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Final Fantasy Versus XIII development timeline outlined in GameInformer By Erren Van Duine on July 9, 2012 at 5:12 PM

The August 2012 issue of GameInformer features an article on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, but it isn’t what you might be thinking.

Instead of actual news, they’ve gone and put together a development timeline for the title, chronicling from the game’s announcement in 2006 until now. We’ve got the article in text form, but for the rest of it, you can check out the current issue of the magazine on sale now.

May 2006
At E3, Final Fantasy Versus XIII is announced as part of the Fabula Nova Crystalis, as is Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII. Along with Final Fantasy XIII, it is revealed as a PS3 exclusive.

January 2007
Nomura says Versus XIII will feature some kind of unique support for the PlayStation 3′s Sixaxis controller.

July 2007
Versus XIII is absent from E3.

September 2007
Versus XIII is absent from the Tokyo Game Show.

December 2007
Square Enix releases a new video adding more content to the original reveal trailer, showing a stylish fight and more of the protagonist’s powers in action.

June 2008
Nomura says Versus XIII is on hold while the team helps complete Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix later denies this, attributing Nomura’s statement to mistranslation.

July 2008
Square Enix announces that Final Fantasy XIII is going multiplatform at E3. The company claims it has no plans to change the PS3 exclusivity of Versus XIII, which is otherwise absent from the show.

August 2008
A new trailer debuts at a Square Enix fan event, showing a new female character battling the protagonist.

October 2008
At the Tokyo Game Show, the protagonist’s name is revealed to be Noctis, and the woman he was fighting in the previous trailer is named Stella. The first in-game footage is revealed in the form of a conversation between Noctis and Stella. The video shows no exploration or combat.

June 2009
Versus XIII is absent from E3.

September 2009
Gameplay footage in a closed theater at the Tokyo Game Show depicts Noctis running around in various environments, but no combat is shown.

December 2009
Final Fantasy XIII (now multiplatform) releases in Japan. The North American release follows three months later.

March 2010
Nomura reveals via Twitter that players can navigate the world of Versus XIII with an airship.

June 2010
Versus XIII is absent from E3. Nomura claims that the game’s storyline, character designs, and clothing designs are finished.

August 2010
Voice casting begins in Japan. Yoshinore Kitase says that Versus XIII might not release in 2011.

September 2010
Nomura affirms via Twitter that Versus XIII is being developed exclusively for PlayStation 3, saying: “The debate over porting is decided by the management based off the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed for the PlayStation 3.”

October 2010
Listings for battle planner and level design planner positions appears on the recruitment page on Square Enix’s website.

January 2011
Square Enix releases a six-minute trailer highlighting the story, new characters, and the battle system in action. Nomura confirms that Versus XIII will not release in 2011.

June 2011
Versus XIII is absent from E3.

July 2011
Versus XIII is still in the pre-production phase, though Nomura says that the team is making preparations to enter full production. New screenshots are shown to selected press, but are not published or otherwise released to the public.

August 2011
Square Enix files a new trademark application for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, indicating that the company still intends to move forward with the game under its current name (rather than dropping the XIII, as many had speculated).

September 2011
Versus XIII is absent from the Tokyo Game Show. Yoshinori Kitase confirms that the game has entered full production.

October 2011
Final Fantasy Agito XIII releases in Japan (under the new name Final Fantasy Type 0). No North American release plans were announced.

May 2012
When asked about Versus XIII in an interview, Nomura tells Game Informer: “We would like to ask for your patience on an official announcement for this title. It always takes time when tackling the challenge of doing something completely new, but we are doing our best to bring information to the fans as quickly as we can. Your patience is greatly appreciated.”

June 2012
Versus XIII is absent from E3. Square Enix gives Game Informer the following comment: “We appreciate the excitement for this title, but at this time, we do not have any new information to share on its development. We are extremely thankful for the continued support for the Final Fantasy franchise and Final Fantasy Versus XIII.”

A date for the next batch of information hasn’t yet been revealed, but if rumors prove correct we may see something new at Tokyo Game Show in September.

Posted in Final Fantasy Versus XIII.
  • StellaV3

    I do hope we see something soon from Versus XIII. TGS is where I’m hoping for some news and possible a trailer. We’ve waited long enough and I don’t think fans want to wait any longer…
    I don’t want to lose hope in Square Enix but if a possible XIII-3 ends up being released before Versus…well…. Let’s no go there.

  • http://twitter.com/Azuardo Az Elias

    It’s hardly unrealistic to think XIII-3 will come before VXIII — it’s likely to happen. Regardless, we really could do with some more info/footage this year. It’s been far too long now.

  • Anonymous

    If it’s not at Tokyo Game Show this year I’ll lose all hope.And yeah if XIII-3 gets released before Versus then seriously man, I don’t even want to think about it.

  • stevenm281

    Like many fans out there, there isnt a game out there that I want more than FFversusXIII, but I think than Square Enix will want to closure the XIII trilogy before unleashing it’s nemesis. I personally enjoyed FF13 and its sequel, so I openly welcome a FF13-3, but I still wish we get Versus or Type-0 (hopefully remastered for ps3) first.

  • stevenm281

    it would have been nice if instead of the past development timeline, they would have shared the upcoming development timeline, like Naoki Yoshida is doing with FF14 2.0.

    That would surely make fans more willing to be patient, since we would know the release date/window and what/where they would share information.

  • Anonymous

    This timeline wasn’t made by Square though, it was made by Game Informer. This was completely unnecessary as all its going to do is put Vs. back on the minds of people FOR NO REASON. There has been no significant update on Vs. status since they announced it was in full production last year.

    This isnt doing anything but reigniting complaints that the game is taking to long (which it is) and that Square needs to stop talking about the game if they arent gonna release any info, which they have stopped talking about it. Again this is just Game Informer trying to score sales with their “exclusive” timeline.

  • stevenm281

    I know this timeline wasnt shared by Square Enix, I’m just saying they should share one for the upcoming development timeline.

    Even tho the game has no release date, and that they are suppose to share info in order of game releases, they did announced the game prior to that rule, and especially with all the hype and demands, they should still give some info once in a while, show a screenshot here and there, while we wait for the next event where it will be properly shown and revealed through a kick-ass trailer/demo.

  • Crona

    I agree completely.

  • Ewtaewgawe

    I’m pretty sure it won’t. I’m guessing it will be at least two years before an FF13-2 sequel (ha…a sequel to the sequel).

  • Diablos

    A timeline of fail. How embarrassing for S-E. They announced the game too damn early.

    But hey, rest assured — we’re getting a rehash of XIII yet again most likely. *snore*

  • Ewtaewgawe

    Versus XIII has officially been canned by SE. Thank god; they need to get on to the better games and come out with localized Type-0 and end the FF13 saga with a bang!