14 DAY TRIAL // Final Fantasy XIV Online won't be hitting the Xbox 360 because of Xbox Live, according to the creator of the game, Hiromochi Tanaka. Apparently, Square Enix could not get a profitable deal with Microsoft because of the closed nature of Xbox Live, leaving Sony's PlayStation 3 as the only console that will see the latest massively multiplayer online title from Square Enix.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Tanaka said that “The main reason why we couldn't go with Xbox 360 was the Xbox Live system. [Live is] different to the normal internet environment, so when we wanted to introduce this game in the same environment as Windows PC it had to be PS3, so that was our choice. Microsoft has a different point of view: they want to have a closed environment for Xbox Live. We're still talking to... We couldn't come to an agreement on Xbox Live.”
Square Enix is not the first developer to praise Sony and question Microsoft's approaches to the online components included in their consoles. Recently, in spite of his earlier comments, Gabe Newell announced that Valve would also be moving to the PlayStation 3 because Sony opened up its online environment, allowing the integration of Steamworks in the Portal 2 version that would be appearing on the console.
Final Fantasy XIV is a massively multiplayer online role playing game developed by Square Enix, set in the realm of Eorzea. It will blend science fiction with fantasy, in the well-known style of the FF series. It will use a skill-based progression as opposed to the classic experience-points-based approach that is to be found in most MMORPGs.
Furthermore, the game wants to attract solo players as well, promising the group play will not be mandatory for the most part, but will always be an option. Final Fantasy XIV will be released sometime this year on the PlayStation 3 and Windows PCs.