FFXIII Demo Only Set For Japan

My fellow North American gamers, if you've been so bold as to place Square-Enix in the metaphorical doghouse, we've got an update for you: tell S-E to stay there.

As some of you know, last year's announcement of the Blu-Ray re-release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children came as great news to fans of the critically acclaimed CGI film. It also came as even better news to fans of the series, because Square-Enix announced that this Blu-Ray version would ship with a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII. It's the one exciting piece of news that came out of the publisher's private DKS3713 event as far as PS3 owners are concerned, and it was kinda like a consolation prize for those wishing for a FFVII remake. Well, gamers outside of Japan can wave bye-bye to that consolation prize: according to the Videogaming247 blog, Square-Enix has confirmed that this demo will be "Japan only." But hey, maybe you'll enjoy the consolation to the consolation prize, which is the unveiling of the main character's name. It's Dia Walruva. ...yeah, we figured you wouldn't care much about that.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the demo won't ever come to North America or Europe; it simply means it won't be available in the Blu-Ray release of Advent Children. There's still a good chance it'll arrive on the PlayStation Store at some point in the future, especially when we get closer to the game's launch (whenever that might be). So stay tuned for more details on that and in the meantime, try not to soak the keyboard with your tears. Aww...don't be so upset. It was just a demo. Besides, there's always importing...

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII

1/12/2009 Ben Dutka

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Jeffrey
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 10:59:04 AM
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sigh.... I cant even think of anything else to say about SE

1 up, 0 down

coverton341
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 10:59:25 AM
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Let's hear it again for S-E the masters of the eternal current-gen screw-up-a-thon

2 up, 0 down

Draguss
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 10:29:18 AM

Couldn't have said it better myself.

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Bill_Clinton_
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:01:55 AM
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@Jeffery i totally agree.... square has fallen off so bad in my opinion.. Y only release it in japan what are u accomplishing by doing that .... i don't understand ..

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eLLeJuss
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:08:22 AM
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So much for pleasing the western crowd SE.

1 up, 0 down

karneli lll
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:20:03 AM
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So, anyone have an idea when WKC is coming?

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Ultimadream
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:27:45 AM
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ARRRGGGHHHH!!! FFS!!!! I was really looking forward to this, its bang out of order that we get treated differently, if japan gets it why cant we!!

This worries my even more, the fact that the FF7 Blu-ray wont be released in the same package and in a simluar time zone really makes the World Wide Release look unlikely...... i'm sad :(

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pavlovic
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:29:27 AM
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As far as I know, FFXIII will launch in Japan before than any other territory, because it will remain as a PS3 exclusive in Japan, and they want to launch simultaneously in NA/EU in PS3 and 360.

But for the series fans, that sucks, no matter what

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nickolars
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:32:22 AM
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i like lightning better...

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DIsmael85
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:37:55 AM
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I already knew this a few months ago, it was obvious when they announced Advent Children Blu-ray, and is why I have been waiting patiently to import that movie. Sqaure is not where as good as they were back then, and I have lost all hope for them. Screw up company if you ask me, and are desperate for quick cash now, rather than holding on to their fanbase.

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ps92117
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 12:18:56 PM
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ah lovely se and there great choice making, where would they be without nobuo umeatsu and tetsuya nomura?

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PS3_Wizard
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 12:27:07 PM
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*starts to set up my .50 cal sniper rifle*
HEY SE PRESIDENT! Come out, come out where ever you are...

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Nynja
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 12:28:08 PM
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Is this how SE intends to expand it's "Western Presence" trying to garner more global appeal?

FAIL.

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Arvis
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 12:29:17 PM
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This is why I hate Square now. I no longer have a favorite developer. If White Knight is a homerun and then Level 5 reveals Dark Cloud 3, then they'll be my fav. Until then, I'm a gamer without a team to root for.

-Arvis

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ps92117
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:28:46 PM

SONY corp x)

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:03:46 PM
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Oh shit.

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robinhood2010
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 2:29:57 PM

are swears allowed for this? hehe

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:56:05 PM

I'll make an exception this one time, as it's the exact same thing I said when I saw the news. ;)

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Fatcat3788
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:43:07 PM

What he said...

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robinhood2010
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 6:18:38 PM

well, i wasn't too suprised. another nail in the coffin.

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BeezleDrop
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:03:57 PM
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Not only do we have to wait 1+ years for the games release but no demo? I knew the Japanese didn't like us but c'mon man low blow.

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Reccaman18
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 4:23:26 PM

Actually, Japan loves anything and everything to do with the US. I think the reason they dont release things like this, is because they dont think we'd go for it like they do.

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Zorigo
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:21:01 PM
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oh piss.

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AceTatsujin
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:39:45 PM
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SE's stupid decisions. MS most likely paid them, again. I'm gonna purchase the Japanese version regardless.

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Riku994
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:58:10 PM
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SE, piss the F*CK off.

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tlpn99
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 1:58:10 PM
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Oh darn just have to wait like the rest of the people who dont get stuff ie us UK people don't get stuff the peeps in US does and vice versa. Least we all know now what it feels like to not receive something at some time or other.

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Orvisman
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 2:01:33 PM
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If the demo comes on a separate BD then importing should be easy. But if it comes on the same BD as the movie, then is importing even possible? Aren't BD movies region encoded?

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DIsmael85
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 2:23:55 PM

They are Region Free. Hence the reason Im importing.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:00:09 PM

I read the demo is on a separate disc

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robinhood2010
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 2:30:30 PM
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Revenge for Hiroshima.

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:08:15 PM

Revenge for Nagasaki will be the FFVersus port to 360.

0 up, 1 down

LightShow
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:19:32 PM

world, don't even joke like that

2 up, 0 down

ps92117
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:30:12 PM

revenge for iwo jima if ff14 goes multiplat

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King James
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 10:27:05 AM

not funny

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:01:15 PM
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I won't import, even if I can get by without knowing what's being said or commanded in their language it would drain the fun out of it.

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Scarecrow
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:04:21 PM
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lol...
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenix is just too much :D

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Naga
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:11:33 PM
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Noooooooo!! ah well white knight chronicles!!!

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MetalHead09
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:16:42 PM
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as far as im concerned square can keep their games cause im not buying them. does square have any idea how pissed gamers are??? cause everytime they say something its bad news, its as if they have no idea or just simply dont care and think they are still number one when in fact they have fallen. and people said sony got complacent when they released the ps3, square has just topped sonys blunders.

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King James
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 10:30:10 AM

u no u buying the Fabula Nova Crystallis. and square knows it too

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LightShow
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 3:18:37 PM
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there are a great many expletives i can shout at enix, but they're not worth them. I shall condense it all down to three words:

WHAT THE HELL??!?

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Victor321
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 4:06:18 PM
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all japanese devs are complaining that the american games are slowly dominating in their own country, yet they do this "japan-only" kinda thing. i was so hyped for this...T.T

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Advent Child
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 4:42:03 PM
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OK that is simply the last straw for me. I have a policy of buying every good game regardless of developer, but I am officially changing that rule. Square-Enix will no longer receive any money from me. I don't buy from companies that would rather screw me over. So my cash is no longer in their wallets. I will no longer be buying any Square-Enix products including FFXIII and Versus.

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AceTatsujin
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 4:43:30 PM
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no because THEY KNOW it will sell over in US and people WILL buy the PS3 to play the freaking demo and MS doesn't want that. Obivious that they got paid right?

@#!%! Square Enix all together to hell.

When is this Japanese version going to get released? March something? I'll pre-order it and play the game. Sick of all their god damn BS. Sony's doing nothing too WTF. I'm the consumer I'm pissed off to hell. God damn MS screwing sh!t up all over again, and again.

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Shatterday
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:02:08 PM
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So apparently they had no idea they were going to do this when they announced that Advent Children was coming with a demo? Bullshit.

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JohnnyGold
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:24:08 PM
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over react much?

if the game is being released on the same disc as the movie, it would need to be on blu-ray, which would make it so 360 owners cant play it.

its getting a release on both consoles, so therefor, the demo will release on both marketplaces at the same time.

the japanese might get the demo first, but square is a japanese company. theyll get the game first over there too. they get a lot of square products first.

its just the way it works.

if youre that torn apart about not getting the DEMO for the game, its insane to say you wont buy the game itself when it comes out. why would you do that to yourself?

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 10:19:40 PM

I think folks are just venting because this feels like yet another opportunity in which SE could TRY to redeem themselves with Sony fans but failed. Again.

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Jeffrey
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:26:29 PM
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Is it just me or does anyone else find it hard to believe that people really wouldnt buy the game from being "screwed over" from SE. I know I was really looking forward to Advent Children on BD and the Demo was the main reason why. I probably wont go right out of my way now to get the BD version. But to all those people who claim they wont buy futuree SE games...I just really have a hard time believing that. IMO SE has done some, well interesting things, but I really dont think their actions would prevent me from buying one of their games, ESPECIALLY in the FF series. So I dont know, I guess I really dont believe people who say they are fans of the series and state they would not buy the game for SE's business moves.

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Victor321
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:32:03 PM

rightly said, i agree with you. although i am frustrated with SE again..i will buy FF13 and FFV13 and i am able to have the patience for the demo, not to mention the games itself, cuz i got a whole slew of upcoming and already owned titles on my PS3 that i am happy with.

=)

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Advent Child
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 7:29:34 PM

I have 150 video games right now on my rack if I get pissed off enough believe me I can definitely go without Square-Enix games. I think we need to show them that they piss off their fans they lose business. Microsoft never learned because people kept buying their product. So when I say I won't buy any Square-Enix product I mean it.

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Fatcat3788
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 5:42:34 PM
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If I was Japanese... I buy a crapload of these Advent children BD's and then E-bay them for the scrilla!!!!! HAHA we will probably see that. Anyway back to being serious. This... Well, this... I... <SIGH>...

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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 10:26:53 PM

What is goin' on with that cat's head?

1 up, 0 down

Fatcat3788
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 1:05:18 AM

My astronaut cat!

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Deleted User
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 7:19:38 PM
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I did not see that coming. I was sure they'd release a pimped up demo and sell it to the masses. Take a page from GT5 Prologues book.

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BikerSaint
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 8:36:27 PM
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I'm not a RPG'er, but HELL......
I still feel for ya's!

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SHADOW [Moderator]
Monday, January 12, 2009 @ 11:54:43 PM
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Why does this surprise anyone? SE has said several times they're not even going to begin localizing and translating until the Japanese version is finished why would they take time out of the development schedule to make an English demo? I read the headline this afternoon and couldn't figure out why this was news.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 1:25:55 AM

For me it's because they made such a big deal out of this demo in the first place. They said it'd be big news for PS3 owners, so I guess we assumed they would take the opportunity to just add in some english menus and text and toss us a frickin bone.

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ffrevenge
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 2:13:18 AM
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So.... they make the game for 360. But don't bother with a demo for non-Japanese?
Square-Enix are weird. They must be on ecstasy..

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ceedot
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 4:15:48 AM
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lol I already thought it was japan only.

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Draguss
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 @ 10:38:32 AM
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