FFXIII 360 heads to Japan

[Hedon]

Square Enix has confirmed that Japanese Xbox 360 owners will get to play Final Fantasy XIII after all, with the release of a special edition at the end of this year.

At a Microsoft press conference covered by Andriasang (via VG247), Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International Edition was given a 16th December release date and a budget price of 4980 Yen by Squenix big-wigs Shinji Hashimoto and Yoshinori Kitase.

This new version of FFXIII will have an Easy Mode, come with a book, and most importantly feature content that was cut from the original version of FFXIII. It's known as Episode I and will be a post-game quest.

It also has the English voice-acting and Leona Lewis' theme-tune warbling from the Western version of the game.

Since this was a Microsoft event, there was no discussion of a PS3 version of Ultimate Hits International Edition, but we wouldn't be surprised if Square Enix had plans for one.

We've asked Square Enix if there are any plans to bring the Episode I content to the West, either as DLC or with a Western release of the Ultimate Hits version of FFXIII. We'll let you know as and when we hear anything.

FFXIII was originally said to be exclusive to the PS3 in Japan, but Achievement leaks a couple of months ago suggested the position would be reversed.

Famitsu and Dengeki magazines also reported the 360 version was on the way before Microsoft's conference.

My link

I am surprised they are doing this considering there is less than 2 million Xbox 360's in Japan. Maybe it's a no brainer easy port.

Update on added content:

Square Enix has denied reports that the Ultimate Hits International edition of Final Fantasy XIII, which will bring the game to Japanese 360s for the first time, features new content. "There is no new episode content," a Square Enix spokesperson told Eurogamer. "Early reports may be confused by a pre-order item accompanying first editions of the release called Final Fantasy XIII: Corridor of Memory, a book of original stories set within Final Fantasy XIII."

[George P Global Moderator]

Guess that Sony japan exclusivity money ran out a few months ago so Square figures, what the hell, probably very little work needed on their part, and even if the 360 install base in the japan is small (something like 1.5m or close I think) a sale is a sale.

[Ironman273]

A little peek into the mind of a Japanese gamer. Seems somewhat familiar, for some reason... :whistle:

Twitter Mob Gangs Up On Square Enix Honcho

Final Fantasy XIII, which was previously an PS3 exclusive in Japan, is coming to the country's Xbox 360 console. Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada has been catching all kinds of hell from Japanese gamers for the decision.

Square Enix and the game's staffers had been saying definitively for years that Final Fantasy XIII was only going to be released on the PS3 in Japan.

Some Japanese Twitter users have been expressing disbelief via messages sent to Wada's account, @yoichiw. Others have been far more vicious, calling him a liar, a money grubber and treacherous.

While some said they would not buy the Xbox 360 version, others have been questioning how Square Enix runs its business.

Square Enix did say over and over again that Final Fantasy XIII would only be available on the PS3 in Japan. That doesn't seem to be the case any more.

Source: Kotaku

[Hedon]

Good lord...get over timed exclusives. Why would PS3 fans care if it comes out on the 360 in Japan? Did it change their experience of the game some how? :rofl:

Square comments as to why it went to the 360:

My link

Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase told Famitsu (via Gamasutra) that the new version was spurred by the launch of the remodeled 360 earlier this year, which aimed to bolster the console's install base in Japan. "We feel that there are ... a lot of people in Japan who own nothing but 360s. Thanks to the new system and such, the situation's a lot different than it was in July 2008," he explained. FFXIII will be the first Xbox 360 title released under Square's "Ultimate Hits" budget line, dropping at ¥4,980 ($59.50) on December 16.

Says it's FIRST under Ultimate Hits budget. Maybe some more porting coming for the 360 in Japan?

[George P Global Moderator]

If this made them mad, just what will happen then when (and at the rate things have been going this could very well happen), FF14 for 360 happens finally, and then followed by FF13 Versus on the 360 also? Just for that final nail in the exclusivity coffin if you will.

[LingeringSoul]

A little peek into the mind of a Japanese gamer. Seems somewhat familiar, for some reason... :whistle:

Source: Kotaku

Wow, that is quite possibly the saddest thing I have read all day. Why the hell would somebody care if a game that they have already played is released on a different console? If you like a game, shouldn't you be happy that more people will have the opportunity to play it?

I'm a huge Mass Effect 2 fan, and I'm happy that it's coming to the PS3, because now more people will be able to experience one of my favourite games of the year. It's amazing how platform loyalty can turn seemingly normal people into complete idiots. I'm sorry if that sounds blunt, but man...

[George P Global Moderator]

Wow, that is quite possibly the saddest thing I have read all day. Why the hell would somebody care if a game that they have already played is released on a different console? If you like a game, shouldn't you be happy that more people will have the opportunity to play it?

I'm a huge Mass Effect 2 fan, and I'm happy that it's coming to the PS3, because now more people will be able to experience one of my favourite games of the year. It's amazing how platform loyalty can turn seemingly normal people into complete idiots. I'm sorry if that sounds blunt, but man...

Japanese playstation fans need to get use to this growing theme, 3rd party games not published by Sony directly or any title that's not a 1st party title has it's "exclusivity" up in the air now. That's just the way the market has gone, and even if the 360 is last in Japan, no 3rd party dev will overlook a 1.5m and slowlly growing install base at this point.

[Hedon]

With almost 2 million 360s sold in Japan, obviously SOME Japanese like the console.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Because the game flunked so badly (on both platforms), SE need the damn money tbh.

Final Fantasy itself is going back to its beginning. As in, it's dying.

[Rudy]

With almost 2 million 360s sold in Japan, obviously SOME Japanese like the console.

That's not very many though (considering how well the other consoles sold)

[Hedon]

That's not very many though (considering how well the other consoles sold)

Well the PS3 is just over 5 million, so I guess that isn't very many either than.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

360 is only 1.36 million LTD in Japan. PS3 is 5.5 million.

[George P Global Moderator]

That's not very many though (considering how well the other consoles sold)

That's still enough for a game dev to get a good chunk of sales, if Square even sells 500k from this that's a good chunk of money for something that probably cost them next to nothing to do.

[Hedon]

360 is only 1.36 million LTD in Japan. PS3 is 5.5 million.

Yup, like I said...both are low. The Wii on the other hand, which is about 11 million.

[+Mystic MVC]

That's not very many though (considering how well the other consoles sold)

You may consider that small but Microsoft has nearly done the impossible in establishing a foothold in the extremely tough Japanese market. Microsoft will continue to sell more and more consoles in Japan in successive generations.