A series that’s taken everything about Final Fantasy and contorted it to center around this one woman and this one battle system, without any scope for anything that doesn’t involve beautiful cut-scenes and battles interlaced with QTEs and plot points.

No, this is simply about the fact that Square-Enix just can’t do this any more.

It can’t focus resources on projects like Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, devoting over 300 staff members to it while interesting efforts from designers we trust like Tetsuya Nomura’s Final Fantasy Versus XIII remain development limbo. It can’t decide to put out yet another Final Fantasy XIII when gamers are already frustrated with the series and want to move past it (keep in mind that FFXIII-2 hasn’t been as successful as previous series entries). It can’t delay dream projects like the inevitable Final Fantasy VII remake!

Then again, this is not the same Square that we’ve known. When it merged with Enix, what did we get out of the deal at first? Unlimited SaGa. This was quickly followed by the ho-hum but still sold Grandia 3, before Nomura (remember that guy?) pulled through yet again with Kingdom Hearts 2, Dissidia and The World Ends With You. From there, it’s been a complete dearth of creativity and marketing plans.

When Final Fantasy XI couldn’t establish the franchise as a veritable MMORPG for the West, what could possibly make Square-Enix conclude that Final Fantasy XIV will do so now? FFXIV currently has 30K concurrent users on PC – Guild Wars 2 launched with over 400K concurrent users, and let’s not even get into World of Warcraft, with the Mists of Pandaria expansion pack on its way. Square-Enix has actually been focussing a lot more on the West, especially in publishing efforts. It picked up True Crime: Hong Kong and had it rebranded as Sleeping Dogs, bought Eidos and became the publisher for series like Tomb Raider and Hitman. And make no mistake these have all brought good will to the company.

But this is about Square-Enix’s premier franchise. This is about the series that made the company, that saved it from declaring bankruptcy. If Square-Enix is so desperate to ruin the decades of good will it’s built up, then it’ll continue on its current path. Heck it’s been doing so for a while now. There hasn’t been another film like Advent Children. Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance feels like it’s arrived way too late, despite being a stellar effort.

We’re still in a world where Duke Nukem Forever has been released but Final Fantasy Versus XIII is looking to share the same fate. There’s been no news on Kingdom Hearts 3, or even a new Grandia, or heaven forbid Xenogears. This isn’t to say Square-Enix doesn’t care about gamers – it’s just grossly misreading its current situation if it thinks it can devote time and resources to projects few people will be supporting upon their release.

Everyone and their dog knows Square Enix will release a new installment in the Final Fantasy XIII saga, and this new website has been opened with “A Storm Gathers” as the title.

The team that created the first game will present a new direction for the saga of the key character, Lighting, who was the main protagonist in the first game.

“The “Lightning Saga” that started with the release of Final Fantasy XIII has achieved a cumulative shipment of over 9.6 million units; and in May 2012 Final Fantasy XIII-2 was brought to conclusion with the add-on content entitled “Lightning’s Story: Requiem of the Goddess”.

Versus XIII is still in the pipeline though and if Square Enix cares about its fanbase, they should release that fast. *whines*.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Square Enix had earlier said that people should wait for more information on the proper conclusion of the Lightning Saga. What this means is, Final Fantasy XIII-3 could be revealed soon.

Yoshinori Kitase who was the producer of both the previous games Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2, has revealed in Famitsu that ‘Square Enix will make an announcement regarding Lightning Saga, the next development in the Final Fantasy XIII project’. Via Andriasang.

 He revealed that the work on the “new project” just started recently which means the game could be out next year since they are using reused assets just like they did with Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary event will be when they will announce this, so hold on to your seat belts if you even have a remotest interest in what’s coming. The date for the event is from August 31 to September 2.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Director of Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2 has hinted in an interview with Famitsu at Taipei Game Developers Conference that they could be announcing Final Fantasy XIII-3 soon.

Of course, he didn’t say anything explicitly, but  considering the last DLC didn’t solve all the questions posed by the cliffhanger ending for XIII-2, it’s simply logical to expect a new game.

Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary event is coming soon and when asked about whether we can expect any announcements, this is what he said: “The [FFXIII-2] Lightning download content had an ending that left a feeling mystery and hope. The day when the meaning of this will come to light is not too far off.”

The event will be held on August 31 through September 2 in Shibuya. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Thanks, Andriasang.