Final Fantasy XIII localisation sped up

PS3 News | Could be here sooner rather than later.

Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase has told Videogamer that Square Enix are hoping to release the European version of the game within a year of its Japanese release.

It is usual with Final Fantasy titles that European audiences are faced with lengthy delays between the Japanese release and the eventual PAL release. US audiences usually wait around six months following the Japanese release, with another several months passing before the PAL release. With the Japanese release set for late this year, the game could potentially be released in PAL territories in 2010 instead of 2011.

Kitase says that this time around, the process has been streamlined.

“For example we have already started recording English voices, and also the text localisation has been in progress, too," he said. "Normally we complete the Japanese version first, then move on to the US and EU versions, but this time there are some tasks that are happening simultaneously. So this time we're hoping to release sooner than a year later than the Japanese release.”

With the sneakily marketed Final Fantasy XIII demo recently causing some excitement, this is definitely great news for Final Fantasy fans, not to mention PAL gamers sick of lengthy localisation delays.

Related Final Fantasy XIII Content

Final Fantasy XIII Review
15 Mar, 2010 Lucky thirteen?

Vote for Australia's Biggest Final Fantasy Fan
08 Mar, 2010 Fulfilling fantasy.

Final Fantasy XIII: Georgia Van Cuylenburg Interview
08 Mar, 2010 We have a fun chat with one of the game's Australian voice actresses.

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37 Comments

Itachi

2 years ago

Sigh US Ps3 version for me.

fatpizza

2 years ago

I'll be importing the US version thankyou very much. I want to get this as soon as possible.

Charly

2 years ago

Article wrote

Wait. What?
It usually takes between 6-12 months from its Japanese release for a Final Fantasy game to make its way to PAL shores.

Doesn't seem much faster to me. Nice one, Michael. Get my hopes up. :P

LeonJ

2 years ago

F the european version. I'm not waiting for German and French to be stuffed into the disc.

I'm more concerned about the 360 port delaying the release in the west. If greedy M$ has delayed my FF....there will be trouble.

GreyWolfJai

2 years ago

PS3 version from the US for me! (and one day I will learn japanese to fix this issue)

fupoisme

2 years ago

Are people supposed to be excited by the prospect of playing this in 2010? I actually thought that Square Enix might finally be ditching the idea of such terribly staggered releases by now. I'll definitely have to import this one from the US if there's still going to be that gap.

nathmanp

2 years ago

I don't really see why we should be lumped in with Europe now anyway, what with the PS3 being region free and 'PAL' being an obsolete term. Just reprint the box sleeve and release the US version here I say.

Although I've always preferred the box art of the PAL FFs to the US versions...

Cyph

2 years ago

This has been a part of the ages; PAL regions having to wait for JPN releases, especially with RPGs. Hopefully Square-Enix can get production for the different regions in order and try to release them in a somewhat close time frame. We completely need to understand that translation from Japanese to English takes time, but as Leon said, we should have to wait for every other European language.

arbok

2 years ago

US Version for me too

Charly

2 years ago

^ This is where I worry though. I have been getting sick of waiting and importing RPGs from the US only to find that PAL regions get additional features. GRRRRRR

I'll import and end up buying a PAL one two, I just know it. I'm thinking I'll end up with the US PS3 and PAL 360 versions.

Ciel

2 years ago

This probably where the region free aspect on the PS3 will play a big part, already the general consensus is that those who's getting the PS3 version will import their copy from the US.

Those getting the XB360 will most likely have to wait because it's more than likely SquareEnix will region lock their version of FF13 (much like how they did with Last Remnant, Infinite Undiscovery & Star Ocean).

Funny how they need the extra time to allow for other languages/translation and yet something in terms of similar budget like Metal Gear Solid 4 managed a world wide release date.

mipac

2 years ago

US PS3 import for me.

Zhaz

2 years ago

While I cross my fingers, I want some solid release dates confirmed by Square-Enix before I make any decisions on importing.

Ah, stuff it, I know I would import the US version anyway, even if there was a gap of a month between US and Europe releases.

Itachi

2 years ago

I think the question will be what usa online shop can we order from that will have the special edition ^^. I know it hasn't been announced but yeah pretty sure there will be one.

LeonJ

2 years ago

I can't see the 360 version a) being region free or b) being up to par with the PS3 version c) coming on less then 100 discs.

US PS3 version all the way for me.

meier

2 years ago

Hardly a speed improvement. By the time the game gets released in the States, I'll have a PS3 ready to go, so no real waiting for me yet.

notsofat

2 years ago

this will be my first ever final fantasy game (having always only owned nintendo consoles) wish me luck...

G3ck0

2 years ago

notsofat wrote

this will be my first ever final fantasy game (having always only owned nintendo consoles) wish me luck...

That is no reason to not own a FF game, as it started on Nintendo consoles. I have never owned one either, they have never really interested me.

barrett

2 years ago

6 - 12 month wait = fail

The japs are still living in the past - simultaneous worldwide release is a concept clearly beyond them.

bleach1st

2 years ago

lets hope it truly does speed this up

I hope it's not another FFX, just look at the Wikipedia page on FFX, you'll need a phoenix down to recover from the shock of the massive differences between the JPN/EUR release dates

Kikujir0

2 years ago

I bought my PS3 back in 2006 December 29, which I so vividly remember because it is the same time I joined PALGN to be the only one with a PS3 posting in the sony section lol.

I bought PS3 for two games only, the rest I thought were a "bonus", sort of like going with the flow, come what may for the PS3.

MGS4, FF13.

MGS4 was delayed a full year to when I expected it to come, I thought FF13 would come out in 2008 march. I REALLY don't give a crap anymore, all I can say is it better be the best damn final fantasy ever.

A year or more wait really couldn't phase me, its already been a year and a bit past the promised date, I feel the same feeling of futility as did when MGS4 was re-announced for the 2nd or 3rd time.

Charly

2 years ago

barrett wrote

The japs are still living in the past - simultaneous worldwide release is a concept clearly beyond them.

Yes. MGS4 and RE5 surely attest to that.

Meanwhile, Japan got GTA4 7 months after our release and Oblivion over a year later.

Yep...

ZeroX03

2 years ago

As long as the PAL edition includes Japanese Audio as well as the English. I couldn't care how long the wait.

fatpizza

2 years ago

Charly wrote

But previous consoles that had FF games did not have online functionality so any differences can easily be remedied with a patch. Personally I don't think there will be anything to worry about.

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