Square Enix has just announced that Final Fantasy XIII has shipped over 5 million units worldwide, with at least 3 million of those accounting for US and Europe figures, as reported by Andriasang,

The game has shipped at least 2 million units in Japan since its launch back in December, and by all accounts it looks like it’s going to easily eclipse that success here in the west.

This figure brings sales of the franchise as a whole to a whopping 96 million units in 20 years. Not too shabby.

Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix Europe announced today a new entry into the Tomb Raider franchise: “Guardian of Light”. For some reason, they’ve decided to forgo the Tomb Raider prefix.

According to the press release the title is going to be released via digital download in 2010. No spesific details have been revealed, but General Manager of Crystal Dynamics Darrell Gallagher is more than excited:

“This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting.

“Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with “Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light” we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience.”

The game will be shown behind closed doors at GDC next week, but the official site is already up.

read this entry »

Speaking to GameTrailers recently, Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase admit that he’s quite interested in seeing a Final Fantasy VII remake come to fruition.

“I’m really interested to see this more complete form of Final Fantasy VII portrayed more realistically with the voice and animation and all the suttle expressions there.

“I’d be interested to see that and to make that, it would be a great experience. I don’t get tired of people asking that question, so I’ll continue to answer my thoughts as long as people keep asking.”

It’s surprising to hear this, considering that Square Enix has gone on the record numerous times stating that its simply not going to happen. Of course, just because he wants to make it, doesn’t necessarily mean it will actually happen.

Rumours have been flying back and forth the past months about possible DLC for Final Fantasy XIII, but the game’s producer and director have finally spoken up about it.

In an interview with US PS Blog, producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu Toriyama outright stated that Final Fantasy XIII is not getting DLC.

“Regarding the DLC content, we feel that the final product is 100% enjoyable…it’s the complete package. So we’re not planning any DLC at this time. In regard to the rumored cut content, we feel it was taken out of context.

There are a lot of ideas that are brought to the table, and then the team takes the best ideas out of those, and the final product is polished that way. There was content that were “ideas” that didn’t make the final content, but the team isn’t looking to release that as downloadable content.”

So there you have it, no DLC for Final Fantasy XIII.

Saying people are excited about Final Fantasy XIII would probably be an understatement. And it looks like players might have more content to enjoy on top of the 50+ hour experience when the game hits down in March, according to producer Yoshinori Kitase.

“At first we had plans to release the game simultaneously worldwide, so we had the intention to deliver identical version between the regions. When we noticed that we wouldn’t make it, we decided to release the game as fast as possible in the west after its release in Japan,” said Kitase.

“We initially had doubts to add extra content to the western version but then it would have taken the international version more months of delay. We did prepare a DLC but it will arrive a little later in the west.”

The accessible availability of DLC makes re-releases of RPG a little redundant, doesn’t it? It should be worth keeping an eye on what they release.

Square Enix has announced that the latest revival of the Front Mission series will be arriving in the West in Spring 2010.

Front Mission Evolved is being produced by Western Developer Double Helix Game, and is set to arrive on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC simultaneously.

Front Mission Evolved will see players hop into a Wanzer – a gigantic mech – and do battle both on and offline. Unlike previous Front Mission games, which have been strategy RPGs, Front Mission Evolved plays more in the vein of a third person shooter with gigantic mechs.

We interviewed the Front Mission Evolved team back at E3 2009 - so if this announcement has got you excited, be sure to check out our interview.

The official website of the game is also now open. UFFSite also has the trailer.

Square Enix has announced the Limited Edition of Just Cause 2, one of the first major releases from the publisher’s Eidos arm since the acquisition early this year.

The Limited Edition is to be made available to everybody who preorders the game from participating retailers and contains a set of extras that’ll make the game a little bit easier and more fun, including exclusive vehicles, weapons and a pretty badass looking parachute known as the “Chaos Parachute.” Some of these extras come in the box, while others will come in the form of a download via the online service of your format.

In addition to the cool-looking in-game gear, you’ll also get your hands on some pretty-looking exclusive packaging and a fold-out Panauan Intel Map containing information on the game world and hotspots to cause the maximum chaos and destruction.

Sounds like a pretty good special edition, then. You can preorder the game now.

Unofficial Final Fantasy Site has just reported that what appears to be the back of FFXII’s box-art has been leaked onto the internet.

The back of the box states that the game has no optional or mandatory installation and will only use up to 500kb of hard drive space for a game save. This is great news for PS3 owners who’ve had to endure long installations before being able to play their games.

FFXII also features full 1080p for all FMVs, as well as lossless audio. These features definitely sets the PS3 version as superior to the 360’s, something the PS3 fans who cried out in infamy are sure to enjoy.

Hit the link for more details.

The Final Fantasy series may never be true to its title, but this trailer is – Square Enix has released the final Final Fantasy XIII trailer before the game’s release in Japan in less than three weeks time.

Us gamers in the west still have to wait until March 9th, 2010 to get our hands on this game, but that’s definitely a huge improvement on the almost year long wait we had to endure for past Final Fantasy games.

Hopefully this will tide you over until then. Enjoy!

This is the one everyone has been waiting for. Square Enix has just announced that Final Fantasy XIII will hit US and European shelves March 9, 2010.

In a uniquely inventive twist, Square has stated that it will announce new information on the game on the 13th of every month as part of its “Lucky Number 13″ campaign.

The announcement was made in an official video. I dare you to watch this and not feel at least remotely excited.

Square Enix has just released the seven minute trailer of Final Fantasy XIII, that was showcased at the Tokyo Game Show over the weekend.

Check it out below. It’s rather nice.

Square reported today that Batman: Arkham Asylum has shipped 2.5 million copies worldwide so far. Obviously they’re pleased.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the stand-out games this year,” said Eidos CEO Phil Rogers.

“I’ve been following the great reviews and consumer blogs and I’m delighted that gamers everywhere love playing this game as much as we do.”

Sefton Hill of Rocksteady Studios did say a sequel could be made if the first game became popular. So keep buying them, so we can be Batman again!

Something we’ve forgotten to mention before was the fact that the first piece of Arkham Asylum DLC hit the internet last week on September 17. The next will be out in a mere two days! Holy awesome for the win, Batman!

read this entry »

Still waiting desperately for the release of FFXIII? Join the club. If it’s any conciliation, Square Enix has just informed us (along with half the internet) that we should be getting a solid release date for the title in Europe really, really soon.

“We plan to announce the PAL release timing of Final Fantasy XIII in the very near future,” a rep informed us.

This comes in wake of the news that the game will hit stores in Japan on December 17th.

As recently promised, FFXIII’s PS3 and 360 versions will release simultaneously next spring in Europe and the US, producer Yoshinori Kitase told VG247 at GamesCom today.

“We don’t have the actual month down yet, but in Japan it’s scheduled for a winter release, and in Europe and North American territoriers it’s spring 2010,” said the developer.

“For Europe and North America, the PS3 and 360 versions are going to be released simultaneously.”

“For previous titles it took usually about a year to localise each version and bring it over to Europe, but for this title there should be a considerably shorter gap and [we'll] bring it to European territories as close to the North American release as possible,” he said.

According to a recent report on Siliconera, Square Enix is only now “considering” the release of Dragon Quest IX outside of Japan.

Sort of. If it happens, don’t expect it until 2010 at the earliest, apparently, Company boss Yoichi Wada has stated.

Considering that Dragon Quest IX has already shipped more than 3.5 million units in Japan, you’d think a western release would be a given…