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Final Fantasy 13-2 heading to Steam in December
Square Enix is following up on the recent Steam launch of Final Fantasy 13 with a PC version of its direct sequel Final Fantasy 13-2 next month. Square Enix previously revealed that all three formerly console-exclusive entries in Final Fantasy's Lightning Saga (Final Fantasy 13, 13-2, and Lightning Returns) would see a PC release via Steam. Final Fantasy 13 premiered for Valve's digital distribution service in October, offering a 60 frames-per-second presentation and platform-exclusive bonuses like Steam Trading Cards. Final Fantasy 13-2 is up for pre-order on Steam at a 10 percent discount ahead of its scheduled launch on December 11. A PC release date for Lightning Returns is not yet known. [Video: Square Enix]
Final Fantasy 13 trilogy heading to PC starting next month
PC versions of the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy were confirmed by Square Enix today, with the first game due to launch on October 9. Hints that the series was destined for PC surfaced earlier this week when Steam logos were spotted on Square Enix's official site for the games. Final Fantasy 13 will cost $16, and will be available through Square Enix's online store and Steam. Prices for the other two games in the series have not been announced. Those pre-ordering the game through Steam will receive a 10 percent discount ($14.39). Steam users will also have access to a set of unlockable Steam Trading Cards. The trilogy began in 2010 with Final Fantasy 13 followed by its sequels, Final Fantasy 13-2 in 2012 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 in February. Square Enix said it shipped over 11 million copies of the games in the trilogy worldwide to date. [Image: Square Enix]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 trailers X 2
It's a scientific improbability, but these Final Fantasy XIII-2 clips feature more melodrama than should be containable in a piece of Square Enix media -- barring any Kingdom Hearts climax monologue, of course.
Square Enix announces Final Fantasy XIII-2 DLC
DLC is the new black, you know? During the recently concluded Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase announced a fair amount of DLC for this winter's sequel to a sequel: Final Fantasy XIII-2. Now, DLC is par for the course for a lot of western RPGs, thanks in no small part to the Dragon Ages and Mass Effects of the world, but it's virgin territory for the everlasting, oxymoronic Final Fantasy series, spinoffs not withstanding. Nothing specific was revealed, but Kitase did mention weapons, monsters and costumes as being on tap. We hope Square Enix goes whole hog; we'd pay 1200 MS Points for a blinged out Historia Crux.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 preview: Paradigm shift
So let's be honest here: Even if you liked Final Fantasy XIII (and I did), odds are that you still thought the game had some issues. The battle system, while nice and complex, did take a while to really get rolling, and put a few levels of control between you and your characters. The world was very linear, making for a long chain of fights rather than any real exploration. And dead mother or not, (again, we're being brutally honest here) Hope was a whiner of the highest order. The last time we had a sequel to a numbered Final Fantasy game, Square was coming off of Final Fantasy X, and they took the opportunity, with X-2, to go a little goofy with fan service ("Dresspheres"? Really?). There will be some of that in XIII-2, but the stakes are higher this time. The game represents two opportunities: the chance to re-introduce players to what XIII did right, and to smooth out some of the problems players had. According to a little hands-on time we had with the game last week, Square Enix is taking full advantage of that first opportunity, and only grudgingly stepping up on the second one. %Gallery-125695%
Final Fantasy XIII-2 announced, coming to 360 and PS3
Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy XIII-2 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. During a Square Enix 1st Production Department event in Japan, producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed the direct sequel to last year's Final Fantasy XIII, which is to be directed by Motomu Toriyama. Though we hope the "-2" in the title signifies the subtraction of Hope and Vanille, the logo highlights the addition of a new character alongside XIII's prickly leading lady, Lightning. According to a translation by RPG Site, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to launch in 2011, though it's unclear if that pertains to Japan only. Update: The English version will launch "next Winter." %Gallery-114575%
Final Fantasy XIII-2 domain name registered
"Corporation Service Company" has registered the "Finalfantasy13-2game.com" domain name, according to Superannuation. The company has previously registered domains for Nier, Mindjack, and other Square Enix games, suggesting that this is also the work of Square Enix. This domain name could simply be Square Enix grabbing related names just in case, but it could also be evidence of a direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII -- possibly, like Final Fantasy X-2, one built on the engine and assets from the previous, expensive game. Of course, unlike Final Fantasy X, the Final Fantasy XIII "franchise" is already somewhat crowded, with Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII on the way sometime before the end of the universe. Square is holding a "1st Production Party Premiere Event" in Japan on January 18, so if there really is a new Final Fantasy to announce, we'll likely hear about it, and any costume-change-based fighting it may contain, then. [Thanks, Vallanthaz]
