620°

Final Fantasy Versus XIII’s Cancellation Proves Square Enix Isn't Capable of Making Good Decisions

Back in 2006, I wasn’t a videogame journalist yet. At that point, the PS3 wasn’t even out yet, and when it did come out, it was far too expensive for me to consider buying one. I mean, I was just a broke college student.

But one day, I casually walked into a GameStop and saw the trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Yes, this was the trailer that had debuted at 2006’s E3.

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geekparty.com
Kamikaze1354728d ago

You know....I feel that Versus XIII DID get canceled and it's being developed as FFXV. It's too high budget of a project to just flat out cancel and it's been so anticipated through the years. It probably won't get that mature rating it was supposed to get due to becoming a mainstream FF game.

Another thing to note is that Versus XIII was supposedly going to include a giant world like the older and more traditional FF games....which is something that "FFXV" is rumored to have.

Then there is the part where the rumors mentioned that FFXV started getting worked on shortly after XIII released.....which was around the time that SE mentioned Versus XIII development went into full throttle.

With that said, I'm sure that FFXV aka Versus XIII will be announced later this year and get released next year since they supposedly want to shorten development cycles.

user54670074728d ago

Thats what I think aswell but the thing is if this is true how does Nomura feel about this

FF13 Versus was his project, the reason he wanted to make it exclusively for the PS3 was so he could focus his time and effort on a machine which could bring his vision to life without limitations, FF13s cut content prooves he probably didn't want the same to happen to verus.

So what will he feel like now that his project...the story he's been building up for 6 years now is going to be made into FF15 which is a Multiplatform game. I mean if FF15 is exclusive to the PS3 then fair enough I bet he would be fine with it, happier even that a FF spin off is now a main title game but if it is MP and then have to cut a ton of stuff out of the game and dumb things down Nomura would be devestated. I wonder if he would leave Square and continue to put up with them...will they force him to make KH3 multiplatform? So many questions

If it is cancelled completely I really want to know how Nomura feels about this.

Irishguy954728d ago (Edited 4728d ago )

I think he will be happy to be honest, Wada would not give him a main series FF, if he is given the title FF15 he has proven himself to them.

Basically, if he gets 15, Wada will have to admit Nomura deserved a chance in the first place.

Wada"i've been trying to salvage this POS ffxiii when I shoulda given Nomura and the team the go ahead to make versus at full speed"

Reibooi4728d ago

I would be willing to bet that if Versus has become XV that Nomura is still in full control of the project and that little will be changed in the transition. Nomura is a very important part of SE as he is easily the only guy in the company who can consistently put out quality games. I doubt the upper management of the company would risk pissing him off in any way. Now I don't know for sure but if I was him I would think he may like to have Versus become XV as it won't have the name association with XIII(which alot of people don't like)

On top of the fact that just becoming XV doesn't prove that it will all of a sudden become multiplatform. SE saw first hand that FFXIII sold a majority of it's copies on PS3 and while the 360 did get some sales they would have to weigh the trade off in quality and keeping Nomura happy against that. SE probably knows they are not very popular right now and getting Versus out as Versus or XV and still being exclusive can be something of a vanity project.(i.e it will like not make as much money but will be a positive mark on their record as far as the fans are concerned)

All that said I am really getting annoyed with all these articles poping up about it being cancelled. It was a RUMOR and until SE confirms or denies it people should treat it as such but since the original rumor broke we have had like 3 articles treating it as if it was fact.

morganfell4728d ago

Amazing how a rumor has now become a matter of fact announcement.

Oh wait, it's people taking another stab at being game journalists.

I am not saying that it isn't cancelled, merely that without a confirmation reporting Kotaku's earlier speculation as fact is irresponsible and a disservice to the game community.

Darrius Cole4728d ago

1. I don't think that FFvs13 could be made multi-plat without a major downgrade in visual quality.

2. Besides if Versus is indeed not cancelled then it should get a release date next year. I think that would be too soon for a numbered FFXV.

That has me leaning toward Versus still carrying it same name...or at least not being call FFXV.

creatchee4728d ago

@MikeCosgrove

BUT if it becomes FFXV, maybe it goes multiplayform on next-gen consoles. At that point, the disparity between 360's and PS3's storage mediums would be null, considering DVD will obviously no longer be a factor.

Disccordia4727d ago

But.. the XV rumour was supposedly directed by the guy who did 9 and 12 and whose name I forget. Nomura relegated once again to character designer.

wishingW3L4727d ago (Edited 4727d ago )

@Darrius Cole visuals are not the problem, to me, it's the content! The game will either be scattered on multiple discs making the experience all disjointed or they will cut tons of stuff to make it on only 1 DVD9. No matter what Square does we lose.

And I think it'll be better if Square starts the development of FFXV on next gen consoles because seeing how slow they are by the time the game comes out this gen will be more than dead.

Darrius Cole4726d ago

@wishingW3L

I was thinking about graphical assets. They could something like Skyrim, on 1 DVD9, but Skyrim doesn't have the graphical diversity of Final Fantasy and the graphical assets that are present don't approach the quality of FFXIII. And FF13 was gutted of content, degraded in quality, and made linear as hell all for the sake of 3 DVD9's.

So, you are correct. Unless they all the way back to PS2 graphics...early PS2 graphics we are screwed if it is multi-plat.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4726d ago
under taker 344728d ago (Edited 4728d ago )

tombraider and deus ex's sequel is probably on SE's mind, those just cause 3, ff13-3 and batman arkham world. too many games for them to start splitting up tasks let alone finishing them.

Whitefeather4728d ago

Rocksteady was bought by WB way before Arkham City. Square Enix has no ties to it anymore.

WeskerChildReborned4728d ago

I know, it had potential so i'm hoping that it was so good that it had to be a numbered sequel thus it maybe being XV.

geddesmond4727d ago

This is just another one of those shitty rumours made up to get everyone talking. There is no way SE would cancel the only final fantasy game fans are excited for. If any FF game got canceled its FF13-3 because hardly anyone wants another crappy title from that crappy world.

If anything, only the name of the game got changed and not canceled. I mean if SE did cancel this game then they might as well just close up their doors for good because no fan will ever like them again especially after dragging fans through 6 years of anticipation for a game that won't see the light of day.

Flewid6384727d ago

It's been confirmed already, dear.

Ranma14727d ago

I dont know a single good console games SE made this gen.

Do you?

turgore4727d ago

Well not made, but they published Deus Ex: HR. Also sleeping dogs seems to be a great game judging by early reviews.

darthawesome904727d 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)

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4726d ago
Kanzes4728d ago

They made FF13-3 instead. lol. way to go to make fans angry, SE

CaitSith4728d ago

How many XIII-(insert iteration here) do you need for you to get angry?

xflo3604727d ago

I think they should just hand over final fantasy franchise to level 5 so a decent developer can make a proper final fantasy with a rich open world.

Cyb3r4728d ago (Edited 4728d ago )

Please no more FF13 spinoffs FF13-2 was more than enough. Square just concentrate on Versus

LiamDirish4728d ago

If FFv13 is cancelled it will have been a huge waste of time and is the result of very bad decisions and bad management. I really don't know what's going on over in SE but they had better sort it out or the Final Fantasy brand is gonna be dead pretty soon.

skyrim4728d ago

The game is still being made it's just ffxv now they literally just changed the name.People are saying all this canceled stuff just for hits I assure you the game is intact just under a new name and release schedule.

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140°

Square Enix is “aware” of Final Fantasy XIV player numbers dropping

Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu discusses the dropping player count of Final Fantasy XIV and the numerous projects of YoshiP.

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videogamer.com
jznrpg2d ago

It’s really old now. All great MMOs decline.

PRIMORDUS2d ago

Also who wants to keep paying a monthly fee every month, there are other options like Guild Wars 2 😁with no monthly fee and while not that many people overall compared to FF XIV, it did increase to about 21 mil now.

Sephiroushin1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

I prefer to pay since i do not like guild wars and it keep kids away, but FF14 decreased on quality since they started to make it "more accessible", tried throne and liberty and while it was okay it has so many issues, same for dune awakening... Its time to start making a new FF MMO

kaewcha7342d ago

Looks like Square Enix is self-aware but still stuck in place, they see the player drop and apologize for the bugs, but nothing really changes. Shame, FFXIV used to be the gold standard

Servbot412d ago

My entire free company has stopped playing. The writing has consistently gotten worse and the content is sparse and lacking; unless you are a hardcore player there's very little for you to do. They are over-catering to the people who will grind three+ times a week on a single fight for multiple months when the playerbase by large doesn't want that sort of content. Square needs to dedicate more resources to the game instead of wasting them on mobile and other live service slop.

Miraak82 1d 19h ago

The biggest factor for me is the way they butchered job design over the years , the casualization and over simplification really hurt a good chunk of enjoyment I used to have . Jobs lost any form of complexity and just became " press glowing button" DDR style for fighting where the gameplay loop is a about the 2 minute burst window . They removed most DoTS, timer mechanics , cast times, pets, RNG ect and all around homogenized everything . When you try and can cater to everyone ... you cater to no one .

170°

It Shouldn't Take Expedition 33's Success to Remind Square Enix That Turn-Based Still Sells

TNS: Expedition 33 was the wake-up call Square Enix needed, telling it turn-based RPGs are still popular, but that shouldn't have been the case.

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thenerdstash.com
Relientk774d ago

True, but if it does get it through their thick skulls, then that works.

Although, the Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD remakes will be turn-based and (the worst kept secret) Final Fantasy IX remake should be turn-based I would imagine. Let's see if any newer games go turn-based too.

thorstein4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

DQIII HD Remake was turned based and very successful. Then there was a really obscure turn based game came Balder's Gate 3. I heard it might have done well.

Profchaos4d ago

I wouldn't be shocked if they switched ff to the vii remake combat system

PapaBop4d ago

It won't get through to them though, despite E33's success, they still won't risk going fully turn based for their big budget projects simply because they are still in the mindset that it needs to be action combat to appeal to the mainstream audience. I hope I'm wrong but don't underestimate just how stubborn Japanese execs can be

barom3d ago

Ya'll are hyping up Expedition 33 too much. Reminder that FF XVI sold 3 million in a week and it took Expedition 33 approximately a month to get to that (33 days to reach 3.3 million).

barom3d ago

1 platform vs 3 platforms
1 week vs 1 month

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DivineHand1254d ago

While it is true that Sqaure Enix has moved away from turn based games compared to how they were in the past, there is a good reason for it.

Older gamers will know this but during the ps2 era, we were flooded with turned based games from Japanese studios and this created a form of fatigue back then going into the next generation.

When Square released FF13, they received heavy criticism for making the game turned based like every other FF game and not doing enough to innovate. This is why they made FF15, FF7 Remake and FF16 have real time combat. It gave the series a fresh spin and has brought in new fans to the series.

I personally would be happy with either turned based FF or the real-time combat version we see today.

Shane Kim4d ago

Remake and Rebirth have "turn based" if you set it in the settings.

Lexreborn24d ago

Dang wish I saw your post before I made mine because we definitely feel the same way lol

Profchaos4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Yeah hit the nail on the head but its like ww2 games we get hundreds of them then a decade of nothing and people start missing them i think we're going to start seeing them return

Claire, dragon quest even yakuza have seen turn based return

Runechaz3d ago

Every Pokémon game is also a Turn Base RPG.. and selling millions

andy854d ago

Only need to look at their own game DQ 11 approaching 10 million to show there's a market. And that's not as big of a name as FF

Runechaz3d ago

you can also look at the Pokemon game number

Tacoboto4d ago

Another article about Expedition 33 and Square Enix and turn-based games? This is starting to sound like propaganda.

The game didn't sell because it's a turn-based game; it sold and is enjoyed because it's a really freaking good game that released completed at a good price without gamer drama attached to it. No Mtx, no wait-until-it's-patched, minimal bloat, a self-contained story, no multiplatform BS. Just a solid original game that absolutely nails what it intended to do.

Redemption-644d ago

I was just about to say the same thing.

anast4d ago

This comment should have a 100 upvotes, at least.

CrimsonWing694d ago

Maybe try actually listening to the fans who have supported the series for decades. This habit of ignoring your core audience just to chase people who were never interested in Final Fantasy in the first place makes no sense. And when that approach fails, doubling down on it is beyond baffling.

The battle system has never been the main reason non-FF or non-JRPG players stayed away. Gutting the series’ identity to chase a broader market doesn’t attract new players. It just alienates the loyal ones.

Keep going down this road and we’ll end up with Final Fantasy Fortnite abomination or a F2P Battle Royale game.. Oh wait…

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110°

FF14 lead apologises as the “quality of service has declined recently” as they fell into complacency

YoshiP, the director and producer of Final Fantasy 14, has apologised for the state of the game at the time of writing.

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videogamer.com
CrimsonWing696d ago

Do you not see this happening during development? Like, why are we apologizing after the fact instead of stopping it during development?

Stopac6d ago

Criticism and reflection occur after the fact. The apology acknowledges the past criticisms with the new expansion and they're keeping transparency with players about it. Now that they've acknowledged it - it will be interesting to see what kind of cycle we'll get with a new expansion and I wonder if they're planning something special with beast master since they didn't mention it in the last live letter.

anast6d ago

It's all good, as long as the price of the product decreases.

Stopac6d ago

The base game and expansion go on sale all the time and doesn't stay full price for very long since a new expansion is on the horizon.

If you're stating they should reduce the price of new expansions or the sub fee, no, that's not gonna happen lmao people aren't even complaining about that. They are criticizing the same old pattern of content that releases and how it is devolving into mediocracy.

anast6d ago

"They are criticizing the same old pattern of content that releases and how it is devolving into mediocracy."

The product should be cheaper then.

PapaBop6d ago

I was unhappy with DT and have spent far less time in it than any other expansion but it's things like this that makes me respect Yoshi P. It's rare for such a high profile developer to be so candid in his assessment on a live game.

Stopac6d ago

Same, i've found my self resubbing every two patches instead of keeping it up. Don't own a home in the game so there's no point in keeping a constant sub going. The post story is getting interesting though.