Final Fantasy XIII confirmed for a 2009 Japanese release

by Alan Tsang { Aug 2nd 2008 at 1:45AM }

In addition to a demo, it was announced today at DKΣ3713 that Final Fantasy XIII will be arriving in Japan in 2009. Keep in mind the PS3 version is the only version of FFXIII in Japan. According to Square Enix at E3, at the completion of the Japanese version, Square Enix will then begin localization of the game for the US and porting to the Xbox 360. It will receive a simultaneous release on both systems here in the US.

The official site has also launched, with nothing more than a trailer we saw already. Hopefully we'll see some updates in the coming days.

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

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

frankym @ Aug 2nd 2008 1:51AM

2 questions:

When will the US see ff13?

Will there be any other announcements?

XeroKool @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:02AM

Who are you kidding Square? Expect to see this game in 2012 folks.

kevin @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:04AM

stop being a negative prick

browntown @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:54AM

2011 in europe for sure, maybe 2010 here in NA, but square still needs to start the 360 port and localization

XeroKool @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:36PM

And you need to stop being a naive tool. This is typical Square crap. The earliest people in the US may see this title is 2010-2011. Expect people where I'm from to see this title 2011-2012.

XeroKool @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:36PM

@kevin Namecalling huh? What are you like 12? Please let the bigboys talk. You need to stop being naive. This is Square we're talking about. A company that is notorious for delays. They say they're releasing the game in Japan in 2009. Fine. Expect this to be late 2009 if not early 2010 since they're releasing a demo there early 2009. Now moving on to the US where I assume your from. Alright, Square have said it themselves that they have yet to start porting the game to the 360 since they're still working on the PS3 version. Now this is a company who has never released a FF game on two platforms simultaneously, yet they've had trouble in the past with release dates. If they're going to release the game on 360/PS3 at the same time, I see a 2010-2011 timeframe for the US and a 2011-2012 timeframe for where I'm from.

dragon @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:06AM

Does that mean they are delaying the U.S. release of the PS3 version while they work on the 360 port? It seems like doing the English translation would take a lot less time than porting the game to an entirely new system.

Fullmetalcrusade @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:35AM

It does essentially sound like that. Square seems to have already voiced some concern about how they are going about the 360 port, and it certainly won't be a quick task. They are a great dev though, so hopefully they can finish the port and localization at about the same amount of time. I sure hope we here in NA don't have to wait for them to finish a port, that would be dumb AND unfair. I mean after all, its not like a timed exclusive do to porting would be unreasonable. But I don't care so long as I get to play.

Averna @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:58AM

Except that they have already said that the PS3 and 360 versions are dropping at the same time, which sounds like the PS3 version will be shelved while they figure out the 360 port.

I think they have the engine working, or are working toward having it working, on the 360.

nahworry @ Aug 2nd 2008 8:01AM

Uh, good thing that I understand some Japanese then. I just hope there's not gonna be a region lock for the Japanese version.

ahsayuninew @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:12AM

I'm actually glad that ff13 is coming to the xbox 360, I want to see how many discs its going to take up :))

Dopple Boppler @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:34AM

Because having multiple discs absolutely ruined the experience for Final Fantasy VII, VIII and IX right? Well, there was a lot of stuff that ruined VIII, but having four discs was the least of its worries.

duckhunt8 @ Aug 5th 2008 12:42AM

Good job using examples from a decade ago. Don't know about everyone else, but I like the standard that Blu Ray is setting.

Arnon @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:55AM

Good for you.. Disc swapping is faster than mandatory installs..

Aozora @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:03AM

Disc swapping is last-gen. Installs are the future.

Averna @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:00AM

MGS4 has disc swapping... in a manner of speaking. HDD installs for each act definately looks, sounds and feels like disc swapping.

Again, Im all for multip-platform, as long as neither version suffers. That includes delays, performance, etc. This definately smells like a delay for the English PS3 version, but what the hell are we going to do about it? Im not boycotting it, because Im a SE freak.

koehler83 @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:15AM

MGS4 does install for every act, but it will only do so once per difficulty level. It wont overwrite itself. At least there will be an end to the disc swapping eventually.

ownage4dummys @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:17AM

Thats ridicoulos if they have the PS3 version for Japan than they could easily release in the US on PS3 at the same time. BUT NOOOO they gotta slow it down so that they can put it on crapbox 3fixme.

jahd5000 @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:17AM

WHAT? come on, this so **** stupid! why do we have to wait for Xbox port? DAMN this kind of my less favorite v.games company for now.... fuck you SE...
yes, expecting a 2010-11 release....

Alex @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:12AM

localization is going to take FOREVAR!!!
couple that in with the purported simultaneous release for North America...

and you get this:

anda @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:53AM

Yup, that's an unfair decision..

Anyway, lets hope reviewers could make a state with unbiased comments which better version of FF XIII later.. :-D

richardiniho @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:26AM

This is pants. POO BUM WILLIES
Looks like this will have to be & import for us english speaking europeans. If it comes out in japan mid 2009 thats at least a 2010-2011 release in the states, so Europe will be looking at at least another year on top of that so 2011-2012.

But what if they run in to trouble with the Xbot version?
America wont see this till at least 2011-2012 then Europe will probably have a 2013 release. In 2013 Ps4 and xbot720 will probably be trying to establish a foothold in the market.

ali_D @ Aug 2nd 2008 3:35PM

god wot a mess this is still waitin wot is the FUCKIN shock mayb da shock b so GREAT we can feel it al the way 2 uk from japan, wot sneaky S-E up2 now eh mayb bill is hidein @ the party sumwere redy 2 leap out saying "we b gettin FF7 remake on 360" yippEeee:p

Whoppy @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:25AM

Can devs put region locks on PS3 games? I know most aren't but can they do it? Since we Europeans get shafted even more than you Americans by SE it would be nice to know that I can import a copy from over there.

koehler83 @ Aug 2nd 2008 8:39AM

I see X3F in their infinite enthusiasm for all things Square-Enix and Final Fantasy, are doing a bang up job reporting on the Square-Enix event this weekend.

McBonk @ Aug 2nd 2008 9:16AM

LOL - good observation. Methinks SE will regret the simultaneous release deal. Also, perhaps that bombshell news about FF to the 360 won't mean much in the end.

With the exclusive Blu-Ray demo, PS3 sure looks like the system this game was made for.

Ninegauger @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:06AM

I don't know, I think FFXIII for the 360 is a pretty big deal... it's delayed a PS3 purchase for me... plus so far as I can tell the 360 is the system to get for JRPGs... and the American ones to boot.

Plus, I think the 360 port should be relatively quick since it's basically a PC and I thought I read somewhere that FFXIII was developed on a PC before being put on the PS3 so that should make the Port pretty quick.

Companies make entire game in 1 year, I'm sure Square Enix can port one in a single year (which is usually how long it takes them to localize this stuff).

I'm also curious how many DVDs this sucker is going to take up. It does seem like a toss up on whether multiple installs or disc changing are better... I mean unless the install is less than the 4 seconds it takes to change a disc...

B. Blabby @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:05AM

But doesn't installs allow for quicker load times or something. And they could always allow for optional installs like SC4, but i think we'd be better off with installing the game. I actually didn't mind the installs in MGS4 for each Act. I needed a break anyways and i'm sure i'm not the only one.

McBonk @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:05AM

First of all, disc change in 4 seconds? Please.

Secondly, a single disc is clearly the way to go - did you read the id interviews yesterday? There are more considerations than your... *cough* 4 second disc change.

Finally, it is way to early to claim the 360 as the RPG system. How well have those RPGs sold? What is the attach rate for 360 RPGs vs. PS3 Rpgs? Still too soon to tell, of course, but my money is on the PS3, once the Rpgs begin rolling out.

I don't mind waiting - I've got plenty of other great games to keep me company.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:31PM

dude what big name RPG's does the PS3 have? i seriously cant think of any. while the 360 is getting oodles of RPG's and JRPG's. i mean i mainly bought my PS3 because i love the (former) PS exclusive RPG's (as well well as games from Insomniac, Naughty Dog, and Polyphony Digital) and what do i get stuck playing? Shooters. Sony needs to get it together.

Dwag @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:39AM

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and if its released during the spring us americans can get it by winter. I'm pretty glad and I've decided to nuy both version i'll be getting the love of both versions.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:34PM

i hope your being sarcastic.....

look up 'delay' and 'localization period' in the thesaurus, they are both synonymous with Squre Enix.

dont expect this game in the US before 2010.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Aug 3rd 2008 6:34PM

damn grammar. i meant 'you're'

Junction @ Aug 2nd 2008 1:19PM

So we have Microsoft to blame for yet another delay in the release of Final Fantasy XIII? Surely this couldn't have been a 'business strategy' concocted by Square Enix alone? Well, at least Microsoft makes efficient use of its financial clout.... (like it did in the browser wars.)

(Despite the RROD epidemic, the user base remains loyal. Perhaps because it offers ... something more? Aside from the jet engine masquerading as a fan I mean.)

Regardless, with the release postponed yet again, alongside Home, PlayTV, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, etc. this Sony gaming venture is becoming a little bit too stale for my taste. (the release date for LittleBigPlanet was first quarter 2008, wasn't it?) The covert region locking of Metal Gear Solid Online is also undermining my gaming 'zest'. Lag, ghosting, etc. Of course the lag is preferable over the endless/mindless prattling of Italian and German gamers in their native languages. Auto-mute functionality based on national criteria, now that would be next-gen innovation.

Time to shelve the PS3's gaming functionality altogether and strictly go for its mediacenter side. Cheap American blu-rays, come hither! (Ah yes, well-edited movies, without the clutter of occasional gameplay with a clenched-arse geriatric.)

By the by, if the Fantasy XIII fanbase had any moral fibre they would be announcing a boycot, but then again, I suppose the early release in Japan would kind of sabotage that prospect.

lol@the 'localization' excuse btw. How gullible do these people think we are? With their silly looking metrosexual/bishonen male characters. The sheer metrosexual drab that exudes from their character design literally drowns out what fun you could have with the cute FF girls. Your view is constantly blighted with the 'fair-haired' eyesore of a gender ambiguous 'male' FF character. (Pint-sized FFVII-sprites for the win. :P)

Perhaps if it involves a bishonen genocide I might pick it up after all in 2011.

sinergy @ Aug 2nd 2008 1:34PM

I really don't undertand why they can't do a worldwide release. Localization will take at least 6 months. So yeah we're talking 2010 for the PS3.

ali_D @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:19PM

well the DKS3713 party have finish they wont b remake of ff7 not even 2morry 4 its 3 hours in 6 sessions lastin 2days mayb just Mayb we get the shock n its the LONG WAitd sony flagship ff7 remake but like i said mayb not the world press will b @ the party even ps3fanboy 2 give us the SCOOP.

RemzVkru @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:00PM

I could care less now when this game comes out since microsoft and SE decided to destroy another PS3 game with multiplatform release!! I won't be buying this game anymore so they can take as long as they want to release it!! I hope they finish versus VIII and release that cause that's the only one i'll be buying!!

colt45 @ Sep 6th 2008 9:21PM

its true square-enix doesn't even know when the us release date is for the u.s. i was just on the site and it said that all places saying when i will come to the u.s. is a lie and of course they'll tell us when they will be releasing it state side d.a they always do but i dout it will be any time soon... sorry folks....