Final Fantasy XIII will be release on March 9, 2009 in North America and Europe on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Square Enix announced today. That's less than three months after the Japanese release.

John Yamamoto, president, chief executive officer of Square Enix Inc spoke of the announcement.

"We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise -- FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations. Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010."

More updates on the release date as the roll in, but those are the key facts.