Square Enix's highly-anticipated
Final Fantasy XIII won't launch outside Japan until 2010 at the earliest, says Square Enix president Yoichi Wada.
Speaking to Reuters, Wada revealed the title is
still slated for a 2009 PlayStation 3-exclusive launch in Japan. As announced by Microsoft at E3 2008,
FFXIII will launch on both PS3 and Xbox 360 in the U.S.
Wada appears largely unconcerned with the global economic climate. "Demand is generally brisk," he said, and Square Enix is on track to hit its forecast for the year. "The sluggish economy has not hurt us that much yet."
Still, Square Enix says it expects a 2.4 percent drop over the previous year in its operating profit to 21 billion yen ($236 million). And Wada says the company's unlikely to make its 50 billion yen ($553 million) goal for 2011 due to the economy.
"It's going to be tough ... Just when we are trying to boost our overseas sales, the yen is getting firmer," Wada said. However, he told Reuters that the company would continue exploring Western expansion efforts through business partnerships and potential acquisitions.
