FINAL FANTASY XIII Release Date Announced

November 13, 2009

FACE YOUR DESTINY ON MARCH 9, 2010 –
FINAL FANTASY XIII LAUNCHES IN NORTH AMERICA

Multi-Platinum Singer Songwriter Leona Lewis
Offers Brand New Song “My Hands” As Game’s Theme Song
 

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive
entertainment products in North America announced today the highly
anticipated street date for
FINAL FANTASY® XIII. This latest project in the multi-platinum FINAL
FANTASY series promises to be intensely compelling and will be available for
both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video
game and entertainment system from Microsoft on March 9, 2010.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated
franchise, bringing the series to multiple hi-definition consoles
simultaneously for the first time in its history. Expanding upon the rich
tradition of the series, Producer Kitase Yoshinori (FINAL FANTASY VII, X,
X-2)
, Director Motomu Toriyama (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2),
character designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V, VI, VII, VIII, X)
and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANASY X, XII) combine
their creative vision to deliver the latest masterpiece in the FINAL FANTASY
universe. Additionally, Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X, DIRGE of
CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-
) presents a sweeping soundtrack while movie
director Takeshi Nozue (FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN) and his
team of artists adorn the game with seamless cinematic sequences of
unparalleled caliber.

“We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of
the franchise – FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations,”
said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix,
Inc. “Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first
time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are
looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010.” 

Multi-platinum,
Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has come on board with
Square Enix to provide the theme song for FINAL FANTASY XIII. The song is
entitled "My Hands," and is featured on her highly-anticipated second album
ECHO (J Records/Syco Music) set for release on November 17th. Leona Lewis
took the music world by storm with her 2008 6x platinum debut album Spirit
which features her chart topping, biggest selling single of 2008 "Bleeding
Love," and mega-hit  "Better In Time.”
"When Square Enix approached Leona about including her song, "My Hands," in
FINAL FANTASY XIII, she was honored to be partnered with such an iconic and
groundbreaking video game series," said Tom Corson, EVP/GM, RCA Music Group.
"Leona is a natural fit with the game’s powerful themes and strong female
protagonist.  We’re delighted to be part of this effort, bringing great
musical artistry to FINAL FANTASY XIII which is a riveting and dynamic
gaming experience."  

Introducing new worlds, memorable characters and extraordinary stories with
each new installment, the FINAL FANTASY series has continued to reinvent
itself over the last two decades and has shipped over 85 million copies
worldwide. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing
less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system
of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will
be no exception to its legacy.

Story
Cocoon — a utopia in the sky.

Its inhabitants believed
their world a paradise.

Under the Sanctum’s rule,
Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity.
Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed
that tranquil days would continue forever.

Their tranquility was
shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie
from Pulse — the feared and detested lowerworld — awoke from its slumber,
peace on Cocoon came to an end.

Fal’Cie curse humans,
turning them into magic-wielding servants.

They become l’Cie — chosen
of the fal’Cie.

Those branded with the mark
of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a
fate harsher than death itself.

A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the
world.
A promise to challenge destiny.

After thirteen days of
fates intertwined, the battle begins.

 Features

Take Part in a Gaming
Experience that Sets New Standards
– The first in the series developed
for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL
FANTASY XIII
pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and
gameplay.

Experience the Unity of Speed
and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system
– The
familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing
numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether
inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or
expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to
the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.

Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide
of Battle with Paradigms
– A brand-new game mechanic enabling
players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle,
shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the
game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to
Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond
and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize
victory.

Witness the Battle Scene
Transform with an All-New Summon System
Introducing Gestalt
Mode,
a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action
to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their
transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through
simple button commands.

Delve into an Emotional
Experience
– An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing
cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed
fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?