Square Enix plot FF XIII and Last Remnant global debuts

Ambitious plans afoot

With the E3 Media & Business Summit just hours away in Santa Monica, the major players of the games industry have finally begun showing their hands, Square Enix revealing that they're hoping to release Final Fantasy VIII and Last Remnant simultaneously worldwide. Which would, if nothing else, make a pleasant change for those of us rooted in PAL regions.

"For one of our biggest upcoming titles, Last Remnant, we're working to simultaneously launch in the United States and Japan - and we're aiming for Europe. We're still assessing whether that's feasible, but it's a goal," Squenix American CEO John Yamamoto told UK business site GamesIndustry.biz.

The CEO and president added that the publisher is working hard toward this goal, and has similar ambitions for the release of Final Fantasy VIII, Yamamoto stating "We'll try our best. Our ultimate purpose is to release titles in five languages at the same time. That is our ultimate goal and we are working on that."

With the PS3 and Xbox 360 struggling in Japan, it is possible Square Enix have elevated the importance of Europe and other PAL regions to their sales cause, given that Sony and Microsoft's consoles fair better in these locales and are the platforms of choice for Square Enix's upcoming releases. Last Remnant is en route to both the Xbox 360 and PS3, and while Final Fantasy VIII is only promised for the PS3 thus far - an Xbox 360 release has been hinted at for the future. More soon.

By Luke Guttridge