Star Ocean 4 to be Xbox 360 exclusive?

By Ellie Gibson Published 13 June, 2008

"No plans" for PS3 version, says Square Enix.

Square Enix has said there are "no plans" to bring the fourth instalment in the Star Ocean series to PlayStation 3.

That's according to Wired, which spotted the info on Yahoo! Japan's financial site.

The news comes just days after Square Enix announced Star Ocean: The Last Hope, as it's titled, will be released for Xbox 360 in 2009. No mention of any other versions of the game was made.

But does "no plans" mean they might decide to do a PS3 version in future? Who knows what goes on in the minds of these crazy mixed-up publishers. Apart from the giant carousel of flashing dollar signs spinning madly in time to the Apprentice US theme tune.

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 (56) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • rockaut #1 4 years ago

    Said about Bioshock and was released on PS3 one year later...

  • JediMasterMalik #2 4 years ago

    That's a bit shocking.

  • seasidebaz #3 4 years ago

    So where has the PS3 version, that had trailers and screenshots, disappeared to?

  • De_Carabas #4 4 years ago

    Err, so wasn't bundling the original trailer with the PSP a bit counter-intuitive?

  • Kryon #5 4 years ago

    Meh, SO3 was possibly the most long winded and boring JRPG of all time, so can't really say I care..

  • Darren #6 4 years ago

    Didn't the PS2 versions of Star Ocean come on 2 or 3 DVDs or something? Wonder how many discs the 360 version will use...?

    And I presume this fourth instalment will be a standalone game in the series seeing as most 360 owners, myself included, probably won't have played the previous games?

  • Fernando #7 4 years ago

    cant wait to get this for 360, im pretty sure PS3 will see a port probably a year later

  • des #8 4 years ago

    Old

  • SeesThroughAll #9 4 years ago

    Money talks.

  • peteb #10 4 years ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    Well it is business after all isn't it?

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #11 4 years ago

    @Kryon

    Philistine! Star Ocean 3 was an exceptional game!

  • Prodigy_BE #12 4 years ago

    Squenix in need of money.

    They get loads of $$$ for a timed exclusive, while the PS3 build some more userbase in Japan.
    They release it later on, thus selling more copieson PS3.

    Win-win.

    Still, too bad for all them PS3 RPG fans.

  • Erinan #13 4 years ago

    Oh, bugger... Not going to buy a 360 just for that game though. Microsoft sure are handing out a lot of cash to publishers and developers.

  • makeamazing #14 4 years ago

    That sounds pretty much spot on Prodigy_BE. I cant see there being any other reason except being given some upfront money to prevent dual release, especially considering some of the comments people have made about trailers etc on the sony platform... very strange.

  • Dizzy #15 4 years ago

    >Microsoft sure are handing out a lot of cash to publishers and developers.

    Ha yes... the classic argument.

    Maybe these devs are finding it much easier, quicker and more fun to develop on 360? Naaaaa!!! They MUST be handing out cash!!!! Maybe they can produce 3 games in the same amount of time?
    Edited by 1 at 13/06/08 @ 13:39

  • Wash #16 4 years ago

    Look at them squirm.

    I remember playing the original SO, back in the day.

    JRPG 360, thats what i dub thee.

  • Xerx3s #17 4 years ago

    So besides being the home console of big muscular ghey men, the 360 is now also the home of emos?

  • chris_ace #18 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Xerx3s #19 4 years ago

    "Microsoft sure are handing out a lot of cash to publishers and developers. "

    Can name some other manufacturers that did/do exactly the same.

  • Dizzy #20 4 years ago

    >gets the king of all JRPGs

    Dragon Quest is on Wii :)

  • Darren #21 4 years ago

    I still can't help thinking that no matter how many JRPGs Microsoft throw at the Xbox 360, it still won't do much to change its ailing fortunes in Japan. I don't think anything short of making Final Fantasy XIV a permanent 360 exclusive will change that, particularly as they seem more obsessed with the Wii and DS these days.

  • ParanoidZombie #22 4 years ago

    I don't think FF is the king of JRPGs anymore, if it ever was. I mean, it's not like FF10 and 12 were better than the competition on PS2. Of course, they sold zillions of copies, but the games themselves were not miles above the competition. Shadow hearts 2 was definitely better than FF10, and FF12 is a very divisive game to say the least.

  • Gnort #23 4 years ago

    Squenix don't want sales in Japan? Surely that's the biggest market for these games.

    360 exclusivity for this doesn't make sense. Then again, neither did PS3 exclusivity for Haze.

  • Dizzy #24 4 years ago

    >Squenix don't want sales in Japan? Surely that's the biggest market for these games

    Maybe.. maybe not. The market for HD consoles has been very weak in japan. Maybe SE thinks milking the Otaku people in the west is a better option.

  • JonFE #25 4 years ago

    Dizzy, I think you've got it a bit wrong, Dragon Quest is on the DS, isn't it?

  • Dizzy #26 4 years ago

    >Dragon Quest is on the DS, isn't it?

    Ha yes true.. DS exclusive. I forgot :) Must have mixed up DQ swords ;)

  • chris_ace #27 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Bluetribe #28 4 years ago

    I would love to see Tri-Ace develop titles for non HD consoles, namely Wii. Sales wise this should be a good idea too, since I don't think a JRPG like Star Ocean released exclusively on X360 will sell well.

  • Wash #29 4 years ago

    I thought the general consensus was that (outside of japan) software sales x times >> ps3 and wii. Or have attachment rates leveled out now.

  • Widge #30 4 years ago

    I don't think anything really toppled FF in the PS2 era, although the Rogue Galaxy bods seemed to be forging ahead with some quality titles near the end of the lifecycle. Looking forward to SOME tidbits about White Knight Story since they're behind that. Then you have the tactics RPGs by Nippon Ichi, plus games that didn't bloody come out in the UK. Regardless, I still say that FF is the flag bearer.

    Much as I initially enjoyed Star Ocean 3 (bar the ridiculous decision to make the voice track quieter than the music/FX), it just didn't hook me in.

    Think I got up to the bit where you can start making items/weapons (I forget) and didn't really move on. Call me old fashioned, give me an item shop, secret locations with 'nifty shit' and I'm happy. Cannot be bothered getting into the malarky of fusing items to make stuff. FF7:CC materia system falls foul of this for me too.

  • kopykatt #31 4 years ago

    Its a bit of a strange decision really. I do think that MS had a bit of finacial clout in this.
    To the person who mentioned the 360's lack of sucess in Japan despite all the JRPG's. I think its the same reason why MS have sucess in the US, patriosm. Americans support US products and Japanese are more supportive of Japanese products. All we need now is a decent European console and we can really split the market...

  • dominalien #32 4 years ago

    That's really too bad. OTOH, I never have time to play all the games I buy for the platforms I have. But I would have liked to at least have the option, SE!

  • chris_ace #33 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • chris_ace #34 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • DjFlex52 #35 4 years ago

    halo is still the number one 1st person shooter for sales and review scores, although if you prefer call of duty as most do the figures still say halo is king, and gran turismo is still the number one for console racing sims, forza not in its league yet

    @chris_ace

    Sorry, I beg to differ. This generation, Forza 2 has sold close to 4 million compared to almost 2 million for GT5 Prologue. Also, Forza 2's Metacritic cumulative review score is 90 compared to GT5 Prologue's 80.

  • Triggerhappytel #36 4 years ago

    Bullshit, this series doesn't sell masses outside of Japan, so I can imagine they'd only release it on the lowest-selling console over there. I'm reckoning that since they're not saying it's a full-on 360 exclusive, it will follow on PS3 at a later date.

  • chris_ace #37 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • SeesThroughAll #38 4 years ago

    @peteb

    Yes, that's right. Why do people still get surprised?

  • SeesThroughAll #39 4 years ago

    @Gnort:

    Haze? It should have been cancelled altogether!

  • Diomedes #40 4 years ago

    MS has paid for this to be a temporary exclusive ....of course Square cant go saying that it will come out for PS3.But it will ,as Bioshock.


    Just think a bit.This game was announced in a PSP game (the remake of Star Ocean 1 First Departure).Do you really believe Sony would let Square make publicity of a rivals console game on a UMD for its system?

  • NotSoSlim #41 4 years ago

    We all know its coming on PS3....MS have exploited the fact that Square Enix want to broaden there demographic.

    Good luck to them.

  • Fairlane #42 4 years ago

    Being a triple console owner, im pretty sure that the 3. party exclusive is a thing of the past. Mark my words - FF is coming to the 360 as well- As a publisher and studio - why would you not port- an FF game is pretty mush sure to sell atleast 1 mil copy's- How mush would Sony have to pay for that not to happen ? And Square needs money

  • DrDamn #43 4 years ago

    @Farticus
    "Things have moved on a bit now though, and FF has been looking quite weak compared to the competition, especially games like Lost Odyssey and Eternal Sonata."

    FFXII did a lot new in the genre and Lost Odyssey - whilst very pretty - is structurally very old school in comparison. It's is much more of a traditional JRPG where FFXII had already ventured into some interesting more MMORPG areas in the combat. Personally I actually prefer a more traditional turn based combat system, but to claim LO is a progression from FF I don't think is correct - aside from the graphics.

  • mgillespie #44 4 years ago

    They ACTUALLY said they were not allowed to comment on the PS3 version (as it was a Microsoft event). That to me sounds like Star Ocean 4 is a TIMED 360 exclusive..

    Usual Eurogamer x-botch360 bias.

  • mgillespie #45 4 years ago

    They ACTUALLY said they were not allowed to comment on the PS3 version (as it was a Microsoft event). That to me sounds like Star Ocean 4 is a TIMED 360 exclusive..

    Usual Eurogamer x-botch360 bias.

  • mgillespie #46 4 years ago

    They ACTUALLY said they were not allowed to comment on the PS3 version (as it was a Microsoft event). That to me sounds like Star Ocean 4 is a TIMED 360 exclusive..

    Usual Eurogamer x-botch360 bias.

  • mgillespie #47 4 years ago

    They ACTUALLY said they were not allowed to comment on the PS3 version (as it was a Microsoft event). That to me sounds like Star Ocean 4 is a TIMED 360 exclusive..

    Usual Eurogamer x-botch360 bias.

  • chris_ace #48 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • onyxbox #49 4 years ago

    i read ""No plans" for PS3 version, says Square Enix." as...

    Sony... wanna' do a deal?

  • mike_mgoblue #50 4 years ago

    Infinite Undiscovery is the BIG game RPG that Microsoft was so overwhelmingly impressed with that they instantly made sure the game was developed 100% exclusively for the Xbox 360.

    Star Ocean 4 might be a one-year (or longer) exclusive for the Xbox 360, but that is more than long enough for two reasons:

    (1) When a Playstation 3 version is eventually released, the PS3 version will sell new for $60, while the Xbox 360 version will be a Platinum Hit that sells for only $30.

    (2) The Xbox 360 version will still have better graphics running at smoother framerates, more polygons, and higher resolution...Game after game after game, after game, has proven this.

    98% of multi-platform games end up either "noticably" or "significantly" better on the Xbox 360. Gamespot has a Graphics Comparison of multi-platform games every year, and the Xbox 360 has beaten the Playstation 3 for THREE years in a row (2006, 07, 08).

    And if you compare games like Orange Box and Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 on the Xbox 360 to their PS3 versions, it literally looks like they are running on hardware from different generations, because the Xbox 360 versions are THAT much better!

  • WinterSnowblind #51 4 years ago

    @mgillespie

    A timed exclusive is still an exclusive.
    And you're still just assuming that's the case. The fact is, at this point, it's only announced to be for the 360. How is that biased? If you want to see bias, go back and read through your own comments.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/08 @ 10:30

  • chris_ace #52 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • DrDamn #53 4 years ago

    @Farticus
    True, though the same can be said of a lot of 360 titles - a smooth frame rate is an exception rather than the rule on either system. It's clear from the best looking cross platform titles that the better developers get similar performance from the two machines. (i.e. CoD4 and Burnout Paradise). However it is also clear that the vast majority of cross platform titles are better on the 360. This indicates to me that the machines are about equal in raw terms (give or take in a couple of areas) but the tools or power are easier to access on the 360.

    Platform exclusives are always too tricky to use in comparison terms as there is so much more going on under the hood in modern games you can never compare like with like. For example Forza 2 may not have sparking graphics but there is plenty of physics and AI occupying the CPU cycles.

  • Vandrius #54 4 years ago

    Hahaha, the console fanbois are out in full force here.

    Microsoft have, and still do pay for exclusivity. And they pay alot.

    Sony don't. They have made that clear a few times.

    Which is the best option? Not sure. Paying for it eats into your bottom line, but also generates a few extra sales and potential long-term hardware.

    That said... the 360 needs RPGs, and badly. It currently has absolutely NO system-seller RPGs. Its had a couple attempts, and not a single one has been successful. The 360 is still the 'hardcore shooter fans' machine. Hence it does very well in US, and the US only.

    Add that to the fact that the PS3 currently has alot more family/media centered functions... *shrug*

    The 360 is currently backed into the deadly "niche" corner. Buying SO4 exclusivity is one small step to try and get out of that.

  • DrDamn #55 4 years ago

    @Farticus
    Every FF, or JRPG for that matter, has different battle mechanics and elements they change. These are different approaches rather than a real progression. The FF games have had plenty of interesting elements to the battle system which are different to LO but again not necessarily a progression.

    The those you mention in LO have already been seen in other games in some form too - the Combat ring is essentially a bastardisation of the Judgement ring from Shadowhearts (which was done years ago on the PS2). In fact the Judgement ring system was more involved and flexible.

  • DrDamn #56 4 years ago

    @Vandrius
    "That said... the 360 needs RPGs, and badly. It currently has absolutely NO system-seller RPGs."

    Yeah because the PS3 is just overflowing with them isn't it? There's Oblivion and Enchanted Arms and and and ... hold on a second.