14 DAY TRIAL // Some while ago, Square Enix's Shinji Hashimoto, made a few scary statements regarding Final Fantasy on Xbox 360. Apparently it couldn't be done: "As for Final Fantasy on the Xbox 360, it's currently a completely blank page." Thus, some thought the series would never again appear on Microsoft's next-gen console. It's not exactly so...
As Eurogamer reports, a spokesperson for Square Enix told GamesIndustry.biz that "Hashimoto-san was talking about the current situation" meaning that his comments mustn't be at all interpreted as forward-looking. However, famous Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said that he expects the next Final Fantasy installment to hit the PlayStation 3 alone and saw that Square Enix has some tough decisions ahead:
"The series has always been single console and given the Xbox 360 sell through in Japan, it would be hard to put the next Final Fantasy instalment on the 360 only," Pachter told GI.biz. "Square Enix faces a dilemma: put the next game on the 360 only and alienate Japanese fans, depart with tradition and make it multi-platform, or go with PS3 as an exclusive and deal with the backlash from the west.
Pachter concluded: "I view Square Enix as a tradition-bound company, and expect the last alternative to be chosen."
The reality is, it's not that good with either console. The Xbox 360 is bound to lose popularity soon as Microsoft didn't slash the price (plus it's been there for quite some time) and it's not doing so well in Japan, while the PS3 isn't doing good, period. So what is Square Enix to do?
Most likely, they'll go with one of the two consoles mentioned above, not both, as none is a good insurance policy for the developer. But all is not lost. The same developer has a new RPG up its sleeve: The Last Remnant, currently in development for both platforms mentioned above, launching simultaneously in the US and Japan. It should provide Square Enix with a better picture of things, when it's released.