820°

Rumor: Final Fantasy Versus XIII Is Dead

It's been six years since Square Enix first showed Final Fantasy Versus XIII's debut trailer. Six long years. When that trailer premiered, George W. Bush was president, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden were alive, and the global financial crisis had not yet hit. 2006 was a different world, a long, long time ago.

StarFox4307d ago

well thats a bummer if true, but its not like nobody didn't see that possibility coming anyways. way to kill something with so much potential and instead give us bullshit like FF XIII, FFXIII-2, & allegedly FF XIII-3. Fuck off Sqaure

zeal0us4307d ago

If its true tons of people will be pissed.

SE got enough projects on their hands. If any project should of died then it should of been sequels to FF13.

Winter47th4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

I'm sorry, but anyone who actually put his trust in SquareEnix and realistically thought this game was actually in development is delusional.

How many "shitty" titles did they release in 6 years? How many trailers/gameplay did they release for their sure hit gold farm Versus 13? Right.

Pozzle4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

That's the part that sucks the most. :(

If Versus XIII really had been cancelled due to financial reasons, then it's not only sad that such a good-looking game got canned, but also because Square have spent so much time and money in the last few years developing other games that are either average or not-asked-for by fans.

hay4307d ago

True. If it's canned, my adventure with Square is canned along with it.

Grap4307d ago

I really don't care i lost my hype 2 years ago anything above 4 years developing there is really something wrong with it. besides SE isn't square we know

gaffyh4307d ago

I hope to God that this rumour isn't true. Versus is the one game I was looking forward to in the JRPG space, and if it's cancelled, then I give up on Square.

Tr10wn4307d ago

"How many "shitty" titles did they release in 6 years? How many trailers/gameplay did they release for their sure hit gold farm Versus 13? Right."

over 9000!!!!

badz1494307d ago

I don't think they should release it anymore anyway! Made people excited, built tremendous anticipation but left them in the dark! I called it, it's a VAPORWARE! Thanks but no thanks SE!

creatchee4307d ago

IMO the only reason that there was any hype over this game was because of its PS3 exclusivity - and that was (obviously) coming from the PS3-only crowd. But in reality, it doesn't matter what console you make games for - if they're not good, they're not good. And Square hasn't been on par for a very long time. And there was nothing in any of the previews that looked like VS would have been life-changing or anything.

Sad that they may cancel it, but no sadder than any other game that gets canned.

Reibooi4307d ago

I HIGHLY doubt this is true. SE knows that people have been waiting forever for this game and that many people consider it the last bastion of hope for SE in terms of making good games. With that knowledge they would be suicidal to cancel it.

The only way I can conceive this as being true is if the game is no longer being called VersusXIII and has been renamed FFXV as some other rumors have said in the past.

It also makes no sense that mere months ago we heard from Nomura that a official large scale unveiling of the game was soon to come(likely at TGS)

Darrius Cole4307d ago

@creatchee

I disagree that the game was only popular because it was PS3 exclusive. I've always thought that FFvs13 looked more promising than FF13.

I don't put any stock in rumors from unnamed sources, especially rumors that only come from one internet site. You would think that if there was such a leak that one or more Japanese language sites would have it first.

This rumor, however, hits people deeply because it reinforces a fear. There has been so little news about FFvs13 the people were already fearing that it had become vaporware.

There is a chance that this game actually is vaporware. There is also a chance that the game has been rebranded FFXV. It never made sense to do a full-scale production for a spin-off game that would sell 2-3 million more copies simply by changing the name on the box.

morganfell4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

If it turns out FF XIII isn't cancelled it will be amazing to watch the irresponsible press begin their "I was only reporting news" dodge.

No you ignorant jerkwaters, you were propagating a rumor that if not true could still harm a company's financials an all because of your jump the gun idiocy.

It will also reconfirm (for the zillionth time) the press is the outright enemy of real gamers and they do more harm to gaming than any other entity.

Besides....

http://www.zimbio.com/Final...

Thread is here:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

thats_just_prime4307d ago

only ps3 fanboys are pissed cause they though it be only on the ps3 but the trailer said for ps3 not only for ps3.

and seriously it looked like crap. it had an emo hero and crappy music thats all we know about this title

miyamoto4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

Tsk. tsk.

Squeenix should have not sold their souls!

Politics have ruined gaming.

sikbeta4307d ago

IF true, SE was trolling all these years for no good reason lol

Darrius Cole4307d ago

@Morganfell

Well, two rumors neither proves anything. But if I have to chose one I choose the one you reported. Because at least we know that person's name. The Kotaku rumor is given by the mysterious nobody.

darthawesome904307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

I hope it just became FFXV, like the rumor that was released in May revealing that Versus may be multi-platform for the Wii U and PS3. If not then someone needs to start firing some people and replacing them with talent.

here is the link to the Wii U multiplat and re-branding rumor
http://www.gamesradar.com/f...

I don't really think it's cancelled. It has everything going for it. Likeable characters (from what we've seen), dark like FFVII, great aesthetics, huge fan base, etc. If they can't perfect something that has been in dev. for six years then what makes Square-Enix believe that they can create FFXV? (assuming it's not FF-Versus rebranded)

pixelsword4306d ago

Even if it came out, it doesn't mean it will be good; SE's been dropping the ball lately.

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 4306d ago
KobeT244307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

This is some pretty serious stuff Kotaku is reporting. Although it makes no sense that after 6 years Square would simply dump the project, I do like the idea of maybe making it into FF XV.

That being said if no appearance is made at Tokyo Gaming Show or any news reported on the title I'm calling it cancelled, and will begin to rant to Nomura, demanding my Kingdom Hearts 3 be started on.

Kingnichendrix4307d ago

Im not sure I believe this, think about it, it sure has a lot of people talking about it now maybe this is a rather subtle plan. But perhaps what I say is just wishful thinking.

iamtehpwn4307d ago

"Square Enix, this source added, has also decided to let Final Fantasy Versus XIII die quietly on the vine and fade away, instead of officially announcing its cancellation. This would likely be due to the fact a public acknowledgement of a Versus' cancellation could impact things like Square Enix's stock prices."

WOW. That's just plain INSULTING and misleading.

Sharingan_no_Kakashi4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

That quote right there is what makes the rumor ridiculous imo. I know SE is pretty stupid (this gen anyway), but surely they cant expect ppl to just forget about the 1 title that looked to rival FF7. This game is one of THE MOST anticipated games this gen and you expect me to believe it'll get "The Last Remnant" treatment? Rumor woulda been believable if not for that.

AND SINCE WHEN DO PEOPLE TAKE KOTAKU SERIOUSLY?

Frankfurt4307d ago

Stock holders follow NEWS, they don't sit at home thinking "oh, i wonder how that game from 6 years ago is going and how that affects my shares".

At most a stock holder may ask them about it in a live chat between the president and holders. Stock holders are not fanboys.

MiloGarret4307d ago

@Frankfurt: I am surprised to see someone with an iq above 50 here. Beware, reading the comments on n4g news stories may lower it.

Disccordia4306d ago

legally I think companies on the stock exchange need to announce stuff like this

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4306d ago
Irishguy954307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

If this is true, I will write "Square-enix" on my toilet paper for the next few weeks/

In what way do S-E see this as a correct move? When Versus has almost always had more love than FFXIII and been anticipated more. I mean really from a financial point of view(S-E#s only point of view). Why the hell are they wasting away on FFXiii sequels trying to fix that mess instead of trying with a new game completely?

I just hope they have at least the decency to tell us if this is true. Also, I wouldn't mind if it gets renamed 15/

+ it's just illogical, the amount of work already done of the game is too much to just throw away, it's been in 'full' development for over a year now, let alone the other 6 years. Remember the last trailer we got was from January last year. http://www.youtube.com/watc...
1.5 years more work on this build just cancelled? Too unbelievable

iamtehpwn4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

Actually, now that I think about it more logically, if Versus was cancelled, why would Square Enix have just released a DLC for Theathrym Final Fantasy, for Somnus, a song from Versus XIII?

Anyway, I hope that everyone will work to keep this news story relevant so that Square enix will comment and not try to dodge it.

Kenshin_BATT0USAI4307d ago

This. The game isn't cancelled fellas, it's either being renamed, rebranded, or it's just suffering from development hell.

Dakidog4307d ago

Exactly what i was going to say, glad i read the comments. No way they can kill it if they're keeping it relevant in new titles.

Blacksand14307d ago

Like i said it coming on PS4

Morrigan-Aensland4307d ago

The best platform for ff vs 13 now is the ps vita. It would be awesome if they would put it on the ps vita.

::Teleports::

Irishguy954307d ago

Slaps just before teleport

~ via time travel ~

StraightPath4307d ago

Should be coming out multiplatform so they can make more money.

Irishguy954307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

It's possible 'Versus Xiii' is being cancelled/

And renamed as FF15 so S-E can say

"Hey S-E I thought this was exclusive to ps3?"

"hurr, no it isn't, FF versus got cancelled, FF15 was Multiplatform as soon as we brought our plan to fruition"

DragonKnight4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

@StraightPath: Except that the highest selling/grossing FF games have all been a console exclusive. FFXIII sold worse globally as a multiplatform title than any previous title did as an exclusive game.

@Irishguy95: I can totally see Wada coming up with such a tacky plan.

slaton244307d ago

why so they can take more stuff away from it like they did on FF13 so the 360 can handle it....being 1 disc ps3 3 or more on 360

ritsuka6664307d ago

Kotaku rumor. I'm inclined to say BS people!!!

Organization XII4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

いいえ。。。Kotaku's rumors usually do materialize eventually. In this case, I hope not. But what do you expect after six years of no concrete info? Yes, Noctis is doomed.

BanditGamer4307d ago

Well that's sucks! What's marin77/ken77/kar going to use to fluff upcoming ps3 exclusive lists he keeps sending me and other xbox 360 owners I assume?

_Aarix_4307d ago

@BanditGamer

I'd like to know the a**holes who disagreed with you because ITS TRUE, I get freaking spam from sony cheerleaders and people don't believe sony fanboys are the worst? Oh Im sorry, I forgot this is n4ps3, my bad people, i forgot.

xflo3604307d ago

its almost defo ff15 now. I mean think about it for a second is itgonna sell more as a spin off to ff13 or as a new title in the series ie ff15?! exactly!

Ranma14307d ago

Square ANUS does it again, never fails to disappoint !!!

they suck so bad this gen !

brish4307d ago

This reminds me of a conversation I had a few months ago!

Ranma1

I WONT buy a game that will give SE an incentive to make more mediocre games like it

Brish

You do realize that if Square goes bankrupt they won't be making ANY games right?

I'm not suggesting anyone buy a game they don't want but Square is also making a game called Versus. Do you want that game?

If you do it would make sense for you to want Square to succeed in the game market so they can finish Versus.

If everyone stopped buying games from Square until Versus is released they would go bankrupt before Versus is finished.

http://n4g.com/news/924582/...

Jazz41084307d ago

I could care less about vs just don't screw up publishing dishonored.

DigitalAnalog4307d ago

Dishonored is being published by Bethesda.

MiloGarret4307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

Also, Dishonored is going to suck balls. Just saying.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4307d ago
gintoki7774307d ago

We will see at Tokyo Game show if this is for real. Because if Versus is not there I think its safe to say it is over.

4307d ago
Nimblest-Assassin4307d ago

square enix: You were hoping to enjoy this game? Can't let you do that starfox

sorry, it was too perfect

user54670074307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

Wouldn't it make more sense to just make FF15 out of FF13 Versus...

Surley a name change and shuffling a few things around with the FF13 mythology thats in Versus would be better and even cheaper then canceling a project they've put so much money into.

Final Fantasy Versus becoming FF15 would be better then just cancling this all together.

The thing which makes me think it's true is that fact that they said they arn't commenting on rumors...well if it wasn't true, such a big thing like this, they would confirm or deny it straight away

xtheownerzx4307d ago

SE can suck it. This was the only final fantasy title that i was highly anticipating for the PS3 and if this comes to fruition then I am seriously done with all SE proverbial PR BS. I really hope this isnt true and if it ism this most certainly confirms the downfall of SE.

The_Devil_Hunter4307d ago

So Suare basically just said, Devil Hunter, we know you have been waiting for this game since you where in eight grade and you have been exciting for this but the truth is we dont care. v Really though, This was the only game I was looking forward to since the beginning of this gen. I dont like to curse but this is fucking unbelievable, and plain ridiculous. Square is no more. Whats next Kindom Hearst III is forgotten as well?

Bobby Kotex4307d ago

I got a PS3 in 2010 and was really looking forward to FFXIII. At chapter 9 and 20+ hours in, I realized I was being trolled. I just quit the game and quit Square Enix.

Lovable4307d ago

Just about time to announce this. It's a shame, but we gotta accept it one way or another...Might as well deal with this now than hope for nothing...sigh

iWishTifaWasReal4307d ago

This is the only effing reason why a bought a PS3.

and remind me again DID ANYONE ASK FOR A FFXIII sequels?

OmegaSlayer4307d ago

Funniest thing ever is that some blockhead from SE said this gen lasted way too long, but they released only 3 games: the last odissey and the 2 FFXIII.
Wii is not "this gen" technically

Disccordia4306d ago

I guess you meant last remnant but yes you're right. Three console games is a bad return. I think their Tokyo studios are being totally mismanaged..

the bastards4307d ago

Watch, when ms buys it's version of the game, the game will have a confirmed release date shortly after.

zeddy4307d ago

i bet you its not dead, they wouldnt waste any work they've already done. they'll just turn it into the next ff, which will be multiplat $$$. dont think i'll buy another ff game until they sort things out.

showtimefolks4307d ago

Its SE so something like this is expcted they are so dumb that they don't even release games their fans want yet keep making sequels for ff series that are not up to FF standard set last gen

KH HD collection would do so well sales wise but why make it since we are too dumb to understand

FF7 remake

sequels to dues ex

SE wake up

+ Show (24) more repliesLast reply 4306d ago
Nitrowolf24307d ago (Edited 4307d ago )

SE is completely dead to me if true.

Thanks for FF13, 13-2, and 13-3 SE, no really thanks -_-

I know it's been 6 years, but f SE. They should have just came out and told us now they'll have another FF7 on their hands with people holding onto this forever and still thinking it'll come out someday.

ArchangelMike4307d ago

I'm willing ot bet that FFvsXIII is now the much rumoured FFXV o.0

WeskerChildReborned4307d ago

Let's hope all this is just a rumor and not confirmed to be true.

Show all comments (195)
370°

Square Enix Declares $140m Loss Amid Game Pipeline Shakeup

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth publisher Square Enix has declared a $140m loss based on a shakeup of its internal development pipeline.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
Furesis5d ago

What are they doing over there? Sounds like they canceled something big. I read a rumor a while back about ff9 remake . Here "Final Fantasy IX has gone through a very challenging development, the game is still in progress but may undergo changes drastic enough that we won't hear about it for a couple of years."
This could be one of the reasons if the rumor is true. That was Silknight i don't know how credible he is but it's something and it would make sense.

-Foxtrot5d ago

I hope IX is still on the cards

Just a straight up remake which they expand a little bit nothing over ambitious

If IX dosent happen then VI and VIII will never be thought of.

Kakashi Hatake4d ago

6 and 8 were way more p popular games despite today's cult following of 9.

blackbeld4d ago

I want my FF8 remake! Can't believe they cancelled it.

TiredGamer5d ago

What are they doing? Sales are falling and the costs are out of control. Big releases need to be absolute sales home runs now, and Final Fantasy sales have stagnated.

Now we know why Square didn’t fall over themselves to remake the original FF7 all these years ago. It certainly wasn’t a license to print money, at least not with what the expectations were. Each of these full on remakes drains an enormous amount of company resources for a razor thin profit margin.

TwoPicklesGood5d ago

Breaking the game up into multiple parts was a mistake IMO.

blackblades5d ago

The loses came from cancelling games nothing else.

Tapani4d ago

They lost the magic in the remakes. And the story is incomplete. The original FF7 is still way better. The Remake / Rebirth are just fan service. Like an Anime/Manga with "optional" filler content. FF7 had pretty much zero filler, it was paced extremely well, and still today flows much better than the grindy story and spongey enemy battles in the remakes.

babadivad4d ago

If they released it at once on all platforms, they would have made all of their money back. Could have been on to an FF8 or 9 remake. Ready to cash in again on nostalgia like Capcom. This is their fault for trying to milk the title.

Once I head they were breaking it up into parts, I lost all interest.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4d ago
neutralgamer19924d ago

I hope people understand usually when a loss is declared it means a game which had been in development got cancelled. For example Sony Santa Monica before GOW-PS4 had cancelled a project which Sony had spent 7 figures on

As far as square is concerned they release a bad game once a year. Forspoken anyone?

For those making comments on remake not selling well, I hope y’all realize that Sony is the only reason this remake is happening. If Sony didn’t fund it the remake wouldn’t be happening. Just like Konami didn’t want to remake SH2 because development costs of 100 plus million

shadowT5d ago

Do not miss Final Fantasy 16. Great game!

raWfodog5d ago

I'm waiting for them to release the complete edition bundle, but it's definitely on my list.

PhillyDonJawn5d ago

Wth is going on with the gaming industry?

mandf5d ago

Corporate investors taking everything

TiredGamer5d ago

Not rocket science. Compare sales numbers, development cycles, and budgets to the previous gens. We are all collectively burning up the industry from the inside out. Expectations are ludicrously high now for every release and sales are dropping for even the most prestigious of series.

We used to be satisfied paying $50-60 for a game that took 1/100th the budget and staff to make. Now gamers feel cheated if they have to pay the same for a game that took 100x the budget. We may be reaching the end of the line for this model of gaming.

wiz71915d ago

@tiredgamer I think your point is one that ppl don’t understand and you hit it on the nose .. some gamers don’t want to take accountability but it’s some of the gamers fault the industry is where it’s at .. we as gamers set the standards for the industry not the shareholders , ppl forget that the shareholders and the industry want and need OUR Money. Both the Xbox and PlayStation are seeing a drop in hardware , the industry is very stagnant right now.

Tacoboto5d ago

Speaking to Square:

Turns out their mismanagement wasn't related to the western studios they dumped to Embracer, but their own fault.

With regards to Xbox - a good way to kill your brand is to pull support on high quality titles and only dump B and C-tier titles to it

With regards to PC - Epic Games Story exclusivity for any duration and piss-poor optimization will hurt you.

With regards to FF Pixel Remasters - y'all messed up by barely releasing them on physical, like wtf that was free money!

And lastly, you don't help a franchise by releasing a mainline title that undermines every title that came before it. FFXVI was a DMC-like with bottom-of-the-barrel side quests and I can't imagine that helping Rebirth at all considering its marketing is directly tied to how big that game is.

Tacoboto5d ago

Sony is getting their best titles and with the most polish, so what about it? Nintendo gets their top properties too, for titles that can run on Switch hardware.

It's the other fanbases that get the second- and third-class treatment from Square. If that's due to agreements with Sony, that's not a Sony issue but a Square one for accepting those terms. Sony is doing its best to look out for Sony.

wesnytsfs4d ago

sales and stupid practices like exclusives.

TiredGamer5d ago

The industry implosion is continuing. Sky high budgets, prolonged development windows, stagnant sales numbers, and falling currency values (inflation) are wreaking havoc on the legacy industry. AAA games will slowly become the rarity.

CS75d ago

Sad. Rebirth was one of my favorite games in a long time. Should have sold more.

CrimsonWing695d ago

Oh I’m with you. What’s worse is they can say, “Well we tried to make this amazing game and spend all this money on, but not enough people showed an interest. So no more of these since we can’t take a hit like that.”

The industry is going to take a dramatic shift. Mark my words on this.

rpvenom5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I think there is quite a large portion of individuals like myself who held out on buying it on PS5 because I can get it on PC eventually. To be able to mod the game and also have custom graphical settings to my liking

gold_drake4d ago

same

but im not sure if it matters at all. im sure they made sony pay a hefty sum for the 3parter to come on ps5 exclusively. so watever they made in sales, might have come bk in profits for square, but i dont know
and we dont know what "underperformed" even means for square.

Show all comments (43)
130°

Square & Bandai Namco Being Honest About Quality Is A Step In The Right Direction

Saad from eXputer: "After suffering from massive financial hits, Square Enix & Bandai Namco appear to be turning over a new leaf but I'm still unconvinced."

Nerdmaster6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

I was talking about games with some Japanese guys here in Japan, and it seems like around here Bandai Namco has a fame of making low-quality games, with the occasional gem.

About Square Enix, I believe they lack the capacity to improve. They should learn with Capcom (although even Capcom still makes some bad mistakes), but I don't think they ever will. They keep chasing whatever is new at the time (blockchain, AI...) to say "we innovate", without considering the public perception and if these things actually improve the games or not. Them releasing too many small games with no advertising also shows a lack of trust in its own products. Even with their biggest games, like turning FF into an action game with XVI and the very divisive plot changes regarding whispers and timelines in VII Remake, shows them trying to attract a new generation of gamers without understanding what made the series so big in the first place.

shinoff21836d ago

I want a true ff7 remake. With thatcsaid I'm way happier with 7 remake then I was with ff16. I'd still prefer turn based but square keep chasing these Lil kids

Snookies125d ago

Man, it is perfectly fine to prefer turn based. Turn based is amazing. But there's zero reason to call anyone who likes action games "lil kids". Liking one gameplay system over another does not make you more mature in any way.

VersusDMC5d ago

People love the new FF's overall...the problem is the abundance of 7's they release that lose money or make very little like diofield, star ocean divine force, Valkyrie asylum, harvestella, foam stars, etc. Advertising wouldn't have saved those games. Apparently Forespoken had a big Advertising budget but we saw how that went.

shinoff21835d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Star ocean divine force actually sold well from what I've read not ff type numbers but well enough. Was a dope game to.

FinalFantasyFanatic5d ago

Bandai Namco is going to Bandai Namco, I do believe that Square Enix can't change without changing the entire management, they've had these issues for more than a decade and haven't learnt, I have very little faith they can course correct. I'll still buy their better remasters/remakes like Star Ocean 2 though (not FF7R).

Asterphoenix5d ago

Namco is just milking the same Sword Art Online with lack of budget as well as anime IPs that don't go to decent developers like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. Namco deserves their losses and no future Dot Hack or Xenosaga remaster :(.

Square allocated lot of their budget on Forspoken was a mistake. Square always had management issues. Star Ocean 2 was a great remake and I found their recent entries of FF(16 and Rebirth) better than 13 and 15.
I think they were better than 360/PS3 generation where Square went really downhill.

CrimsonWing695d ago

I don’t know why NOW they decide on this, but I guess later is better than never.

80°

I’m Glad Atlus & SE Changed Dates To Avoid Competing With Shadow Of The Erdtree

Saad from eXputer: "I'm glad I don't have to choose between Square Enix, Atlus, and FromSoftware due to bad release windows and Shadow of the Erdtree."

H911d ago

More intelligent than guerilla games

raWfodog11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Atlus is releasing their game one week before Erdtree, SE is releasing theirs one week after.

HZD released four days before Zelda, HFW released one week before Elden Ring.

It seems to me like they are still releasing their games too close to Erdtree.

VincentVanBro10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

What a word vomit, rambling, turd of an article that simply states the obvious. Classic exputer.