E3 2008: Final Fantasy XIII Jumps to Xbox 360
More out of the blue totally-didn't-see-that-one-comin' news from the sidelines at E3 this afternoon is that Square Enix's long-awaited Final Fantasy 13 will no longer be PlayStation 3 exclusive. Yep, you read that right, it's July 14th (not April 1st), and I'm fresh out of hyperbole: Xbox 360 fans are getting Final Fantasy XIII.
Will wonders never cease.
According to Shacknews and others, who caught the story during this morning's Microsoft's E3 press briefing, the title's coming to Xbox 360 at some undisclosed future point:
"Available on Xbox 360 at launch in North America and Europe," said Square Enix. "We believe that bringing the game to Xbox 360 will allow us to provide a game to even more fans in North America and Europe."
Good on Square Enix. I mean hey, with all respect to the relationship Sony's cultivated with Square Enix since last century's Nintendo huff-and-puff, the PS3's install base plus the Xbox 360's currently six-million-larger install base don't exactly add up to chump change, y'know?
Also: Does this imply anything wobbly about Square Enix's confidence in the PS3's salability? Neither company would ever come right out and say directly, but it sure looks that way.
Update: The latest story coming out of Square Enix's press conference today is that the game will only see its way to Xbox 360s on U.S. shores, which makes a certain amount of sense when you consider Microsoft's failure to secure even half a beachhead in Japan. (It's also a surefire way to ensure that situation doesn't change.) Also: Final Fantasy Versus XIII, an action-RPG entree in Square Enix's polymorphous "Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Compilation," remains 100% PS3-exclusive.
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PS3 = DOUBLE !!!PWNED!!!
damn....
well, at least ff xiii versus is still a ps3 exclusive. SqaureEnix deserves to get some serious compensation for ff xiii, assuming it's any good. the 360 version will probably be on a few disks or might be a little less pretty...
but seriously, damn
Final Fantasy XIII, on XBox360. How will they ever fit that on one single DVD disc? My guess is compression, compression, compression. Maybe they'll remove some of the nonsensical language tracks as well.
We'll finally get to see a full 1080p PS3 version vs. a major compression job, side-by-side.
If people flock to the stores for the better looking PS3 version, or a version that is on one single blue-ray instead of 4 or 5 DVD9 discs, Microsoft could feel it's final kick in the gut. This can only spell disaster for 360.
It's also a surefire way to ensure that situation doesn't change?! Heh... that's rather presumptuous. Situation will change on the state side even with this announcement alone, which is a huge difference as it is already. I think us consumers (and bloggers alike) should be grateful SE made the decision to widen the scope of FF13's release. Save your cynicism for another day. Or it'd be more productive to discuss the amount of money changing hands in the background which we tend to overlook when dealing with exclusivity.
Update: The latest story coming out of Square Enix's press conference today is that the game will only see its way to Xbox 360s on U.S. shores.
I want to see proof of that.
Square Enix wouldn't just let Final Fantasy XIII be an exclusive to Xbox 360 only in the US. I can see PS3 and Xbox 360, but not Xbox 360 only for the US. Give me a break.
Eclipse: read that again.... the 360 VERSION of XIII is only available in the US, the PS3 version will be available across the world >_<
Well if you think about it buying FF 13 on 360 would be just stupid for the fast that the graphics with have to be down graded due to the fact that a dvd format can't compare with a blue-ray in an respect.
And furthur more its going to have to be another Lost Odyssey with 4 disc's.
If you research the 360 anyway who in there right mind whould want the piece of junk. I do repairs on console systems and i tell ya the 360 compared to anything out right now just aint worth tha hassle that u have to pay to get the stupid thing to even match what the PS3 does outta the box.
Some ppl have no sence when they spend there money and wasting it on crap..
Personally, My xbox hasn't crashed once.. that's not to say it will or won't it's just i haven't been burnt by it...
But seriously what's the problem with 3 or 4 discs?? I honestly have no problem with that. As long as the game plays well and it's better then some of the other FFs that are out then that should just be all that matters shouldn't it?