Speculator: A look into our Fabula Nova Crystallis ball

July 31, 2012

We’re doing a special Final Fantasy installment this week. What’s Square Enix doing with Versus, XIII-3 and Type-0, and will we find out at the company’s series anniversary event in September?

Final Fantasy XIII-3 to be revealed at September event

There have been rumors that another sequel to XIII was coming pretty much as soon as XIII-2 arrived and, considering the ending of XIII-2, that’s not really a surprise. The real question is whether Square Enix thinks people will buy another sequel. So will we see another entry or will Pulse’s fate stay as it is?

Andrew
90%

The ending of FFXIII-2 seems to have left a lot of people cold. It became apparent that the story would be either wrapped up through DLC or through a third XIII game. Since all of the DLC for XIII-2 is out and there isn’t a sign of the story being continued, it’s safe to say that XIII-3 is almost inevitable at this point. Square Enix wouldn’t leave the story hanging like that. It’s weird that a Final Fantasy game that is far from the most popular in the series would be getting a second direct sequel, but at this point I’m sure Square can justify it.

Shawn
90%

I loved XIII-2, and while I hate cliffhangers, I really didn’t see any other way for it to end than the way it did. I’m pretty sure the people at Square Enix hate unresolved cliffhangers as much as me, so I fully expect to see a XIII-3 someday, and there’s no better time or place to reveal it than at this event.

Graham
60%

Square’s clearly holding off for something big when the next generation hits, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them stretch out the XIII engine and assets a bit longer. After all, XIII-2 got a much better reception, and it’s not the craziest thing in the world for them to make actual sequels occasionally.

Eric
35%

I doubt they’d do something about it this early. While I don’t think it’s selling nearly as well as the first XIII game, the sequel still has a decent amount of life in it. Maybe next year.

Final Fantasy Type-0 localization to be announced at September event

Type-0’s status has been in doubt ever since it was revealed to be a 2-UMD game. Aside from some noncommittal statements to a Spanish website, no news regarding a Western localization has been heard since then. Will we finally hear one way or another on it?

Andrew
50%

I doubt we will see a retail release of Final Fantasy Type-0 considering the PSP is basically dead in North America, but a digital release (making it playable on the Vita) still seems like a possibility. If it was going to be announced anywhere, it would be at this event, but I’m not 100% sold that it will be announced at all. On one hand, it’s a Final Fantasy game, and rarely do Final Fantasy games remain Japan-only. On the other hand, it’s a Final Fantasy game for a system not many people care about. Perhaps we’ll see the announcement of a Vita port?

Shawn
60%

Non-mobile-phone-based Final Fantasy games just don’t stay Japan-only these days. I don’t think we’ll ever see a physical release of Type-0, but considering the strength of the franchise, I fully expect a digital, Vita-compatible version to be announced, hopefully with a release date. I just don’t know if we’ll hear about it here or maybe at Gamescom or TGS.

Graham
1%

The time for such an announcement has passed, as the PSP is dead to the general populace. (Even with some great recent releases.) It’s possible that a digital, day-one-Vita-compatible edition could see the light of day now, but only because it has the Final Fantasy name attached. That said, this is a Japanese event, and that announcement wouldn’t happen there.

Eric
20%

I feel this is something that they’d hold against us again. Why wait for the PSP release when it could be a Vita release down the road? It will probably come in the future, just not this year.

Final Fantasy Versus XIII’s status to be confirmed at September event

Kotaku recently claimed to have inside knowledge that Versus XIII had been quietly canceled and was being transformed into XV instead; however, Square Enix has insisted that it is not true. The idea admittedly makes sense though, as we’ve seen only two videos of it in the last six years. With Square Enix putting on a press event specifically regarding the future of the franchise, we should hear definitive word on its status there. Will it be canceled, confirmed or ignored?

Andrew
Confirmed

I don’t think Square Enix will take time out of their big event to announce the cancellation of a game, but chances of us seeing or hearing some kind of information regarding it seems plausible. There are the rumors of it becoming the next game in the series (Final Fantasy XV), which would be an unsurprising turn considering how long it has been in development. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t hear a thing about it once again, but I get the feeling there will be at least one tiny piece of information that comes out of this event regarding Versus XIII. Let’s hope it’s the latter, at the very least.

Shawn
Confirmed

Ever since the rumors of its cancellation popped up, Square Enix has been denying it. They know that their denials of those rumors will mean nothing if they don’t show off Versus XIII or give us something concrete about it, though. So yeah, we probably won’t find out a lot about it unless they’ve been sneaky as a ninja in working on it, but we’ll hear as much as Square thinks it will take to sate the masses.

Graham
Confirmed

With the recent vehement denials, Square Enix will want to have something ready in September, even if it wasn’t planning on that previously. We may or may not get a date or any specifics, but I’m sure we’ll at least see a video or something as a proof-of-life effort.

Eric
Ignored

I don’t have much faith in them this September. This sounds like another VII remake situation though, with the whole “we’re not saying it’s dead, but as long as you keep talking about it, we’ll keep this alive” thing. I don’t buy it that they’re this serious about even releasing it anymore.

Current 2012-13 Season standings:

Andrew
4
Eric
-1
Graham
2
Shawn
-6