Wada: “Difficult to determine” where Final Fantasy should “go”, some fans “not very happy” with FFXIII

By Johnny Cullen

Yoichi Wada has told Gamasutra it would be “difficult to determine” where the Final Fantasy series should go following the release of FFXIII back in March.

The Square Enix president said it was difficult to tell if the series should become “a new type of game” or not.

“I think this is a product that was able to meet the expectations for those who know Final Fantasy,” said Wada. “There are all kinds of games around in the market today. Should Final Fantasy become a new type of the game or should Final Fantasy not become a new type of game?

“The customers have different opinions. It’s very difficult to determine which way it should go.”

Wada had said previously that FFXIII would probably signify the end of “this type of game” being developed at Square Enix.

Square fanboys in FFXIII rage shocker

During the Gama interview, Wada also touched on Final Fantasy XIII itself, saying he was pleased with how the game did in terms of sales – it shipped 5 million units worldwide and sold 5-and-a-half million units since launch – but felt some fans were “not very happy” with how it had turned out.

“Looking at the numbers alone,” he said, “it is pretty good, because we were able to release the latest Final Fantasy in all three markets of Japan, United States, and Europe in a very short period of time, and we were able to reach 5 million units rapidly — and I think this product will grow further.”

“But when it comes to the customers’ reaction to the quality of the game”, he added, “some value it highly and some are not very happy with it.”

Oh dear.

The next numbered installment in the Final Fantasy series, MMO XIV, releases in September for PC, with a March 2011 release on PS3.

As for a 360 release, never.