We’ve heard rumors all year thatFinal Fantasy Versus XIII, the long dormant companion title to 2009’sFinal Fantasy XIII, had been canceled. Until we get official word from Square-Enix, the cancellation will have to remain a rumor, but this report from the fine folks atKotaku is pretty convincing.
It would be logical for Square-Enix to move away from theFinal Fantasy XIIIbrand at this point. The whole purpose of linkingVersus XIIItoFinal Fantasy XIIIback in 2006 was to show consumers that the next evolution in theFinal Fantasyseries was to be a gigantic, multi-dimensional,very importantenterprise. Six years later,Final Fantasy XIIIis no longer the “next evolution” ofFinal Fantasyin the eyes of consumers. Now it’s “that oldFinal Fantasygame that some people really hated and then got a weird sequel that no one paid that much attention to”. If Square-Enix wants to get people more excited forVersus XIII(which had no narrative, thematic, or gameplay ties toFinal Fantasy XIIIanyway), then might be a good idea to name it something else.Final Fantasy XVis one idea.
Square-Enix is holding a Final Fantasy event on September 1st, and the word is they’ll be making someFinal Fantasy XIIIannouncements there. Maybe we’ll find out the fate ofFinal Fantasy Versus XIIIthen.
