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Ongoing discussions with Microsoft about how Final Fantasy XIV is to work with Xbox Live are partly to blame for the lack of announced 360 version, producer Hiromichi Tanaka told VG247 at GamesCom today.
“FFXI for 360; at that point PS2 didn’t have a hard disc [and] that was really difficult for us, but Xbox 360 had that from the beginning, so that really helped us. We managed to smoothly move onto 360 from the Windows version, so that was very good to us,” said the developer.
“However, for FFXIV, because 360 has its own policy with Xbox Live that is different from [the] internet, that’s something we’re in discussions with Microsoft [about], to come to an agreement. That’s one of the reasons it’s not going to be launched at that point.”
The “point” being the simultaneous release of the PS3 and Windows versions next year.
Tanaka told us in the same conversation that the words “launch timing” were “cut out” of SCEA boss Jack Tretton’s FFXIV exclusivity announcement FFXIV at E3, and that it “doesn’t mean that we’re not going to have a 360 [version] in the future”.
We saw the MMO in Cologne today. Looks neat. More soon.
Viewing 11 responses
Hunam said:
I take it they don’t want PS3 and 360 gamers on the same server. To be fair, I can’t say I blame them!
Blerk said:
Can you imagine the voice chat?
Psychotext said:
I’d pay to hear that. Put them on different factions too.
G1GAHURTZ said:
Oh right!
So this wasn’t actually a PS3 exclusive…
MS just didn’t want it.
Hehe…
Bulk Slash said:
At a guess this is because Squeenix want to charge a subscription fee (and possibly take micro-payments for items) and tie it all into their PlayOnline portal. Whereas MS want it all through Xbox Live and want to take a cut of the money…
I seem to recall FFXI was some sort of epic kludge between PlayOnline and Xbox Live.
Jadeskye said:
‘how are those bluetooth headsets you sony fanatic? can you hear me? HELLOOOO!!!!’
‘Oh yeah? that 3-shitty red-ringed on you yet?’
Ps3 and 360 players on the same server would be legendary lol.
Dralen said:
If I WAS to get this, I certainly wouldn’t get it for a console anyway. Although I’m probably not going to get it anyway, unless it turns out to the best MMO to be released since WoW.
Michael O'Connor said:
“At a guess this is because Squeenix want to charge a subscription fee (and possibly take micro-payments for items) and tie it all into their PlayOnline portal.”
Square has said previously that this wouldn’t require PlayOnline to play.
Even if it did, FFXI on the 360 allowed for the use of PlayOnline for the sake of this game. And it’s not the only subscription based game on the console.
They’re probably just ironing out the specifics of pricing.
“Whereas MS want it all through Xbox Live and want to take a cut of the money…”
This part is accurate though. All 360 online enabled games run through Xbox Live servers, unlike the PS3 where online aspects have to be handled by the companies themselves. If they could settle on something for FFIX though, they can easily settle on something for FFXIV.
ashers2ashers said:
FFIX is on the 360?!
Why has no-one told me this before!
Kai said:
@Bulk Slash
Maybe not, there still will be some sort of integration with their website which is still TBA.
@Michael O’Connor
SE just announced that the game will be cross-region-platform. Maybe Live would rather not integrate with the Playstation Network?
Michael O'Connor said:
“SE just announced that the game will be cross-region-platform. Maybe Live would rather not integrate with the Playstation Network?”
FFXI is cross-platform, which wasn’t a problem. Microsoft just tend to be really slow on their heals regarding this stuff; look at the issues Cryptic mentioned recently regarding Champions Online, for example.