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Square Enix extinguishes FFXIII rumor firestorm

Source: See below.

What we heard: As immediately picked upon by FFXIII fan site finalfantasyversusxiii.net (relevant info three-quarters down the page), recent scans from Japanese gaming standard Famitsu revealed a wave of new details for the first PlayStation 3 installment of its acclaimed fantasy role-playing series. Besides rehashing info on the tech-savvy Cocoon colony, introducing the naturalistic Pulse colony, and teasing a few new characters, the scans quote FFXIII director Motomu Toriyama as saying he hopes to have more information about the game--and perhaps even a demo--in 2008. Currently, the game has no release window whatsoever.

Unsurprisingly, Toriyama's vague wording was taken as formal announcements by notoriously excitable Final Fantasy fans. A host of gaming sites quickly flooded the blogosphere with their own interpretations of the translated details, ranging from saying a demo has been confirmed for the PlayStation Network in 2008 to that the full game itself will most certainly arrive before the end of the year.

The official story: Today, Square Enix has made the unusual effort to set the record straight by categorically denying all such rumors in a post to its official Web site.

"Although information regarding the release date of Final Fantasy XIII has been reported by certain video game websites, Square Enix itself has yet to make an official statement on this topic," reads the post. "Any reports of a confirmed release date are erroneous and should be disregarded. Square Enix will make an official announcement in the future concerning the release date when it has been determined."

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus that a demo or the full version of FFXIII has been confirmed for any time soon.

164 Comments

  • AmnestyErr

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 2:45 am PT

    Snooze-fest. Anybody hoping to get anything about FFXIII(s) in this year besides the same re-hashed trailers we've seen over and over and over (and over...) again is gonna be sorely disappointed. Don't hold your breath over it because FFXIII will be M.I.A. (yet again) this year--as well.

  • bourne2live

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:21 am PT

    Just wait ! It'll be worth it
    Trust me

  • bourne2live

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:19 am PT

    Just wait ! It'll be worth it
    Trust me

  • magusat999

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:42 pm PT

    It sounds like there was no denial about the details reported - just that there is no confirmation of the release date...

  • Krusnikzero2

    Posted Apr 3, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    SE can take as long as it wants. The longer it takes for FFXIII to come out the longer before I have to buy a ps3

  • seany_lad

    Posted Mar 13, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    Aslong as it doesnt go to the 360 im fine with any release date lol

  • kiheto65

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 11:17 am PT

    So, I was shopping on Amazon.com, and see that they're selling FF XIII pre-release for December 1, 2008. Also selling FF XIII versus same date. What's up with that? Wishful thinking or did they actually get a release date for it?

  • UlTimatelee

    Posted Feb 18, 2008 1:39 am PT

    I dont care how long it takes to come out as long as when it does its amazing and im betting now that its going to be I love my FF

  • Frjam

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:44 am PT

    Soundwave, chill out, do you want them to pull a Bungie on us?
    I say they take their time, make the game as great as they can, they're trying to make another 10 Year Wonder like with Final Fantasy VII so it's only logical that they put as much work as humanly possible. (I'm sure that working with the new hardware on the PS3 is taking a toll as well, trying to get the most out of the components.)

  • xXLlendarXx

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 6:42 pm PT

    i'm seriously cring..... frist i hear FF13 was gonna be for PS3 and Xbox 360 due to the release of FF11 on 360.....but no.....PS3 only man i hope i get a ps3 b4 it comes out i currently have a 360

  • wingnut99

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:23 am PT

    When ever this comes out It will be the 3rd time I played my PS3.

  • Soundwave079

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 10:43 am PT

    When is this game coming out? any time soon? lol A FF game is due right now!! lol It's going to look great for the PS3 for sure. I can't wait to get it!!

  • shadow9669

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    Final Fantasy has come along way from its roots and i hope Square Enix keeps giving us more and more Final Fantasy goodnes

  • th3chos3non3

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 8:21 pm PT

    not an ff game as emotionally involved since vii? im sorry but viii was far more emotionally charged, more complex and deeper than the mangled shallow mess that vii was....dont get me wrong....loved vii - flaws and all....but viii, as sappy as it was, was far more emotional.

  • Joseph-X

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:18 pm PT

    i really hope this game is good.

  • Krazyjp7

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 2:26 pm PT

    i just wish they used the old battle system, i liked the turned-based battles...i dont know i guess im a little old school, but i liked it......too bad that this game is not going to have it...the battle system is going to be kinda like the FFXII (not exactly like it)....suppesedly u will know when a battle is going to happen, so u can get prepared for it to have the advantage....and the enemies are goin to be more realistic is not goin to be all monsters....if the army is lookin for u, then you'll be battling soldiers...and the soldiers are not just going to be an enemy like before, supposedly they're goin to have their own profiles...that's what i read in an interview they did on the guy in charge of the battle system...

  • kefier

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 11:19 am PT

    Hanrock, am on the same boat! FF is an art and enix is just spoiling it... The production since FF X has been slow and it's because Square-enix have many projects going on.... but *BIIIP* it, let's all hope that FF XIII got what we're all hoping for...

  • meharu

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 6:29 am PT

    2008 release,i don't think so ff13 will be out at the end of 2009 or maybe more because Square always take it's time when it come to a next big installment.

  • coppersbuddy

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 4:06 am PT

    I'm all for them taking longer, considering that the more Square Enix works on it, the better the game will be. That being said though, I really wish they would pick up the pace

  • Ravage27

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 2:28 am PT

    Final Fantasy, the reason why ps3 will own

  • oldscratch82

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 11:24 pm PT

    I will really be surprised if it makes it before Q4 of 2009. Personally I'm betting on Q2 of 2010.

  • jogunther

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 7:40 pm PT

    Next Gen, worth the wait.

  • zombey1333

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:06 pm PT

    One can only be happy in the fact that the longer it's in development, the more indepth it will be.

  • Krazyjp7

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:23 pm PT

    i partly agree with chambam and stsk8ter29...they messed up by takin the random battles and the world map....that's why not a lot of people liked FFXII....and they SHOULD REALLY RE-MAKE FFVII for all of us that played it when it came out...because i also partly agree with Hanrock, FFVII had everything that the FF series were known for, and thats why FFVII was the best game of all time....

  • Krazyjp7

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:14 pm PT

    hahaha, i think is funny....i used to think that i was the only guy that liked the World Map and the turned based battles....but i guess im not alone in the world map at least....hey do u guys miss the Turned based batlles or is that just me really?....

  • Xeiphyer

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    I remember hearing it would release in '08. Silly people spreading rumors I guess hehe. But its ok right? We can wait. It will be extremely worth it.
    I'm also going to assume that this goes for Versus XIII aswell, infact it will probably come out after XIII does haha, but maybe if we are lucky it will be before so we can play it while we wait.

    A demo is still better than nothing, I myself bought Dragon Quest 8 partly for it being amazing, and partly because it had a FFXII demo in it hahaha.

    COME ON GUYS!~ WORK WORK WORK!~ Them Fanboys need games to fuel their LIVES.

  • xrman

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    As long as square enix puts out a bomb ass game with a phenomenal story then I dont care how long it takes

  • Dj_Lizz

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:16 pm PT

    just like the door guy said "keep it down noob! the tide is up to here now!"
    like SE did just now LOL

  • chambam

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    I love the ff series i have all my life but square enix destroyed it by not keeping the world map i think. Nine was the last good game they brought out . they either have to remaked seven or bring back the world map to make me happy haha

  • P08C

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 11:37 am PT

    I don't even care when this game is released and how long it is delayed I just want it to kick some serious ass and live up to its name! SQUARE TAKE YOUR TIME IT'S OKAY...MAKE THIS GAME KICK ASS!!!!

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 11:10 am PT

    Yep and I hear DNF is coming out next week, hey its on Wiki!!

  • hawaiiinsomniac

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 11:08 am PT

    Arrrggghhhh!! I bought a PS3 because FF series is coming! Hurry up already!

  • CloudStrife9288

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 10:43 am PT

    why would u guys want them to rush the game and release it everyone knows how they turn out if they do, and if u dont heres a hint.....they suck

  • gulamh

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:35 am PT

    Its pretty obvious it won't come out in 2008, I'm guessing early-mid 2009. A demo for 2008 would be cool though, just to get everyone excited.

  • VagrantChild24

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:12 am PT

    Maybe it's just me but they seem to take longer to put games out since the merger into Square-Enix. Granted this is an absolutely huge undertaking with VErsus, XIII, and the whole Crystal Novellis Project or whatever it's called. I doubt we'll see the game this year but I'd at least like to get a bit more information on it from time to time.

  • zeke2040

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:02 am PT

    i think its worth the wait... but i also can't wait till i get a demo either...lol

  • CloudStrife9288

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 8:52 am PT

    do u guys really want them to rush the games?? we all kno wat happens to games that are rushed and if u dont heres a hint........they suck

  • IIRubenII

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 8:13 am PT

    Owned! Lmao.

  • StSk8ter29

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 7:56 am PT

    I am not excited for this game whatsoever. Call me old fashioned if you want, but I really miss the random battles. I didn't like final fantasy 12, I ended up getting mad at the license system.

  • hunter8man

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:50 am PT

    Honestly, I never expected FF XIII until 2009. That was around the original date when it was first announced. However, I do think a demo will come later on this year. Maybe in late Fall or Winter 2008.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:30 am PT

    North America in 2009, Japan may get it this year.

  • smadiso1

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:27 am PT

    Square has never been one to rush anything, which is a testament to why they produce such quality work. I know a lot of fans want FFXIII, myself included, but I'd rather have them take the time to make it perfect than rush it and release a game that falls way short of expectations. I'm sure Square knows that every fan of this series is expecting a phenominal experience from FFXIII; I don't see them disapointing us either.

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:22 am PT

    im really excited for this game, but as for a demo yeah thats deff not gonna happen this year, all we are gonna get from them is maybe some updates and a few screen shots. im thinking early 09 release. that sounds more logical for the way FF games have been coming out in the past years, later and later it seems.

  • Scubei

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:38 am PT

    It doesn't matter how long it takes.......I just hope they take their time and make something unforgetable!

  • Hanrock

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:55 am PT

    After watching a bundle of animes(more then 50), I have come to realise that I hate Square Enix for not releasing a FF game every year like it did before. Wether one would backlash at me for saying this is basically not my concern. Honestly, I didn't like X or XII...... I don't know why the new generation obsesses about such installments. Out of all seriousness, the series that actually made me feel alive exist in the single digit column. In respect to FF VII, Enix has screwed things up by invoking a more western favored theme to the FF series. If theres anyone here who enjoys diversity, then he/she would surely agree that FF is an identity for the Japanese RPG giants. I guess the only thing that you all can't disagree with is the fact that when FFVII was released, most of you guys weren't even in your teens. I'm 22 and that explains things. A lot of you didn't play the game when it was released. But I don't blame you guys! Its Enix and the newly formed Square thats screwing thing up. Anyways, take it from me when i tell you, Mystwalker will be considered the next Square Soft in a couple of years if not sooner.
    And No.....I'm not A XBOX fanboy (man should be appropiate).
    I'm an Anime fanguy!

  • NandoSupes

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:49 am PT

    I'm buying this game,if anything this is one of the games that is going to show what the PS3 can really do,and MGS4 too.

  • edhc44

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:40 am PT

    S-E has been so silent about their Fabula Nova Crystallis project that these days I care a lot less about it than I did when it was announced. A LOT!

  • Carnikoid85

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:17 am PT

    Even if there will be soon demo I won't play it, don't wann spoil anything

  • kefier