Good news, Final Fantasy fans: Final Fantasy XIII finally has a non-fantastic release date here in the West, hitting North America and Europe on March 9th, 2010.
Yesterday, we learned that Final Fantasy XIII would be getting a new trailer today alongside a major announcement. Well, as you can see above, there's the trailer featuring new gameplay footage and interviews with development team members Yoshinori Kitase, Motomu Toriyama, Isamu Kamikokuryo, and Yuji Abe - as well as a "special message" from Squeenix President and CEO John Yamamoto - and here's the announcement: FF13 will be released in North America and Europe simultaneously on March 9th, 2010.
This goes against what we heard back in May, when Producer Yoshinori Katase said that the European release of the game might be as long as a year after the Japanese launch this December. Still, I find it hard to believe that any of our European readers would actually be upset at finding out Katase-san was incorrect at this case, especially since it marks the first simultaneous NA/EU release of a major Final Fantasy title as far as I know.
The press release is in its entirety below:
LOS ANGELES (November 13, 2009) - Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America announced today the highly anticipated street date for FINAL FANTASY® XIII. This latest project in the multi-platinum FINAL FANTASY series promises to be intensely compelling and will be available for both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on March 9, 2010.
FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple hi-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. Expanding upon the rich tradition of the series, Producer Kitase Yoshinori (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), Director Motomu Toriyama (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), character designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V, VI, VII, VIII, X) and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANASY X, XII) combine their creative vision to deliver the latest masterpiece in the FINAL FANTASY universe. Additionally, Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X, DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-) presents a sweeping soundtrack while movie director Takeshi Nozue (FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN) and his team of artists adorn the game with seamless cinematic sequences of unparalleled caliber.
"We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise - FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations," said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. "Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010."
Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has come on board with Square Enix to provide the theme song for FINAL FANTASY XIII. The song is entitled "My Hands," and is featured on her highly-anticipated second album ECHO (J Records/Syco Music) set for release on November 17th. Leona Lewis took the music world by storm with her 2008 6x platinum debut album Spirit which features her chart topping, biggest selling single of 2008 "Bleeding Love," and mega-hit "Better In Time."
"When Square Enix approached Leona about including her song, "My Hands," in FINAL FANTASY XIII, she was honored to be partnered with such an iconic and groundbreaking video game series," said Tom Corson, EVP/GM, RCA Music Group. "Leona is a natural fit with the game's powerful themes and strong female protagonist. We're delighted to be part of this effort, bringing great musical artistry to FINAL FANTASY XIII which is a riveting and dynamic gaming experience."
Introducing new worlds, memorable characters and extraordinary stories with each new installment, the FINAL FANTASY series has continued to reinvent itself over the last two decades and has shipped over 85 million copies worldwide. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will be no exception to its legacy.
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
Because of a song that will be in the game? Wow.
With PAX East and this, March is going to be an awesome month for me.
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
Because of a song that will be in the game? Wow.
The constant fear would ruin the game for me. I'd constantly be thinking "will that damn song start now?".
Hah! That's good news indeed. Cheers to Square, Dissidia was only a few weeks behind in the PAL region and now we get a simultaneous release for FFXIII. I've been complaining about these sort of things for so long I must thank Square for making an effort with it ^^
Will it be released on the PC as well? I should hope so, being that Microsoft enjoys releasing on both the Xbox and PC. I just wish that there would be no stalled release for the latter.
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
Because of a song that will be in the game? Wow.
The constant fear would ruin the game for me. I'd constantly be thinking "will that damn song start now?".
Just don't think about it. When it does pop out, plug your hears and scream "LALALALALALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR THIS LALALALALALALALALALALA"
I cannot fathom the hatred for this Leona Lewis. I youtubed her for curiosity sake and I find little appalling. In constrast I find the song appealing.
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
Because of a song that will be in the game? Wow.
The constant fear would ruin the game for me. I'd constantly be thinking "will that damn song start now?".
If only my some stretch of the imagination televisions had the capability to be silenced with the press of a button. ;)
Any official word on if it's truly a multiple disc game for the Xbox 360? I didn't see anything about it in the press release, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Boooooooooooooooo, give me Dragon Quest 9. I guess White Knight Chronicles will do when it's out because it's made by the same people and looks very similar to Dragon Quest 8.
I just read this on /v/ and thought it was bullshit, but now I'm really sad. Guess that this game just got scratched from my list of games to purchase!
I can't say I was very excited about this game to begin with but my wife is. I just hope the ps3 version has custom soundtracks activated or even she wont want it.
It's a good thing most gamers understands how other cultures calendar settings work, if anybody else looked at that and didn't know the game was set for march they would swear it was coming out on September 3rd 2010. Hell if I only saw the trailer alone I would have thought it was set for September. So why not have the guy say "FF13 coming March 3rd 2010." That's just stupid.
theaceplaya: Any official word on if it's truly a multiple disc game for the Xbox 360? I didn't see anything about it in the press release, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
i thought that was an article a while back that it will be multiple disks for 360 but not for ps3, or am i misremebering?
theaceplaya: Any official word on if it's truly a multiple disc game for the Xbox 360? I didn't see anything about it in the press release, I guess we'll have to wait and see.
i thought that was an article a while back that it will be multiple disks for 360 but not for ps3, or am i misremebering?
I love the Japanese games. For the last couple of years I have been drinking drunk off western games and so I have much anticipation for this JRPG.
FF and Zelda are the kind of franchises that I wished would just go on forever. I've only played a couple of FF games, but it's comforting just to know they exist anytime I want to take a trip away from western RPGs. Not to say FF is the only JRPG, but they are usually epic so much love for them.
Oh god no I could'nt believe it, Square hyped the sh*t out of this announcement for days. And what were we treated to? Possibly the cheesiest video ever and to top it off LEONA LEWIS :/ When that head of music guy at square said he was "preased" to say Leona Lewis was singing in game i did not know wether to laugh or cry. I mean come on in the opening of FF10 we were treated by a kick ass soundtrack from Rammstein,albeit i'm no heavy metal fan but it definitely got you in the mood.
I've listened to the song and it ain't good, it's the same trademark warbly mass manufactured,x factor winning Leona and the lyrics are as imaginative as bread and cheese...
All I can say is they could have picked someone worse to sing... spice girls maybe? *cringe* Glad to hear about the release date actually been looking forward to this one! Hopefully I'll get time to complete it before my baby is due haha
Why are you doing this to us Square, you hype this thing for weeks and you give us a fantastically soon release date but you stab us in the back with leona lewis?
I'll still be running at top speed to my local EB on March 9 to get this game, but... low blow Square.
My love of Final Fantasy has dwindled since playing X-2 and 12, when I saw the trailer (Not this one) for this game I was not impressed because they seemed to be going in a direction that I did not like. I don't think that I will buy this unless a good review or one of my friends convinces me otherwise.
Leona Lewis? Wow, I can't even begin to describe how much that fails. Seems we've just shifted the focus of Final Fantasy from shitty J-Pop to shitty Britpop. FF is on life-support as it is and if FFXIII doesn't deliver, it may be curtains for the old girl. And the addition of Leona Lewis does not suggest a hopeful prognosis.
I suppose I should check out the trailer at some point, but then I'd have to put Britney Spears on pause. So perhaps later.
To all the people who are throwing a fit because of Leona Lewis (whoever the hell she is) getting one song in the game...calm the fuck down. Maybe you don't like her. I've never heard of her, but let's consider this. We haven't heard the song, we haven't heard anything about the rest of the music, but they bring in one person you don't like in for one song, and it's "I'm not buying this game". I mean, calm down. At least wait for the song to come out before making any rash decisions.
thebobmaster: To all the people who are throwing a fit because of Leona Lewis (whoever the hell she is) getting one song in the game...calm the fuck down. Maybe you don't like her. I've never heard of her, but let's consider this. We haven't heard the song, we haven't heard anything about the rest of the music, but they bring in one person you don't like in for one song, and it's "I'm not buying this game". I mean, calm down. At least wait for the song to come out before making any rash decisions.
It's not that we have a personal vendetta against Leona Lewis. She just happens to be a really crappy singer and representative of the direction that the series is going in. A direction that absolutely no one in the fanbase approves of.
well... crap. Little Miss I-Got-Slapped-In-The-Face screeching all over the opening might just make me mute the TV, but hopefully we'll be able to block it out once the video's over.
Here's hoping.
Mind you, I doubt that even an announcement that The Tweenies were doing the theme song wouldn't put me off buying the game come March! Probably.
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Lightning Strikes in March With Final Fantasy XIII
Good news, Final Fantasy fans: Final Fantasy XIII finally has a non-fantastic release date here in the West, hitting North America and Europe on March 9th, 2010.
Yesterday, we learned that Final Fantasy XIII would be getting a new trailer today alongside a major announcement. Well, as you can see above, there's the trailer featuring new gameplay footage and interviews with development team members Yoshinori Kitase, Motomu Toriyama, Isamu Kamikokuryo, and Yuji Abe - as well as a "special message" from Squeenix President and CEO John Yamamoto - and here's the announcement: FF13 will be released in North America and Europe simultaneously on March 9th, 2010.
This goes against what we heard back in May, when Producer Yoshinori Katase said that the European release of the game might be as long as a year after the Japanese launch this December. Still, I find it hard to believe that any of our European readers would actually be upset at finding out Katase-san was incorrect at this case, especially since it marks the first simultaneous NA/EU release of a major Final Fantasy title as far as I know.
The press release is in its entirety below:
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