Square Enix: Final Fantasy Has Been "Greatly Damaged"

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. When you saw that headline, you freaked out and said- "Holy sh**, Square Enix has admitted they've messed with a winning formula, and maybe now they're even rethinking Final Fantasy XIII-2!"

Not quite. The publisher admits the Final Fantasy brand has been damaged, but not because of Final Fantasy XIII or the incredibly loud fan outcry of, "this isn't an RPG! What'd you do?!" No, it's due to the ill-fated Final Fantasy XIV, the all-online follow-up to the much more successful Final Fantasy XI.

During a Tokyo press conference, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada was asked about the company's online plans for Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. In response and as translated by Andriasang, Wada says they hope to "revive FFXIV."

"We'll continue with our reform work, which basically amounts to fully redoing the game, and hope to revive the FFXIV that should have been released."

This was after saying "the Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged." Now, we don't deny that at all, but is it really because of FFXIV? Granted, that game really was broken and shouldn't have been released, but it's hardly the title that's in the limelight. Most long-time fans of the series don't even care, as it's more for the MMORPG crowd.

Yeah, FF isn't what it once was. But it ain't because of FFXIV, damnit.

Tags: final fantasy xiv, ffxiv, square enix, final fantasy

9/27/2011 8:27:44 PM Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Comments (61 posts)

Toggle Scrolling | Reload Comments

Jawknee
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:35:58 PM
Reply

I didn't know Wada was Captian Obvious. Too bad he's the wrong guy to fix it.

7 up, 0 down

ZettaiSeigi
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:41:26 PM
Reply

I'm pretty sure that FF XIII did as much damage on the Final Fantasy franchise as FF XIV did. Besides, I don't think a lot of people has played FF XIV yet to be that catastrophic for the entire franchise.

And maybe it's just me, but I think S-E should've kept the MMO FFs separate from the "roman numeral" games. FF XI would've been better called "Final Fantasy Online".

Last edited by ZettaiSeigi on 9/27/2011 9:46:09 PM

16 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:52:48 PM

It's not just you

10 up, 0 down

shadowscorpio
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 2:21:49 AM

Definitely not just you Zettai.

3 up, 0 down

Crabba
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 3:41:05 AM

Seriously that must be one of the dumbest things ever to name an MMO just as any other sequel to the game sigh.

2 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 1:35:28 PM

It would be like Call of Duty 9 being offline single-player only. NO developer is THAT stupid, right? Right?

*sigh*

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:41:38 PM
Reply

I was a part of the beta for this game and boy did it have major issues and a majority of them have yet to be corrected a year later.

I've never liked that SE made the online FF games part of the series with their numbers.

4 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 8:58:47 AM

I did the BETA, also, and I actually bought it for PC. I still have an account, but only because they -STILL- haven't started charging.

Yeah, still no monthly fee.

But I haven't touched it in over half a year. So I have no idea if it's any good now. I might give it a shot someday soon. If I do, I'll let you know if it's any better yet.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:47:40 PM
Reply

It will be interesting to see how the sales numbers for XIII-2 stack up to it's predocessor. Maybe when that cash grab flops Wada will finally get a freakin hint.

1 up, 0 down

TheAgingHipster
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:52:45 PM
Reply

Just figured that out, didja Wada?

Of course, until he realizes that mucking around with the fan-favored Final Fantasy formula is what started the series' decline, I doubt there's anything Squeenix can do to restore our faith.

1 up, 0 down

TheAgingHipster
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:53:16 PM

"Fan-favored Final Fantasy formula." There's some alliteration for ya.

3 up, 0 down

PasteNuggs
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:52:46 PM
Reply

Can we pronounce Final Fantasy dead yet?

3 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:58:01 PM

See last weeks poll results.

Last edited by Jawknee on 9/27/2011 10:01:41 PM

6 up, 0 down

Riku994
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:59:07 PM

Not unless Versus 13 is a flop or 15 is a shooter.

4 up, 0 down

ZettaiSeigi
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:06:14 PM

Just you wait until Ayane sees this and accuses us all of being FF haters!

8 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:00:28 AM

From the ashes rises a new and wonderful beginning...

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: LEVEL5!

2 up, 0 down

ZettaiSeigi
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 1:07:09 AM

Yup, and Ni No Kuni will be mine!!

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 9:56:16 PM
Reply

How on earth does this man still have a job? Isn't he Japanese? Where is his honor? He should take responsibility and fall on his sword either figuratively or literally.

They've pressed FF too hard and corrupted it with their evil Shinra ways and Wada is Rufus.

7 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:01:15 PM

Who's Heidegger?

2 up, 0 down

Warrior Poet
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:13:27 PM

No, he's closer to that crazy scientist. The walking mass of complexes ;P

I don't know Wada so insulting him personally doesn't make any sense, actually. But he seems to miss the simplest things. His philosophy on game design and views on Western games are totally screwed up. I mean, yes. I like Western games. I'm a Western guy. But why would they be automatically better? Total logic fail.

I mean... i don't know what he's doing. If he wanted the most money possible, he'd just let Square make more normal FFs and Tri-Ace make more Valkyrie Profiles. I think he has some sort of "vision." But I wonder what he sees...

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:11:31 PM

I think we can make accurate assumptions on any man based on his philosophy.

0 up, 0 down

Deleted User
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:11:20 PM
Reply

Yoichi Wada needs to resign. He admitted as much that by his hand he has ruined Square-Enix's prize franchise, the idiot. Of course, with his big ego, good luck seeing him give up his plushy job.

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:56:38 PM

Of course he wouldn't want to resign his position, even if the damage he's done is evident. He's too busy taking baths in the money he receives to care about the dying, or evidently dead, franchise.

The fans will cry, Wada will continue not to care so long as his "bath water" stays full.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:15:20 PM
Reply

Oh, Final Fantasy is damaged all right, as is SE, only it's not the fault of FF XIV since that ill-fated game has yet to see the light of day on a console platform. How can an absent game be blamed for the damage being done? Perhaps it's the lack of Final Fantasy on the consoles that is the problem? I mean, even in Japan, FFXIII isn't really considered much of a FF game. Whether it's a good game or not, it's not a good FF game, and that is the problem. FF is in trouble because there has been *no* FF game this generation.

5 up, 0 down

shadowscorpio
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 2:28:38 AM

Well said. Come to think of it, when it comes to consoles, there really has not been a true final fantasy game yet this gen.

shameful...

2 up, 0 down

DemonNeno
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:59:27 AM

These guys are idiots. Why did Squaresoft cave in, again?! The loss of Squaresoft is about as heavy as the loss of 60's musicians in the rock world.

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 10:41:04 PM
Reply

Very good, SE! The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem! It's the wrong one, but we should still give SE a bit of a pat on the shoulder. Congratulations, SE, you're now 1% of the way there! :)

1 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:21:08 AM

No, he destroyed one of my favorite franchise and i wont let that go. what he needs is a swift kick on the @$$. hes still has the wrong idea on who to blame. final fantasy XIV and final fantasy XIII didnt kill final fantasy as much as when he said "OK, thats a good idea. our fans will love that".

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:57:48 AM

Then the franchise was doomed the moment he got that position. Why didn't we see it coming?

0 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:09:03 PM
Reply

I heard final fantasy 14 was horrendous for the pc and people wonder why it exists. Just some games shouldn't have even existed, Alpha Protocol, Damnation, and FFXIV are just to name some.

And oh boy that truck game that gamespot reviewed so long ago.

No words to describe how terrible that truck game is.

0 up, 0 down

IonHawk
Thursday, September 29, 2011 @ 10:32:43 AM

Sorry, I thought Alpha Protocol was a very good RPG - it was only the gameplay and the bugs that let it down, just like a lot of other Obsidian games

0 up, 0 down

bentl78
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:10:44 PM
Reply

Am i the only one on this site that actually kinda enjoyed 13?
I actually want 13-2.. they said they will improve it, and i hope they keep their words.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:13:49 PM

I think most of us enjoyed XIII, which is entirely beside the point that we don't consider it an actual entry in the Final Fantasy RPG legacy due to it having been dumbed down so far as to be unrecognizable in most respects.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:30:21 PM

I loved the story and a majority of the characters. As usual it had amazing production value but unfortunately the gameplay really sucked. BTW I don't see that changing with XIII-2 since from all the videos and info I've seen on the game they've kept the core system intact so it's more of the same watered down gameplay.

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:50:44 PM

The characters were amazing. Nomura still continues to dish out great characters that you can relate with and can get a feel for on an emotional side. Lightning actually ended up being one of my favorite FF characters of all. The story was also great, but delivered in such a horrible way. I honestly felt as though I was lost in the story until about 25% through, I realized that they had everything that was needed to know in the archives. Reading up on it wasn't so bad, except that it would have been absorbed more if they'd explained it as you played. Which they obviously couldn't because the game was too busy being linear.

FFXIII has a certain quality to it that is a decent game, so long as it didn't carry that FF name on it. However, because it did, it really redefined the image of FF from what it was introduced as into something entirely new. I liked FFXIII as a game, not as a FF game. If SE hadn't called it a FF, I think it would have done better, and we'd all probably be talking and raging about what new FF could come out. Probably poking at theories of whether it'd be reminiscent of older, more loved, FFs, whether the RPG elements within it would cal homage to those that we come to expect in a great RPG from Square. But, as you can see, that is not the case, and we're stuck with FFXIII. In its linear, twitchy and downright funky gameplay, and poorly delivered story format. Now here's to just hoping that Versus or even FFXIII-2 will turn it around.

SE is like a train wreck. It's horrible... but you just can't stop watching.

Last edited by Gamer Girl Gemo on 9/27/2011 11:54:20 PM

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:23:32 AM

@LV

i think they actually said that they made the gameplay faster...... right. i hated it at that speed so make it even faster. basically hes saying all strategy has been lost in XIII-2 and that the final game would probably have a damn big button on screen all the time labled "auto play".

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:15:23 AM

I thought the characters had enough to be interesting, but they were done a grave disservice to so much of their histories being only told in the archives (or whatever you call it) to be read about... it really should have been implemented into the story.

The other thing that hurt them was terrible dialogue. I felt so bad for lightning... such an interesting character, and the voice actor had NO CHANCE to express herself with only 1 liners... 1 liners that had almost no words...

To me, the depth was there, but it's like SE didn't care enough to show how interesting they are. Totally wasted on me. Only one I liked was Fang. You gotta substantiate everyone else with WAY more dialogue.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:17:15 AM

Oh yeah... anyone else remember how the reviewers raged about FF9 bringing back the old?

It was a good gameplay style then, why couldn't we bring it back now?

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 1:55:08 PM

I just found out that the voice actor for Hope went to school just a few miles away from where I grew up. O.o

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 2:08:44 PM

Don't know why that reminded me, Arvis, but if you look at the instruction manual for FFVII, it states Cloud's birthday as Aug. 19. SAME AS ME! We also have the same blood type! (AB)

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 3:36:22 PM

Whoa, sweet!! *high fives*

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

JackDillinger89
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 @ 11:49:04 PM
Reply

I never could get into FF but am obsessed with rpgs like demons souls. Maybe it was the combat system. The only people that can damage their game or franchise is well themselves.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:44:50 AM

It's pronounced "The Last Story"

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 3:52:15 AM
Reply

ONLY XIV?
sigh, $E you still dont get it do you?
my lord i have not seen a company this blind since, well........... ever!

2 up, 0 down

eldergod1
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:01:53 AM
Reply

WHERE IS KINGDOM HEARTS 3

0 up, 0 down

Riku994
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:10:30 PM

It's coming after Versus, expect it in 2018 :P

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:04:28 AM
Reply

You know, I went to the Distant World's concert when it was in Toronto last November at the Sony Centre for Performing Arts.

People cheered uproariously for all songs played.

But, when they announced FFXIII music... it was like a slow polite clap. VERY noticeable.

Nomura and Uematsu were in attendance. Uematsu even jumped up on stage to help the choir sing One Winged Angel... lol, that guy is awesome... him and his bandana...

Anyways, I hope Nomura takes that kind of story to home base...

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:14:46 AM

It makes you wonder what goes through their heads when they can actually see and hear fans who aren't thrilled about what FFXIII turned out to be.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:19:41 AM
Reply

Final Fantasy: Rectum? Damn near killed 'em!

0 up, 0 down

lupus
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 9:27:26 AM
Reply

i was so looking foward to FF XIV, i hate SE for that - SE never get any of my money ever again - from software is my fav japan devs now.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 12:27:56 PM
Reply

And here I thought it was Bethesda games that damaged FF.

If ever there was a series that NEEDS to be "more of the same" it's FF. There'll always be bitchin' about the latest FF, but they went way too dumb with FFXIII (that's right, it's the one to blame) and now SE is running scared. Why can't they just give us an HD version of something like 6,7,8,9,10?

0 up, 0 down

SmokeyPSD
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 2:18:56 PM
Reply

*yawn* ofcourse the brand is damaged, but they can't actually figure out the full reasons why. I'm just over even hearing about Final Fantasy. SE is just lost in the forest and I see no evidence of them finding their way out.

0 up, 0 down

xnonsuchx
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 3:25:45 PM
Reply

Maybe if they cared about what gamers wanted from the games instead of having a "No, we'll just do what WE want and everyone will love it" attitude.

2 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 3:36:46 PM

Thumbs.

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

Bloodysilence19
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 4:13:50 PM
Reply

Not on topic but rumors going around now according to Kotaku Versus is probably coming to 360 now due to add Square Enix put out stating they need 360 job experience For Versus. Now if thats true which I'm sure isn't but if is Square Enix would be done in my book.

0 up, 0 down

SuMtOnE
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 5:22:27 PM
Reply

if maybe Final Fantasy 14 has no monthly fee.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 8:37:36 PM

It was supposed to, but so far, no monthly fee has been charged. They refuse to charge one until it's fully fixed.

0 up, 0 down

Nynja
Thursday, September 29, 2011 @ 10:22:21 AM
Reply

Final Fantasy used to innovate in story and gameplay.

Somewhere, they lost sight of that and trying to appeal to both long time fans and branching out to new.

Where's MistWalker with their 360/PS3 RPG? That would satisfy my JRPG thirst since FF has been leaving me with cotton mouth.

0 up, 0 down

PHOENIXZERO
Friday, September 30, 2011 @ 10:37:05 AM
Reply

Wada has greatly damaged Final Fantasy.

0 up, 0 down

Gravelight
Friday, September 30, 2011 @ 5:07:57 PM
Reply

Paying extra to play games after you've already purchased the dang thing seems over rated these days. Most games give you add-on options and little nick knacks, but when I have to pay money just to play, it seems like i'm making payments on something that I know will end someday. Lots of MMO's are like this, I don't see the common sense in this for the consumers. Of course if it was more about the consumers the developers wouldn't make as much, but more people would play which means sales would go up as long as the game's hot. And yes, i do agree that the online FF should be separate from the main collection.

0 up, 0 down

SS4
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 2:06:08 AM
Reply

They need to drop the name and move on to a different IP. You cant milk a dead cow past a certain point....

0 up, 0 down

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories cheats	PSP
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas cheats	PS2
BMX XXX cheats	PS2
NBA Live 08 cheats	PS3
Tomb Raider Legend cheats	PS2
SSX: Tricky cheats	PS2
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories cheats	PS2
Tomb Raider Legend cheats	PSP
Legends Of Legaia cheats	PS1
Soul Calibur 2 cheats	PS2

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
	Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
	No, but I'll get one eventually.
	No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
	No, I've already got one.

Playstation 3

Playstation 4

PSP

Playstation Vita

Playstation 2

Playstation

Other

PSX Extreme

Site Stats

Square Enix: Final Fantasy Has Been "Greatly Damaged"

Comments (61 posts)

Leave a Comment

Latest Updates

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Popular Sections

Extras

Sponsor

Our Poll

Resident Evil: Revelations review	PS3
Metro: Last Light review	PS3
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge review	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon review	PS3
Star Trek: The Video Game review	PS3
Injustice: Gods Among Us review	PS3
Dead Island: Riptide review	PS3
Defiance review	PS3
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 review	PS3
Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel review	PS3

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified preview	PS3
Time and Eternity preview	PS3
Ride to Hell: Retribution preview	PS3
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger preview	PS3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon preview	PS3
Spartacus Legends preview	PS3
Payday 2 preview	PS3
DUST 514 preview	PS3
Dynasty Warriors 8 preview	PS3
Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness preview	PS3