Square Enix still open to Final Fantasy on Xbox 360

by Kevin Kelly { Jun 8th 2007 at 5:01PM }

A few days ago we reported that Square Enix had officially, without a doubt, and definitively closed the door on any possible iteration of a new Final Fantasy appearing on the Xbox 360 anytime soon. But it looks like they were quoted incorrectly in the source story. A Square Enix spokesperson contacted GamesIndustry.biz and set the record straight about the quote.

Apparently, what they meant was that there was no Final Fantasy title in development for the Xbox 360 at that moment, but that it did not mean there never would be. According to industry analyst Michael Pachter, "The series has always been single console and given the Xbox 360 sell through in Japan, it would be hard to put the next Final Fantasy instalment on the 360 only."

Well, that and the fact that alienating their PlayStation fanbase might cause a full-scale riot. Pachter goes on to imagine that they will most likely develop the next title as PS3 only, and "deal with the backlash from the west." So, get prepped and ready for disappointment, you backlashers. Besides, by the time there's a new Final Fantasy game out of development and ready for purchase, you'll either be playing it on a PlayStation 9, or directly on your cerebral cortex via all manner of implants.

Tags: Final Fantasy, FinalFantasy, Square Enix, SquareEnix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Rikki @ Jun 8th 2007 5:05PM

Told ya so. *little dance*

Probot @ Jun 8th 2007 5:11PM

That's the way I interpreted their original statement. They said the Xbox 360 was a "completely blank page," as in they have no plans for it. That was made pretty clear when they mentioned that Crystal Chronicles was on the Wii "page."

I'm sure that Xbox fans will jump on this in the exact same way PS3 fans jumped on the last comment, despite the fact that absolutely nothing in their stance has changed.

lawrence @ Jun 8th 2007 5:11PM

so no final fantasy for xbox .oops for microsoft .FFXI port did horrible on 360 lets jsut hope the next one dont have bad controllings .like if they put mgetal gear solid on xbox it will still suck on microsft platform look at the metal gear solid subtance for xbox1 now they so playstations games stay playstation.and i cannot understand xbox controllers znyway too weird "abxy" too dumb down for people preffer the playstation controller

liqwid @ Jun 8th 2007 5:12PM

Well, if people actually read the statement and not the biased re-statement, then there wouldn't have been the mass letdown.

The series has not been single console. It's been on Nintendo with FF 1-6, CC, Mystic Quest, probably some others that I don't know. Xbox 360 with FF XI.

Seeing that Mystwalker loves the 360 and that FF XI was on the 360, I wouldn't rule out any future possibility of FF games on the 360.

jps @ Jun 8th 2007 5:14PM

Oh if only this blog post were about that pinball machine ... if only.

Sigh. I'm a 60 year old man in a 20somethings body.

lawrence @ Jun 8th 2007 5:14PM

mistwalker only loves the 360 because microsoft publish there games and they are partnering with mcirsoft

Rikki @ Jun 8th 2007 5:15PM

@6

Ya think?!

copa @ Jun 8th 2007 5:28PM

The only technical factor that could come into play when doing a 360 port is the volume of FMV.

FFXII had just over one hour of FMV. I can go to the XBox Live Video Marketplace and download a high-definition, two hour Hollywood blockbuster with special effects at under six gigs.

At that compression rate, FFXIII could easily fit onto two DVD-9 discs for FMV + game, and probably fit onto one.

Yes, this would be more heavily compressed than what shows up on the PS3 Blu-Ray disc, and therefore of slightly lower graphical quality, but it would still look quite nice.

I think you'll see an exclusive launch period on the PS3, but not doing the port would be financial suicide for Square / Enix. FFXIII is an expensive game, and they want to make that money back.

Starsmore @ Jun 8th 2007 5:32PM

So someone says the exact same thing as Square Enix, and it's news? WTF? Slow news day?

The1 @ Jun 8th 2007 5:44PM

Who cares, I do not think the FF series is going to be a system seller that Sony needs. You say what you want, the PS3 needs games now.

BPM @ Jun 8th 2007 5:51PM

Oh, sure, an FF exclusive on 360 would really cause a riot.

Just like how FF7 on PlayStation caused a riot with those who played the previous six installments on Nintendo systems, right?

WRONG. Games sell systems. If there was an exclusive FF on 360, then all the F³s (Final Fantasy Fanatics) would go get a 360 just to play it.

BulletToothTony @ Jun 8th 2007 5:53PM

how come 360 fanboys hate the ps3 SO much but they want our games in their system SO SO bad!! pretty ironic isn't it..

freaking hypocrites.. i'm sorry you can't afford a ps3.. stop sweating our games..

i don't want none of your crappy games whatsoever..

FM @ Jun 8th 2007 5:56PM

Remember kids,believe what some analyst says and not Square-Enix.

Triforceowner @ Jun 8th 2007 5:56PM

MGS4, FFXIII, BioShock, etc. These types of games are the ones that have huge budgets and will probably see less stellar ports to their non-respective system a year or later after they release "exclusively."

James @ Jun 8th 2007 5:58PM

Duh...a blank page means nothing has been written. In other words there are no plans to make one and also no plans not to make one.

Triforceowner @ Jun 8th 2007 5:59PM

BPM, maybe the riot would be the F^3's storming Japanese gaming stores for 360's?

Huey2k2 @ Jun 8th 2007 6:01PM

@ BulletToothTony:

It's not that we cannot afford PS3's. It's just that we don't want to pay all that money for a system for only a couple games. We'd rather pay less money for a system that has many more games worth playing.

For the amount of money you can spend on a PS3 you can buy a 360 and a Wii, that's a LOT of games, and when you add in the fact that I have no interest in getting a blu ray player, I have no reason to bother buying a PS3.

This is not me bashing the PS3, this is just my personal opinion. If you want to spend the money for a PS3, more power to you. I'll stick with my Wii60 combo and the plethora of games it comes with.

vidGuy @ Jun 8th 2007 6:10PM

Um... duh? Why would a company play favorites against the larger cashcow, unless they were already in bed with Sony, in which case Sony would be the cashcow for supplying the exclusivity contract.

I don't see Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid holding more than a 6 month exclusivity on the PS3. Both will be available on the 360.

Ryudo @ Jun 8th 2007 6:24PM

@ #6

Um Mystwalker is also making ASH for Nintendo DS and yes the game is still in the works.

Lloyd Christmas @ Jun 8th 2007 6:32PM

I love how UNBIASED joystiq.com is. what a stellar example of fair and balanced game industry reporting. Square-Enix basically saying that they haven't shut the door on the 360 completely is suddenly cause to 'hint' that good things are in store for the 360.

The following dialogue comes to mind:

"Lloyd: I like you mary. I like you alot. I want to ask you a question. Straight out. Flat out and I want you to give me the honest answer. What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me ending up together?
Mary: Well, that's difficult to say. We really don't...
Lloyd: Hit me with it. Give it to me straight out. I came along way just to see you mary. Just.... The least you can do is level with me.What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: You mean not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance? Yeah!!! I read you."

JonnyBoy2U @ Jun 8th 2007 6:37PM

Lol the sony fanboys will be screaming as usual when they hear this piece of news. I'm not sure what to make of this. However I stand by what I've said before. I'm not a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series. The only one I played was 10 and I didn't even finish it thru although I did love the characters and the story did seem interesting.

That being said I would like it if the 360 got FFXIII since it will both piss of these arrogant sony fanboys and it will please the 360 owners who want the game to come to our system.

But yeah I think theres a good chance it will come to the 360 but if it doesn't it won't bother me at all. There are plenty of great games come to the Wii and the 360 this fall and winter and I for one will be too busy playing all of them rather than caring about one lone ps3 title. And IMO the ONLY ps3 title worth my attention. However that won't make me drop $600 (although I can afford it) just to play it.

razer @ Jun 8th 2007 6:38PM

So basically this changes nothing except that sometime in the future the 360 might see some form of FF game. But we all know with the dev cycle for FF games that the 360 will no longer exist and will be replaced by a new console. I wouldn't hold out for a 6 month delay release for the 360, they are very clear that it is exclusive to the PS3. They would just be wasting money/resources because after 6 months nobody is gonna want the left-overs..

For the record. I don't want FF or MGS on the 360. We don't need them and have our own strong line-up that I wouldn't trade for the PS3's anyday.

Now hopefully we can stop talking about FF, MGS and Square Enix in general on the 360 and move on and support the dev's that are giving 360 the love.

Good luck with that Last Remnant garbage btw..

KenShigeruKutaragiMiyamoto @ Jun 8th 2007 7:02PM

"feel the backlash from the west"... Way to run a company. Profits = no big deal.

mccomber @ Jun 8th 2007 7:02PM

So, instead of never will it's don't plan on doing it. Seems like the same result to me.
Lloyd Christmas is on the right track with that quote. There's a chance alright...

Matt B @ Jun 8th 2007 8:55PM

Had the FLAME WAR METER dipped too low at Joystiq, Mr. Kelly?

I don't know why people bash the PS3 so much when they don't even own one. At least Digi Smalls and Sheppy own one so any negative comment can come from experience. To me, that is much more credible than all the hot wind coming from the people that don't own the system.
To those people that don't own it, I have to ask....

What is it you hate about the PS3?

A) Blind hate! Screw Sony and you too!!
B) Jealousy(It's the better system. I'll pick one up eventually when the titles drop)

samfish @ Jun 8th 2007 9:43PM

It'll stay on the PS3. 360 owners have a better chance of getting a port of Lair than FFXII.

FFXIV, however, will be on the Wii.

Guarantee it.

ferrarimanf355 @ Jun 8th 2007 11:09PM

...did I just stumble into a NeoGAF flame war?

ExMcloud @ Jun 9th 2007 5:07AM

12. how come 360 fanboys hate the ps3 SO much but they want our games in their system SO SO bad!! pretty ironic isn't it..

First off they're nintendo's games so get your facts straight.. And apparently Sony wants Halo cus every FPS they make they call it the Halo Killer (idiots)

FF on all systems FTW

tet @ Jun 10th 2007 12:17PM

damn lawrence! after that post it makes me think maybe the PS controller is dumbed down for fanboys like you!! lol

Dud @ Jun 11th 2007 10:17AM

I still don't know how the blogs took it to mean that it wont ever come to the 360. I mean, really, a "blank page" means that it is waiting to be written.

That blank page may say 'URGENT: GET THIS DONE' when the shareholders question why its being released on the PS3 to begin with.