemate does but we only use it to keep warm on cold nights or for drying socks.

  • crazyhorse174 #24 2 years ago

    really not sure yet which system to buy this on???? achievements vs not changing discs vs which will look/play the best

    No offence, but are people still using the "changing discs" as a reason not to buy one version of the game? Really, I feel kind of embarressed for anyone who uses this as an excuse. Are you so exercise-shy that you wont get up of the couch, probably once, to change the disc?!

  • metallicorphan #25 2 years ago

    i don't mind the changing discs..and i didn't hear Sony people complaining about the multidiscs for the Playstation final fantasies(i didn't)..while Nintendos Zelda games had just the one cartridge(that cost the earth,LOL)

    and anyway....i can have that 'are you on disc 2 or 3 yet' conversation with my mate,instead of saying are you past such a such thing and perhaps spoiling something for him,LOL

  • DAN.E.B #26 2 years ago

    Yeah the changing discs thing is a bit of a poor excuse!
    but when its the only one you,ve got.............

  • SlackMaster #27 2 years ago

    No one seemed to mind changing discs last gen, and you only have to do it once. I really don't get that criticism.

  • des #28 2 years ago

    There are plenty of multiplatform games that use one platform as PR...the funniest thing is that people argue about pics labeled differently,but from the same platform...lol

  • M_of_the_sys #29 2 years ago

    For all those whining about people whining about disc change:

    really not sure yet which system to buy this on???? achievements vs not changing discs vs which will look/play the best

    The above has been the only comment about disc change in this comments section.

    /ends fanboy outrage

  • Beano #30 2 years ago

    It's hard to illustrate disk-swapping with a screen shot.

    /runs

  • Widge #31 2 years ago

    disc swap image:
    http://www.calshop.biz/giochi/giochi1/Ex...

  • Furfoot #32 2 years ago

    360 disk swap addon?

    http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-conte...

  • Gazza_UK #33 2 years ago

    Hold on... there is a difference between achievements and thropies?

  • N3rdga2m #34 2 years ago

    for the record I was not whining about the disc changing, but at the moment with the info we have there is not a lot to tell them apart so trying to nit pick so i can make a decision. I usually go for xbox on dual release games but maybe swaying PS3 prob due to FF7,8,9 being PS

    I own plenty of games with multiple discs but if both copies are the same in every way go for the 1 disc.... hmm this is sounding like a rant so sorry in all honesty not even that bothered
    Edited by N3rdga2m at 15/02/10 @ 15:15

  • Raiten #35 2 years ago

    On the subject of disc swapping, if there's no alternative to it people don't mind swapping discs, but if you're given a choise betwean multi-disc version and version with only one disc.. people usualy go for the one disc version.
    One of the best examples would be from UT 2004 which was at first released on multiple cd's and later on released on single dvd, a lot of people swapped their versions for the dvd version, even tho the disc swapping was only during installation.

    Also, minding and not minding the disc swaps has something to do with how it's handled, for example in FF7 you didn't need to swap discs to explore the world once you were on the last cd, same for exploring the locations you could acces on earlier cd's before switches. But if it's done badly like in star ocean4, requiring disc swaps when going to previously visited locations, it's purely infuriating.

  • chessboxer #36 2 years ago

    Actually UT2004 was launched on CD and DVD at the same time. I got the DVD version on the launch day.

    I don't think people can really compare disc swapping in this generation to when the PS1 was out (or even when FF7 came out in 1997). Back then the only choice for games were either on cartride or CD (maybe even Floppy disk for some PC games). There wasn't another platform that offered a larger medium for game distribution.

  • Raiten #37 2 years ago

    chessboxer, dunno but all i can remember when i bought my copy of ut2004 there was only cd versions available here at first, needles to say when dvd versions became available me and my friends swapped cd versions for dvd in a instant.

  • Machiavellian #38 2 years ago

    If MGS4 is any indication on weather or not disk swapping or waiting for the game to install a huge portion to the harddrive, I will take the disk swap.

  • Vyggo #39 2 years ago

    @Tyrell

    So you think someone is a ... fuckwit ... if he buys a run-of-the-mill JRPG? Just a crazy thought that might blow your mind, but maybe there are millions of people that LIKE run-of-the-mill JRPG's. Like some people like racers, shooters or whatever. Or do you also call someone a fuckwit is he is a soccer-fan that buys Fifa 2010 while he already has FIFA 2009?

  • Shakey_Jake33 #40 2 years ago

    @Widge - If they actually used that image, I think the 360 version would be the ones to go for after all!

  • abot #41 2 years ago

    As far a disc swapping FFXIII is on 3 discs on the xbox version. Not that I mind.

    I am more interested about the 360 version in terms of graphics quality and playability. FF has always been native to the PS. I usually prefer 360 on dual release games but this time its a little different since we are talking about a game that has been ported to the 360 for the first time. Its enough to make me take a pause and step back to think about which version I want.

    Its like a software program that has been only on the PC for years that for the first time will be on a Mac. You just wonder how that new version will turn out before running out to buy it.

  • Rusty_M #42 2 years ago

    backtrack backtrack backtrack backtrack backtrack backtrack

  • stevethemeat #43 2 years ago

    @ Widge: mongs mongs mongs

    Total prat

  • darren1976 #44 2 years ago

    If it reviews well I'll simply buy the version with best graphics and framerate. Disc swapping simply not an issue for me as I will install it on harddrive!

  • FladgeMangle #45 2 years ago

    I'm baffled too. Nothing wrong that I can see.

    I'm sure the 360 and PS3 versions will need a forensic pathologist to tell them apart, for what it's worth. Or Digital Foundry... Oh dear! :o)

    (see the smiley? See it??)

  • coolbritannia #46 2 years ago

    I can see why they need to touch up the 360 shots, hell, I'm not even sure it's a next gen machine!

  • Beano #47 2 years ago

    "If it reviews well I'll simply buy the version with best graphics and framerate. Disc swapping simply not an issue for me as I will install it on harddrive! "

    Installing Mass Effect 2 on HDD still require disk swapping... annoying!

  • metallicorphan #48 2 years ago

    all 360 games that have had more than 1 disc(Star Ocean,Lost Odyssey,Blue Dragon,Mass Effect 2....not Forza 3 though for obvious reasons)..you have still needed to change the disc,even if you have all discs installed to HDD...Star Ocean 4,you had to put one of the earlier discs BACK IN when you wanted to visit an earlier planet...lets hope thats not the case for FF13

    i read the GM review today...no side quests??W???T???F????.,.they say the game is 30% cutscenes(i don't mind stuff like that,but i know some people hate that)...they also said that there is a point where you watch a very long cutscene,then walk forward a few paces and then watch another long cutscene,LOL.. .in the end they gave it 81%


    @Otogizoshi: and from my past comment i was comparing PSOne FF games to Nintendo 64 Zelda for their size in games,not the playability...even though the Zelda games are damn fine too

  • freakzilla #49 2 years ago

    I think quite few people were sure those pics were fishy.

  • Moz #50 2 years ago

    The proof is in the pudding, but if other PS3 to 360 ports are anything to go by the chances of the 360 having any notible improvment over the PS3 is slim, as it's the same models, the same textures, lighting will look different in the same way the lighting looks different between nvidia and ATI generally.
    Yes generally the model and textures ect are the same in game ported 360 to ps3 but that way around tends to turn out badly for PS3.

    The biggest issue for me on which version to get is which has the most v-sync tearing. (totally ruined Uncharted for me) but recently i've been seeing tearing on more 360 games then PS3 games. And on a side note WHY!!!!!!!!!! please devs just rane in the visual abit so we don't have to put up with tearing!!!!!!

  • T3TSUO #51 2 years ago

    @mickey2010

    Addendum here. "lets face it, like most games RELEASED RECENTLY , FF13 will have superior visuals during gameplay on the PLAY-STATION 3" but it's going to be interesting reading how Eurogamer and chums are going to try and convince us it's the 360 that's the better choice.
    You really should learn to read between the lines on these so called fair face-off comparisons. Having spoken to people at work we were stunned at how badly the Bioshock 2 and Darksiders performed on 360 but in the case of Bioshock's case the 360 won simply because they preferred the controller and Darksiders received a patch some many weeks later to fix it's issues.
    If Bayonetta receives a patch to fix the ps3's issues are Eurogamer going to re-review the game? No because they've done their damage.
    I've read far too many of these face-offs were the PS3 came out superior but is always shined on with a "Gamers' won't care about that" but they will care about the 360's 2 extra frames because it's ripping the screen to shreds. Digital foundry's so called machinery only takes into account anti-aliasing, screen tear and framerates. Texture comparison has to be via the naked eye. Sound is never taken into the equation and if this is having an effect on framerates or how many, in the case of PS3, extra peripherals can be used. Actually I stand corrected on that last comment. Eurogamer's winning arguement in the cases of Resident Evil 5 and Bioshock 2 was the 360 pad feels better as a consequence of the heinous amounts of tear. If we are then to take controller feel, which is subjective to the user then I saw no mention of "superior PS3 controller" feel in the Street-fighter, Tekken, Soul Calibre or Virtua Fighter reviews.
    The only reason I frequent this site is just to read what ridiculous comments the staff have to say and I don't know any of my friends that actually trust their reviews enough to make a concise purchase. I'll seek honest opinions else where.
    I'm all for finding out if a product is subpar but nobody is asking the real question as to why Square felt the need to doctor the 360 bullshots. And yes it has to be 360 as the PS3 version has been out for some time and we all know how great it looks. Most gamers just want to know if the boot is on the other foot this time, that its the 360 version that gets a poor port. Those Bayonetta rants are going to bite back soon enough.
    Edited by T3TSUO at 16/02/10 @ 09:31

  • darren1976 #52 2 years ago

    @SHARXTREME

    Im not sure what you are implying is wrong with my comment. It would easier if you just stated you point rather than say 'anyone want to guess what is wrong'

    However it would seem my comment was misinformed several decent posters have subsequently stated that on 360 even after game install for some multi disc games disc swapping is still required which seems totally unnecessary. I based my comment on my experience with forza 3 but in hindsight that was an error. If the both console versions are on a par visually then il get ps3 version.

  • telboy007 #53 2 years ago

    The way MS have done the install to disc you are still required to do the disc security check before the 360 will access the hdd copy rather than the disc. Sucks but you can see why they've done that otherwise everyone will just install and lend to friends / sell on the game which isn't going to do the gaming industry any good at all.

    Don't care which version is better, its just amazing to see a FF game on a non-sony platform again after all these years! :)

  • T3TSUO #54 2 years ago

    Hmm funny I could have sworn FF was on GBA and Ds. Soure FF11 was on 360 mmmmmmmmmmm

  • telboy007 #55 2 years ago

    Well lets see GBA and DS are handhelds, FF11 was a MMO.

    Idiot.

  • darren1976 #56 2 years ago

    @telboy007

    Yep the way MS have done it makes sense, and all of my most played games are installed so I minimise noise. With multi disc versions of games I just assumed that users would install all discs and only the first disc would be needed to verify ownership. This is why I am surprised that there are multi disc games that require disc swap even after they have been installed.

  • telboy007 #57 2 years ago

    @darren1976 Yeah, I agree with your point. You're not likely to get many buyers for the second disc only. :) Maybe they can sort that out at some point... here's waiting!

  • T3TSUO #58 2 years ago

    It's still an FF game on a non Sony platform. Plank
    You said a non Sony platform, what you should have said was it's good to see an FF game on the 360 that isn't an MMO.
    Knob

  • FladgeMangle #59 2 years ago

    The real 360 screenshots are out there now and it's not all sugar and rainbows :-

    [link url=http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/02/18/final-fantasy-xiii-xbox-360-version-is-not-hd-576p-confirmed/
    ]http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/02/1...[/link]