Why do numbered Final Fantasy games take so long to develop? Square explains

Square has defended its decision to release multiple direct sequels to Final Fantasy XIII and explained why recent numbered titles have taken so long to develop, stating that it's "a lot easier" and less time-consuming to release follow-on titles than "create a new world".

[Scatpants]

It takes Square quite a while to find new and exciting ways to make a game suck. With Final Fantasy 13 it was super linear levels and a battle system that plays for you. With 15 it looks like it will be scrapping the battle system all together in exchange for some kind of action RPG hack n slash garbage.

[kingdom18]

Its combat system looks similar to that of Kingdom Hearts, and its being directed by its creator so it would make sense. But that aside when we've seen only a little gameplay for a game that's been in development for 8 years how can you call it garbage yet? Granted, I would like it for their next game to be a turned based. I mean what happened to good old turn based games like FFX or DQVIII. The newest turn based game I can remember was Lost Odyssey for the 360, it was tough, but it was a great game. Okay we've had some very niche turned based on the PS3, but they weren't what I had in mind. It seems every one would prefer to make a turn based RPG on handhelds now a days. Let's see how Persona 5 does on the consoles, I'd imagine it would do wonderfully. I remember a magazine in Japan did a surgery on what people would like the next Dragon Quest to be on, and the majority voted PS4, oh! I get just excited thinking about! Can you imagine who good a DQ game would look and be on a PS4?

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Yea exactly so expect FFXV-2 possibly a FFXV-3 for the PS4/X1 cycle. Cranked out every couple years. I dont mind as long as the games are good.

[kingdom18]

I agree if they are good. Although, what happened to making one very long great game, and then going to the next number in the sequence? I mean FFX, FFXII, FFIX, ect. ect.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Like they said in the article gotta make new characters, new world, new story. I guess it's just rlly time consuming now. It would be easier to just take what they have established and build upon it. Thats how they cranked out the XIII series every 2 years.

It took em this long to crank out FFXV which was just a spin off at first. FFXVI god knows when we will see that.

[colonel179]

From the comments of videogamer:

"The last new numbered KH game was 2005. No company should take ten years to make a sequel."

I think that neither should take 1 year. It's nice when a sequel take between 2-5 years, because it gives a chance to enjoy it, want more, ask for more and then get it. It also gives developers a chance to make a really polished game and to think about the game for a while. (Obvioulsy not counting development hells like Duke Nukem and FFXV).

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

KH3 has started development recently. It's not like they started making KH3 back in 06. The KH team has been working on FFXV for the last 8 years. That's the reason why we haven't seen KH on consoles yet. If SE had stopped making FF13 sequels and instead put focus on getting FF15 out we would have had KH3 a long time ago.

I agree that 2-5 years is the best amount of wait time between sequels.

[Nate-Dog]

Plus they seem to forget the release of Kingdom Hearts games like Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance, as if they never existed.

[Eonjay]

Is it unreasonable to expect Final Fantasy 15 to take 15 years to create?

[Summons75]

Because they're good. They all generally have decent to excellent gameplay, amazing soundtracks, well developed stories (90% of the time), and fun worlds plus they don't look bad either.

Great games that deliver quality always take 3 or more years. Notice how COD always lacks any form of quality while all numbered FF have some sort of redeeming qualities dispute what haters says. Same with Nintendo games, same with Select Sony and MS games.

[gamejediben]

It wasn't always like this...

US Release dates:
Final Fantasy 1990
Final Fantasy IV (II) 1991
2 year gap
Final Fantasy VI (III) 1994
3 year gap
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Final Fantasy VIII 1998
2 year gap
Final Fantasy IX 2000
Final Fantasy X 2001
2 year gap
Final Fantasy XI 2003
3 year gap
Final Fantasy XII 2006
4 year gap
Final Fantasy XIII 2010

I won't even list XIV... The gap keeps getting bigger and the series keeps getting more mediocre...

Meanwhile Namco, From Software and Level 5 are pumping out better RPGs that are making huge waves in the industry. I'll always have FFVI and Chrono Trigger but Square-Enix just isn't top dog anymore...

[arbitor365]

they get sidetracked with all these mediocre sidegames and stuff people dont want. is there any reason FFXIII needed two sequels? was there really that much more to the universe that needed to be explored?

[moonshine81]

Go back to turn-based or create two styles, turn-based and action. If they want my money, they need to do so. The latter option would please everyone but would be more costly.

[belac09]

im loving lightning returns, 13-2 was pretty good too, i kind of like 13, but im really excited for FF 10/10-2 HD. and Bravely Default is the best FF game in a while.

[strigoi814]

coz SE dont know how to count properly

[Luke_fon_Fabre]

I'm fine with SE doing sequels in between, but would it kill them to only make straightforward sequels with good story?