FFXIII in Europe within a year of Japanese release

News - Launch plans debated

Speaking in a new interview this week, Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase has said that Final Fantasy XIII should make it to Europe within a year of the Japanese release.

The executive tells Videogamer that it usually takes six months for Japanese releases to reach North America, then a further six to 12 months before titles hit Europe - but Square Enix hope to minimize this.

"For example we have already started recording English voices, and also the text localisation has been in progress, too. Normally we complete the Japanese version first, then move on to the US and EU versions, but this time there are some tasks that are happening simultaneously. So this time we're hoping to release sooner than a year later than the Japanese release."

The game should be out by the end of the year in Japan, on the PS3, and it'll be released simultaneously on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Western markets.