Square Enix has just told VG247 it has no plans to release the International Version of Final Fantasy XIII for Xbox 360 – that was announced this morning in Japan – to Europe and the US.
A Square spokesperson told us the Japanese re-release was “essentially identical” to the version America and Europe got in March this year for PS3 and Xbox 360, and that there was “no reason” to bring it west.
“This is the International version, essentially identical to the game that has already been released in Europe and the US – so there’s no reason to release this version outside of Japan,” the publisher said.
Defection detected. Again.
Square’s Shinji Hashimoto announced the new version alongside producer Yoshinori Kitase at a Microsoft press conference (via Andriasang) today, after a leak in this week’s Famitsu and an earlier leak in Dengeki magazine.
The game, an international edition known as “Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits Edition”, will release on December 16 in Japan for a budget price of ¥4,980, according to the latest issue of Famitsu.
During the Microsoft conference, Kitase announced it will have an Easy Mode and a book known as “Corridor of Memory”.
He also confirmed that a novel to the game, known as Episode i, will be included, which details events after the game.
It was previously reported that it was a post-completion in-game quest, but Square clarified the situation in a statement.
“There is no new episode content. Early reports may be confused by a pre-order item accompanying first editions of the release called Final Fantasy XIII – Corridor of Memory, a book of original stories set within Final Fantasy XIII,” said a statement sent to VG247 by the publisher.
As with the US-EU version of the game, the new edition will be on three DVDs. It has the English voice-acting from the western version with Japanese subtitles.
Leona Lewis’ My Hands will be the theme again.
This will be the first 360 title in Square’s Ultimate Hits budget line.
Here’s the Japanese TV ad for the deal, featuring a massive X.
Lightning strikes
A Japanese release of FFXIII was hinted at earlier this year, when the game’s Achievements list appeared on Xbox Japan’s website in July.
But Square remained coy on it, with producer Yoshinori Kitase refusing to comment on it at gamescom.
Final Fantasy XIII launched in December of last year for PS3 in Japan, before launching in the west in March this year for PS3 and Xbox 360.
The game shipped 5 million units of the game worldwide, before it was confirmed in May it had sold 5.5 million units.
Square also announced a sequel to Dissidia: Final Fantasy today, named Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy. It’s to release next year and will feature Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII and Kain from Final Fantasy IV.
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