Final Fantasy XIII finally operating on PS3 hardware

by Nick Doerr { Sep 25th 2007 at 12:00PM }

It was bound to happen eventually. Final Fantasy XIII has been confirmed to have entered the land of PS3 hardware. Yep, the White Engine is up and running on the PS3, so those graphics we've drooled over are apparently going to be exactly what we see in the final build. No surprises -- this is Square Enix, after all. What isn't clear is how recently this change took place. Was it on PS3 hardware at TGS? Was it on PS3 hardware at E3?

Either way you paint it, the canvas is still mostly empty; if FFXIII is just not getting onto the PS3 hardware, we'll probably not see it in 2008. Not very surprising, since FFXII took nearly five years to develop, granted there were a lot of hardships felt by many of the people involved in the game during development. Also revealed is that the December issue of EGM is going to feature FFXIII as one of its headlining previews, so if you're itching for info on the game, run out and snag that issue when it comes out. We'll be on top of it as well!

Tags: ffxiii, final-fantasy-xiii, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:12PM

....i dont get it

Byron517 @ Sep 25th 2007 12:19PM

@1

OMG Justin... I'm going to mentally delete your comment... Basically what's happening is that FFXIII is running on the PS3, so what we are seeing is the builds of the game, hence those kick ass graphics is what you'd be playing!! WHICH MEANS!!! That when the final build comes out in 08 or whenever it's going to seriously PWN some ass!! Square pushes the limits on all the app's they do! I can NOT STRESS ENOUGH how huge this is going to be!! System Seller... PERIOD!

LiasonAngel08 @ Sep 25th 2007 12:22PM

Lol....a system seller alright....in the year 2009 and possibly 2010!

Sorry but sony needs games like that now.

Otherwise sales will continue to be mediocre at best.

That being said however I look forward to hearing more about the game and I really want to see the trailers that were shown for this and Versus at TGS.

And more than anything I just want Square Enix to EXPLICITY tell us whether its going to be on the 360 or not.

fluffy22 @ Sep 25th 2007 12:26PM

the "ps3 only" at the end of the TGS trailers not good enough for u?

railven @ Sep 25th 2007 12:27PM

My heart stopped as I read the first paragraph.

Thought it was going to end with "confirmed to enter 360 land"

Haha.

I still need to put FFXII to rest...I hate having a job!

Byron517 @ Sep 25th 2007 12:28PM

@3

Your right.. If they are just now running it on the hardware it could be a while.. However knowing Square they won't put anything out unless they know it's complete and by that I mean up to par with what they are known to produce.. Also, I believe that Square and Sony have terms for exclusive games so this won't be coming to the 360 if that's true! ALSO with what I've been reading on how huge and detailed this game is going to be it be "software" impossible to fit it on a DVD9 so hence NO LOVE FOR YOU XBOTS!! However I could be wrong either way I'm looking forward to hearing more bout this game because you are right sir PS3 needs games right now...

@4

HA EXCLUSIVE IT IS!!

Justin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:33PM

lol..@ 2, i KNOW that, but i mean...how LONG have the trailers been running on PS3 software?

and before they actually were...what were we watching?

target renders? (like motorstorm & killzone2)

anyways, it can only be good news for Sony, and that means good news for me. and good news makes me happy :)

Justin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:35PM

@ byron, actually...i heard there's this new 360 game coming out on 4 DVD9 discs announced at TGS.

i'll try to find the link.

but HERE is where it comes down to the whole "extra space is not needed this generation" bullshit that xbots tend to bring up ever so often.

Eric E @ Sep 25th 2007 12:46PM

Typo. "Now" not "Not"

also wheres the info on Advent Children being touched up for Blu-Ray!, get on it!

Justin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:47PM

yea...here it is:

Lost Odyssey (xbox 360)

http://xbox.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/lost-odyssey-journeys-through-4-dvds/

either way, i wont be buying it

LiasonAngel08 @ Sep 25th 2007 12:48PM

Lol the ps3 only thing that was shown at the end of a trailer by Square Enix was not for FFXIII if I remember correctly.

That was for another game. And I read that all on Joystiq and ps3fanboy.

As for the whole "DVD 9" argument....its getting old folks. Multiple Discs have been used before and theres no reason why they won't be used again.

Personally I'm not fat. Nor am I lazy. I don't mind changing the discs once in a while for a game.

Especially if that game is Final Fantasy XIII or FFXIII Versus.

And if and when its confirmed for the "ps3 only" I'll probably borrow a ps3 from someone else (although I don't know anyone who has one around here), play it for the experience, and then return it.

When will ps3fanboy put up the trailer? Why is Square Enix being such p*ssies about the trailers? I mean you'd think that they'd be willing to generate more excitement about the title since the game prob won't come out for a long time.

Irwin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:50PM

these comments are really deppresing, this is the last time I come here..

Kspraydad @ Sep 25th 2007 1:03PM

I AM fat and I AM lazy and welcome the extra space of Blu-ray. (And going to the front door to get my repaired console from the courier doesn't interest me either)

PS3FB said 2 months ago that this game was only 2% done so not surprising that it'll be awhile to get finished...FF fans will wait, we always do.

coplice @ Sep 25th 2007 1:06PM

@11
http://playstation.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/tgs07-final-fantasy-xiii-trailer-impressions/

after FFXIII trailer, PS3 only
did you really expect a FF game on xbox? =.=

Aurvant @ Sep 25th 2007 1:07PM

the "PS3 Only" was seen at the end of both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII at TGS 07. The game is PS3 exclusive and Square-Enix have repeatedly said so.

Speculation ENDS.

Xavier @ Sep 25th 2007 1:32PM

be clear...

the screens weve been seeing on FF13 have all been CG, like the one in this story, the trailer shown at TGS was also CG, the one were NOT seeing

Popfrogs @ Sep 25th 2007 1:37PM

I'll be too busy playing MGS4 and MGS-online to worry about when FFXIII is coming out. In the meantime I'm beating ass on Warhawk. I have NG:Sigma sitting inside my PS3 and I haven't even played it once yet.

Ghaleon @ Sep 25th 2007 1:37PM

"so those graphics we've drooled over are apparently going to be exactly what we see in the final build"

Uh what?

Just like Killzone 2, there's no guarantee their CG so far will match the in-game graphics just because the engine is finally running on hardware. Because it was CEEEEE GEEEEE and not REEEAL

Ghaleon @ Sep 25th 2007 1:39PM

This isn't a magic guarantee that because the game can now be PROGRAMMED the graphics will auto match CG. You know that won't happen.

upz @ Sep 25th 2007 1:51PM

Ghaleon, jump to conclusions much?

I'm ashamed to say that I've scrutinized the screenshots enough to say with confidence that much of what we've seen has been in engine.

Here's one of the more obvious ones that was released just recently. The aliasing really gives it away.
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/826/826843/img_4900628.html

Versus XIII, though, is a different story. All CG so far.

Mazdak @ Sep 25th 2007 1:58PM

@18, 19, others...

What you say is true, there is no guarantee that the final build will look as good as what we've seen. However, after seeing the comparison video of KZ2's target render and how close the game actually comes to looking that good, and taking into consideration the history of graphic excellence in FF games I think it's safe for us fans to assume the game will look this good, or at least be extremely close.

Here's hoping FFXIII sees shelves sometime in 2K8.

upz @ Sep 25th 2007 2:06PM

The EGM article that's referenced seems to say Fall 2008. That's a long, long ways off. Even if the 13% and 1.3% completion rates were playful jokes off the XIII, it seems like we've still got nearly a year(!) before we see this. "Demo by Holiday '07" and "already 80% complete" they said earlier this year. I suppose we'll see.

Egster @ Sep 25th 2007 2:08PM

Christmas 2008 is my guess.

chris.westermann @ Sep 25th 2007 2:16PM

I think 2008 is way too optimistic. FFXII barely made it on the PS2 platform before Sony came out with the PS3, I would hope that we don't start hearing details of the PS4 by the time they roll out these games. Here's looking to playing FFXIII in compatibility mode on the PS4!

ruibing @ Sep 25th 2007 2:20PM

Next Gen RPGs I'm looking forward to:

Eternal Sonata
Lost Odyssey
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Disgaea 3
Persona 3
Star Ocean 4
Valkyrie of the Battlefield

Ones I won't be able to play:

Lost Odyssey

ruibing @ Sep 25th 2007 2:21PM

Oh I almost forgot another one I'm looking forward to and can play:

Last Remnant

NastyN8 @ Sep 25th 2007 2:25PM

its gonna look great stop bitching again.. every topic theres someone that has to bitch and cry about something. Stop being such a bad news bear and be happy. The game is working its gonna be great were gonna have an awesome FF when it comes out

Solace @ Sep 25th 2007 2:27PM

just wanted to clarify for those of you who don't seem to know the difference between "CG target", "in game engine (IGE)", and "running on PS3 hardware".

CG = all pre-rendered and can make anything look good.
IGE = actual code running on the computers that they're programed on
PS3 = taking that computer engine code and making it work on the PS3 hardware.

just because it hasn't been running on the PS3 till now DOESN'T mean the same thing as "OMG - it's all fakez!!!!111 Killzone E3 all ovahz". it just means that they got the engine up and running on the PS3 and now can start bringing their code over to give a glimpse into the more final code we'll all end up playing.

guess there's going to be a lot of this FUD on the PlayStation sites, what will all the 3FixMe fanboys not able to play halo because of scratched discs, broken consoles, or the fact that the game's hella short (although i guess this isn't a problem for them when it's a game for their console instead of ours [HS]).

James @ Sep 25th 2007 2:57PM

System seller???

Uh, no.

I would not buy a PS3 just to play this game. Not that it matters, since I already have one. This game isn't even on my radar as far as I'm concerned. Never liked the FF games, and I still won't.

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 25th 2007 3:13PM

Every time I see that picture, I just stare at the amazing quality of it. It's stunning.

Popfrogs @ Sep 25th 2007 3:16PM

@James: You're not alone, but you're definitely in the minority. I played FF7, X, X2 (yeah I know, I didn't beat it so nyaa), XII and am looking forward to XIII.

FFXII sold 2.4 million last year alone.

Skyfire360 @ Sep 25th 2007 3:46PM

Post 20 by upz is spot on. The link he posted to is absolutely a gameplay screenshot. The graphics during non-battle scenes will almost undoubtedly be higher quality than the one he linked to. Battle scenes require video and system memory for animations, sounds, textuers and meshes that need to be called quickly during battle sequences. In-game cinematics don't need to have as quick access as it does during battle sequences.

A perfect example of this is FFX. The in-enging cutscenes used very high polygon models while the battles used lower polygon models.

However upz, I don't think we can count on aliasing to be a good benchmark in the near future. Antialiasing will most likely not be used in battle sequences due to lack of resources, but there's a decent possibility that the Cell processor can do most of the geometry and pixel calculations while the RSX can do full-screen antialiasing during in-engine cutscenes.

xavier @ Sep 25th 2007 5:37PM

so this means they havent started?? i dont under stand that paragraph..

ive been waiting for this game for a loooooooooonng time!!

upz @ Sep 25th 2007 6:10PM

Skyfire, good point. I suppose we'll see soon. This'll be an interesting one to watch.

heh @ Sep 25th 2007 10:07PM

It's coming in slowly..soon the developers will get the hang of it. That's why I predict after Square finishes both FFXIII titles they might start working on a KH game for the PS3.

Consolcwby @ Sep 26th 2007 12:50AM

@Solace: Thank you for your explaination. I was getting a little worried that I'd have to explain to the fucktards (or is that: x-plane tada fuxtrrrdz) about wtf is going on. =D

@Xbotz: U mite feelz 1337 cuz u got gamez now but wate til da 08z!!!11!!!! S0NYZ GONNA RULE DA WOLDZ AGIN!!!111!!!!1! H3 SUXXORZ!!!11!!!! KZ2 FTW!!!!!1!1!!1!

@Everyone else: I suppose that the complete percentages MIGHT be 80% done IGE, 15% done PS3. That might make some sense since the engine IS new, after all! Gotta work them kinks out before talking release dates - otherwise SE would disappoint the shit out of the fans! =/ Fustrating for us, but a reality. Can't wait tho! =DD

Babybeezzz @ Sep 27th 2007 4:44AM

@ Spitkicker

I think Consolcwby was right to what he said.
You obviously have no idea how huge the FF series is and for you to think it wont move systems then you are an idiot... Go back to your site and stop drooling over games that are going to only be PS3 exclusive’s.

Ray @ Sep 27th 2007 8:40AM

whats the matter with you fanboi losers? can't afford to buy all three consoles? must suck to be poor!

Consolcwby @ Sep 27th 2007 9:53AM

@Spitkicker: I'm only giving back to the 'bots what we've had to endure here for nearly a year now. Since you took such offense at this, you prove a point of mine: Most 'bots are pathetic children who love to dish it out but can't take it themselves without acting like a wittle baby... Besides, I was only being slightly sardonic with what I said. So to take offense is hilarious!!! XD Stupid silly bothead you are! XDD