Square Enix Throws Everyone for a Loop and Does Something Epic

Earlier today, Square Enix updated the Final Fantasy XIII-2 website, adding the trailer from the 1st Production Dept. Conference in HD. To pretty much everyone's surprise, the English site also received a trailer in English. Yes, you read right, the first trailer already has English voice acting in it. Granted, it's only Lightning speaking, but the point is that Japanese and English voice acting are being done simultaneously.

Of course, SE had to out-do themselves again today, announcing the official release dates for the North American and European versions: March 22nd and March 25th, respectively, less than 3 weeks after the Japanese release date. This means that Square Enix was working on the Japanese and English versions simultaneously. Who is this company and what have they done with the old one? Because I really want them to stay.

Just to be even more awesome, the new director/producer of Final Fantasy XIV wrote a lengthy letter to the fans, showing the results of the public poll taken around New Year's. In it, those polled felt that the biggest change needed to FF14 was more quests and more incentive to socialize since there is currently no incentive. Surprising to nobody (except the majority of people in my linkshell), more than 85% of those polled would welcome overwhelming sweeping changes that would completely change how Final Fantasy XIV functions. Yoshi-P then listed the numerous changes coming to the game starting in February that would basically make the game a lot more like Final Fantasy XI to the point where they are considering even changing every class' name to be more in line with traditional Final Fantasy names, like changing Gladiator to Paladin or Knight as well as changing how classes function to increase individuality.

SE just continues to be more awesome, but I have to admit that most of this seems to be doubled efforts to save their own skin after Final Fantasy XIII didn't quite get the reception they hoped for and initial sales of Final Fantasy XIV was incredibly disappointing. Nevertheless, this could be one of the biggest years in Square Enix's history that does not involve a numbered FF or Dragon Quest being released.