Square Enix: Current Console Generation Has Lasted "Way Too Long"

Square Enix's worldwide technology director has said that the length of the current console generation is "the biggest mistake [Sony and Microsoft] ever made".

[ArchangelMike]

..and still no Final Fantasy Versus XIII? You'd think, with all this time Sqenix would have had enough time to released a sequel. Hell they're now talking about Final Fantasy XIII-3 for goodness sake, and yet no FFvsXIII.

[Gamer1982]

Does anybody else hear the irony in this statement? How can it be too long if its taking them almost the entire generation to make a game?

[exsturminator01]

See my below comment, but they're not releasing Versus 13 this gen, and THAT'S why he's angry its taking so long for them to release the next generation consoles. When XIII flopped (relative to past experience), they said, "okay, its too hard to develop on the 360 and PS3, and the graphics aren't perfect anyway. Let's wait a year or two and develop Versus on next-gen! It'll be easier and better than what we could do now anyway!" A year or two later, "huh...wonder what's taking them so long...well, we need money, so let's do a sequel of XIII. Some people liked it, and Versus 13 can wait a year or two more. Next gen must be just around the corner after all." A year or two later, "come on Microsoft/Sony! We're dying here! Alright, XIII-3, but we REALLY need that new hardware soon guys!" This article is kind of them being whiny about the whole situation. "We were forced to develop for iOS and browsers because you guys (MS/Sony) took too long! We might not even come back, jerks! yeah, you heard us, we'll just stick with phone games! How do you like that!"

I'm paraphrasing all of this, but it's the impression I got.

[MRMagoo123]

@exstur

I really think you are on to something there i agree

[exsturminator01]

Lol, that was my first thought too. So much time and so little accomplished.

This feels like both a subtle admission that SE knows they failed this gen and an affirmation that they fully intend to keep failing next. He talks about how "some developers" do badly one gen, then wait around for the next to start fresh. Since that next gen never showed up, "some developers" went looking elsewhere and helped develop iOS and web games, and now don't want to go back to consoles, presumably (imagine in a petulant voice) because they're hard. Hmmm, I wonder who "some developers" are?

He then goes on to discuss how important next gen technology is for (wait for it...) graphics! They're pushing the limits of the uncanny valley, but there aren't good enough physics! There isn't good enough facial animation to really make any good games! Oh woe is us, our games are failing because we haven't broken through the uncanny valley and need better graphics!

*Sigh* Fellow gamers, we aren't going to see VS13 on this generation of consoles. SE blames this gen for the failings of their current endeavors and are crossing their fingers the next gen arrives soon so they can start fresh with a hyped up title. They are going to announce and release FFXIII-3 in the hopes it'll keep them afloat financially a year or two more while they wait for the next generation consoles to arrive and presumably rescue them. VS13 will be a launch title on the next gen consoles in 2013/2014, but they'll be disappointed again when player complain about the story and reduced gameplay variety (a result of course of the sacrifices required of a team working with new technology); naturally their response will be to clam up once again, release sequels, and work harder towards rendering character hair as realistically as possible.

Cross your fingers I'm wrong, but the guy in the article implies I'm not.

[ArchangelMike]

Bubbles up for you my man. I feel you nailed it spot on.

If squenix don't release FFvsXIII this gen, and exclusive for PS3 (but then again I'm not delusional) then I'm never buying another FF game.

How can a company consistently Fail so badly?

[Skateboard]

Square shut the F up we have bills to pay and your shitty games to buy.

[Godmars290]

...And you've done F*** all with it. Besides lose the respect of many a gamer.

[Gamer1982]

They backed 360 though that was there first mistake as most jrpg gamers went to ps3 at first.

[Irishguy95]

You really can't say **** S-E, YOU took to long. And you were ****

[Yangus]

LoL...and where is Final Fantasy Versus XIII Square?6 years not too long?

[SandWitch]

I would better not say what really took way too long >:(

[Alos88]

After the vaporware that is Versus you don't get to talk about things taking too long Square.

[Chrono]

Square should just make their own console, FF7 remake as a launch title.

[5119ent]

Thats about how long it takes them to make one game.....they are a awful company

[Troll-without-Bridge]

No one reads articles on N4G. Its just a place to complain and moan.

But good article though, im glad he brought up the ipad and iphone as competition seen how its a reality that could have been avoided.

But who cares right? Its all about crying for Versus XIII.

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

Oh my gosh. A sensible person who actually reads the article and doesn't go straight to bashing the company as a whole and Versus 13 when it has nothing to do with what he said.

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

This is third article on the same damn thing. People are gonna start bashing Square as a whole when one person in the company said it. And he said it's lasting too long because the consoles are hard to develope for and new people trying to get into the industry see that they'll have more oppurtunities on things like iOS. He said the console cycle lasting this long is letting more platforms get into the mix and that means bad business for companies like Sony and Microsoft. It actually makes sense. But most of you will probably never read what he said in full context.

[theWB27]

That's kind of contradictory...if developers were tired of this generation why would they make a game on even lesser hardware? Why not make a PC game in the meantime? Most of those who went to IOS were going to do so anyway. Like the rest of the other posters...they dropped the ball this gen with all this time to make it right but they still want shorter cycles. They all kinds of messed up there.

[Rock_On_PS4]

FFXIII was a really boring repetitive game with annoying, whiny emo characters and a cheesy plot.
They made a sequel to FFXIII, FFXIII-2 that created more problems than it fixed in FFXIII.

[xXKingofStingXx]

So says the company that's been hyping up a game since the beginning of this generation.

I understand what they are trying to say, but really how long should it have been? 3 years? 5?

Economic times are rough that's why some developers opt out of making games for the PS3/360 and go the less expensive route cause they want to maximize profits.

Well just the same i'd like to maximize my time with my consoles before shelling out another 300-500 bucks. So if they want to hang around longer; great news for gamers and their wallets.

[iliimaster]

says the company that hasn't been relevant since Final Fantasy 10 Lost Odyssey is and will be 10 times better than anything they come up with i can see in the next coming up years Final fantasy will be a shooter with a call of duty feel

[dkp23]

How bout focus on putting out a decent game instead of worrying about the console generation.

Also, stop milking Final Fantasy 13, the game sucked.

[Kratoscar2008]

SE should shut up and think how they can correct the FF franchise because if fails then SE should stay as a publisher because as a developer has been sucking BIG TIME.

[Rai]

this coming from a company that taking a whole console generation to make a game....someone should of told him that.

[Tres21]

so my guess is they never planned 2 do a kingdom hearts this gen then? they got more time than expected & nothing this must be the side quest gen for them.lol

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

THEN PRODUCE SQUARE GIVE ME VERSUS, AND XIII-3 AND BE DONE WITH GEN CAUSE OBVIOUSLY KH3 ISNT COMING THIS GEN. I wanna see versus in 2013 and I want a proper end to the XIIIseries lightning and co.

[TheLyonKing]

And your game development has lasted way to long, versus = start of the generation and it still isn't finished so by your own statement you have stated that versus has been on too long since this gen has dragged on.

Well there has been some news on versus Square says it is taking too long :D

[Emilio_Estevez]

I would like it to last longer. It's not like the games look crappy, sure they could look better, but aesthetics don't matter to me. Hell, Minecraft is one of my favorite games and it doesn't look good at all. It just has to be fun. Which is why the Wii won in sales this gen.

[JoNaZ_RG]

I would say current gen consoles had been able to keep up with technology challenges. Developers are still able to surprise us....Look at Battlefield 3.

[CouldHaveYelledUiiW]

Personally,
I don't need new hardware all of the time. I just played SS and I want Xenoblade and Last Story (Plus, the other Wii games I never bought).

---Then I will work my way up the PS3 titles I never played, once the PS4 is released. Probably only Heavy Rain and Beyond.

A good game is not necessarily tied to the Power of a console.