PS3 Claims 54 Percent Of UK Final Fantasy XIII Sales
Mon, Mar 15th, 2010, 11:38 am (EST) by Ronin90
Final Fantasy has in recent years been a very PlayStation orientated franchise, but when Square Enix announced it would be coming to the Xbox 360, many were curious as to how it would sell.
Well, we have some information, for the UK at least, where Chart-Track have disclosed that the PlayStation 3 version of Final Fantasy XIII contributed 54 percent of total sales. Considering the amount of marketing Microsoft has been doing, with the Xbox 360 bundle, and Xbox 360 exclusive TV ads, some might actually see this is something of a failure. However, they have still managed to take a huge chunk out of Sony's profits, so from that perspective it was still a result.
The key market will be North America though, as Xbox 360 multi-platform titles frequently outside their PlayStation 3 counterpart.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII
Can this be considered a result?
Square Enix Already Considering Final Fantasy XIII-2
Sat, Mar 13th, 2010, 10:29 am (EST) by Ronin90
Final Fantasy XIII has been out for less than a week, but Square Enix are already talking about a possible sequel for the title - and yes, by sequel, we mean direct sequel.
Speaking with a Dutch publication, Kitase said "In the past three years we worked both on the world and on the various systems. Creating these systems isn't very glamorous and can frankly be a bit boring. If we could do a XIII-2, we could direct all our attention to the story and refine what we have already built."
For a company that likes to keep information very tight-lipped, recently, Kitase really isn't doing much to stop rumours starting up.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Fabula Nova Crystallis
Is that really such a good idea?
Dissidia Final Fantasy Hits Euro/PAL PSN Stores
Thu, Mar 11th, 2010, 11:12 am (EST) by Kyle
For anyone still holding out in Europe for the downloadable version of Dissidia Final Fantasy, today is your day. Square Enix has announced that as of now, the Final Fantasy fighter is available for download on the PlayStation Network via PS3 or PSP, for €24.99.
The game was previously released in Europe on disc around the same time as it did in North America, but for whatever reason North America received the PSN version of the game way back in November, leaving Europe and other PAL regions out in the cold.
So, if you have a fat memory card, or a PSP Go, now's a good time to dig into the game. Remember, sales of Dissidia Final Fantasy could inspire a sequel. Just saying.
Tags:
Dissidia Final Fantasy, PSN
On Euro PSN
Final Fantasy XIII PS Home and Live Avatar Extras Pushed Out
Wed, Mar 10th, 2010, 1:59 pm (EST) by Kyle
In an attempt to give extras to gamers that pick up Final Fantasy XIII, regardless of console, Square Enix has released content for both PlayStation Home, and Xbox 360 Avatars. Included in Xbox 360 copies of the game is a redeem code for a male or female Avatar PSICOM Soldier uniform. For PlayStation Home, Square Enix has unveiled a purchasable Final Fantasy XIII themed apartment, and other themed items.
We gave the PSICOM Avatar uniform a spin, and frankly it looks pretty weird, mostly because there's no PSICOM helmet included, or weapon for that matter. A Final Fantasy XIII apartment in PlayStation Home could be interesting, but considering it and the other Home FFXIII extras are premium paid content, we'll wait to see the prices.
Aside from FFXIII extras, those who pick up a PS3 copy of the game can also look forward some Final Fantasy XIV spoils.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Xbox 360, PlayStation Home, PS3, Avatars, Final Fantasy XIV
Easy there
Wada: Microsoft Simply Asked For Final Fantasy XIII
Wed, Mar 10th, 2010, 12:11 pm (EST) by Kyle
Speaking with Yoichi Wada, the President and CEO of Square Enix, Siliconera unearthed Wada's easy explanation as to why Final Fantasy XIII went from being a PS3 exclusive, to a multiplatform title. According to Wada, Microsoft had been "asking" them to bring Final Fantasy to the Xbox 360.
"The Xbox team has been asking us to have a [Final Fantasy] game developed on our platform. Also, the Xbox 360 console is available in many homes in US and European markets so that was not really a hard decision to make," explained Wada.
The latter half of the answer sounds a tad understated compared to just being asked to make a game. It would be hard to believe Microsoft didn't offer to pitch in on the marketing front, but that's really nothing to do with it, right? Jokes aside, there you have it.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Microsoft
Nintendo, where were you?
Final Fantasy XIII Hits 5 Million Copies Shipped
Wed, Mar 10th, 2010, 11:20 am (EST) by Kyle
Already, Square Enix has announced just how well Final Fantasy XIII did with its North American and European yesterday. In a Japanese press release they proclaimed 5 million units have been, wait for it, shipped worldwide. That includes Japanese shipping numbers, which is somewhere around the 2 million units mark, thus about 3 million copies of Final Fantasy XIII went up for sale at retailers in North America and Europe yesterday.
As usual with shipment numbers, they just mean the number of copies of the game that were made, and sold to retailers by Square Enix; they do not reflect how many copies of the game were actually sold in stores to gamers. Nevertheless, those look like pretty good numbers, pushing the Final Fantasy series to 96 million units shipped worldwide to-date.
No word on the consoles split, but for most series fans, the console sales split will be the most interesting numbers.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII
5 Mil Shipped
Final Fantasy XIII Released At Long Last
Tue, Mar 9th, 2010, 2:57 pm (EST) by Kyle
It's time for our obligatory story to remind everyone that Final Fantasy XIII has indeed hit North American and European store shelves today, incase you thought this was some strange, improbable dream. It's been in the making for a good while now, you may have completed your high school or college career since it was announced, or perhaps both. You may have had a few kids, or started your dream job. A lot can happen in a 5 years (worth of development time) and a large amount of Square Enix spent it working towards today.
We have special content lined up for the release of the game, our first being our very own review of Final Fantasy XIII, that went up yesterday on our parent site, Gaming Union. Next up we have the episode of Final Fantasy Union we've all been waiting about two and a half years for. Most of our staff already have the game in their mitts, so we'll have that special Final Fantasy XIII show out for listeners next Tuesday. We're also lining up some Final Fantasy XIII voice actor and actress interviews (yes, in audio), though we can't spill the beans on who just yet!
Nevertheless, we have to get back to playing and enjoying FFXIII, we hope everyone picking up the game today does too.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Union
Out Now
Final Fantasy Union: Episode 34
Tue, Mar 2nd, 2010, 12:07 pm (EST) by Kyle
It's our last episode before Final Fantasy XIII's release, and it's been a long time coming. Kyle, Lauren, David, and Darryl hit up news of an FFXIII Xbox 360 bundle and a collectors edition, Square Enix once again dropping downloadable content for FFXIII, word of Final Fantasy XV from Square Enix, and more!
As always the crew tackle listen questions, this time hammering a familiar target, Final Fantasy XII.
Subscribe to Final Fantasy Union on iTunes
Direct Link: Final Fantasy Union: Episode 34
Visit the Final Fantasy & Kingdom Hearts Union iTunes Page
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Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Union, Podcast, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XV
Episode 34
Kitase: Final Fantasy VII Remake Might Be Possible
Sat, Feb 20th, 2010, 8:09 pm (EST) by Ronin90
There has been a ton of speculation about a Final Fantasy VII remake ever since Square Enix showed off the Final Fantasy VII tech demo and Yoshinori Kitase, one of the minds behind Final Fantasy VII, has stoked the fire even more.
When speaking to TechDigest, Kitase said "If it were possible that we had all the right facilities and the right environment to be able to make and prepare a Final Fantasy VII remake within a year, we’d very much like a go at it."
So he's essentially saying that they want to do it, but they don't want it to take too much of their time. Surely it shouldn't take too long though, all of the game design is already done! They'd just have to get a crack team of modellers, animators and programmers on board.
Tags:
Final Fantasy VII Remake, Yoshinori Kitase
Yet more teasing from Square Enix
PSM3 Reviews Final Fantasy XIII, Gives Very Average Score
Sun, Feb 7th, 2010, 10:07 pm (EST) by Ronin90
PSM3 Magazine, one of the main magazines in the United Kingdom, have managed to get their hands on Final Fantasy XIII for their March 2010 Edition. However, their review wasn't overly flattering.
They gave the game 70%, which by video game standards is as average is it comes - not exactly promising news. This is just one publication though, and they are generally quite harsh. Time will tell if other publications have a similar opinion, as other magazines also publish their scores ahead of the game's release in a month's time.
Either way, we've been waiting a hell of a long time for this game and even if it doesn't meet the high standards that Square Enix have set for the franchise, there will certainly be a lot of hours clocked on this bad boy.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIII, Fabula Nova Crystallis, PSM3 Magazine
Not The Best Review Ever
Rumour: Final Fantasy XIV Coming To Xbox 360
Wed, Feb 3rd, 2010, 6:15 am (EST) by Ronin90
It looks like someone has been doing some detective work, as a an online CV (Resume) has been found in which the individual represented, Yuuki Akama, claims to be working on Final Fantasy XIV for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. She's also apparently working on Final Fantasy Agito XIII and The Third Birthday, both of which will release on the PSP.
Final Fantasy XIV was initially unveiled during Sony's E3 press conference last year, but it was only announced for the PC and PS3. Since then, the director of the game, Hiromichi Tanaka, has stated that talks are ongoing with Microsoft, but that Xbox Live is seen as an issue - presumably they want charge people monthly, but don't want to charge them twice.
Whether it is actually being worked on remains to be seen, and whether the online profile is real also remains to be seen. Don't expect an official word from Square Enix any time soon though.
Tags:
Final Fantasy XIV, Hiromichi Tanaka, Final Fantasy Agito XIII
Perhaps Sooner Rather Than Later
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