White Knight Chronicles US release likely

After its debut at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, Level 5's White Knight Chronicles shot to the top of many PlayStation 3 gamers' most-wanted lists, thanks in large part to the game's visual fidelity. However, its release outside of Japan has remained unclear. As recently as last June, Sony was...

After its debut at the 2006 Tokyo Game Show, Level 5's White Knight Chronicles shot to the top of many PlayStation 3 gamers' most-wanted lists, thanks in large part to the game's visual fidelity. However, its release outside of Japan has remained unclear.

As recently as last June, Sony was unwilling to commit to a North American release for Level 5's latest role-playing game, despite narrowing the game's Japanese release to the publisher's current fiscal year. The game was subsequently released in Japan on December 25, topping Media Create's weekly sales charts with 205,000 units during its first seven days on the market.

Although Sony remains cagey concerning the game's international release, Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino is under the impression that White Knight Chronicles will eventually make it to the US.

"The only thing that I can share with you now is just my speculation or forecast," Hino told GameTrailers. "Whether or not the game will be launched in the US, yes it should be, but the launch date has not been determined yet." Hino also said that, in the event of a US release, it had not yet been determined whether the game's online portion would feature cross-region play.

Most recently, Level 5 released Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS. The well-rated game garnered a number of nods in GameSpot's Best of 2008 awards, including overall Best Puzzle Game. The developer has also gained recognition for its acclaimed Dark Cloud and Rogue Galaxy franchises.

For more on White Knight Chronicles, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

88 Comments

  • _full_metal_

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 1:02 am PT

    they complain abt the online in the game alot

  • _full_metal_

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 1:01 am PT

    there have been 2 reviews on this game so far and they both are 8/10

  • Xenoxion

    Posted Mar 30, 2009 3:01 am PT

    I hope it comes to Europe soon

  • Shunjinko

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 11:57 am PT

    Dont forget about South America
    WHY EVERYONE ALWAYS FORGET ABOUT SOUTH AMERICA?
    Im sure Hugo Chavez would like to play that game

  • hassy94

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 9:50 am PT

    oh and what? It's already out in Japan, how come their are no import reviews?

  • hassy94

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 9:49 am PT

    Is it just me or does this game's story seem VERY cliche, a man who can turn himself into a powerful knight who's trying to save a princess?

    I'm sure it will turn out well considering it's a 1st party game, but I don't think I'd like it.

  • joe_ender

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 6:23 pm PT

    i would buy a ps3 to get this game

  • rideru

    Posted Feb 7, 2009 9:05 pm PT

    i can't wait, this will be the first true JRPG on the PS3 since FF XIII went multi-console.... this better be good.

  • metalgear-solid

    Posted Jan 31, 2009 10:33 am PT

    What about Europe?!

  • XxX_Cheese_XxX

    Posted Jan 26, 2009 8:58 am PT

    THey are going to pull a Smash Bros and push the date back and back until no one has money,But im still gonna get it when it comes out!

  • kulit_u_ah

    Posted Jan 22, 2009 10:36 am PT

    sony always release on a date that people are not interested now.. haha it takes forever for sony to release a game. thats not good. so i think this one release well i dont know, so i guess we always wait for so long again.

  • Kashiwaba

    Posted Jan 18, 2009 9:41 am PT

    Well I played the Japanese version of this game and the gameplay was great I can say this game is the best JRPG in this generation i liked it more than Lost odyssey but too bad this game uses alot of kanji and i cant read alot of kanji with my current crappy japanese so please release this game in US :_:

  • vietboi89

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 3:32 pm PT

    does anyone no if this game is any good since it was already released or are we just going to go in blind, assuming that japanese gamers have no taste of a good game because they obsess with their usual little loli girls and lame action hero who is forever brave and a virgin? how come no one has referred to a game review to see how good this game did over in japan? chances are this will probably end up like another last remnant or infinite undiscovery. even though its on the ps3 i still see no sources that say that this jrpg is any good this might end up failing or just mediocre... there really doesnt seem anything to be hype about

  • stalepretzels

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 5:00 pm PT

    this game looks like crud.

  • FallenAngel

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 8:25 pm PT

    I don't think Sony has enough exclusive games to even consider not releasing this stateside. They need all the help they can get on the RPG exclusive side, especially with FF XIII not being exclusive anymore, and having already lost the DQ series to Nintendo and Star Ocean to MS respectively.

  • necronaux

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 10:29 am PT

    with 205,000 units during its first seven days on the market... and they're questioning a US release?

  • lightwarrior179

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 10:14 am PT

    It seems like a very good JRPG and it would be foolish to not release such a game worldwide.

  • xsa

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 9:09 am PT

    The recent trend that fewer and fewer JRPG's makes it to EU makes me sad.


    Luckily the PS3 is region-free and my PS2 can play imported games, but the 360 games suffering from this disease won't be part of my collection.

  • Dark_sageX

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 7:43 am PT

    please come to EU as well. Thank you.

  • OminousShadow87

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 5:27 am PT

    Why would we want cross-region play? We wouldn't be able to communicate anyways, you know, the whole 'language barrier' thing? Yeah, could be a problem. And don't expect me or anyone else to fiddle around with text chat in an online portion, whatever that may entail.

  • muhddogondaji

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:32 pm PT

    man i wanna play this game!!! pls set a U.S release date!

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 6:19 pm PT

    I can actually wait for this game. I still want it but I'm not starved for a japanese RPG since I have Disgaea 3 and Valkyria Chronicles, ohhhh yeeaah.

  • EPaul

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 5:58 pm PT

    Of course it has to come Stateside. The question is when?

  • lanmanna

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 3:59 pm PT

    Level 5 owns! Now I just want Professor Layton 2 over in the US and a new Dark Cloud.

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 2:29 pm PT

    lol,they will probably relelase it sounds more like a case of we cant be bothered localizing it.In the long run they are only screwing themselves over really.

    Also if theres not a European version i will probably be pretty unhappy and feel extremely screwed over like the usual British gamer but i can always resort to importing it from the states.

  • Yoshicon8

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 2:05 pm PT

    Yay!

  • FX102

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    Obviously I'd like an EU release too but at least the PS3 games are region free so as a last resort it can be imported.

  • Joker_268

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 8:47 am PT

    Cmon, where is europe in this.

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 8:18 am PT

    I want another Layton stateside.

  • Dixteel

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 8:11 am PT

    Valkyria Chronicles is a master piece, but strickly speaking it's not a RPG.

    So I don' think it's fair to use its lower number of sells as an indication that PS3 doesn't need RPG...

  • rasterror

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 6:39 am PT

    Should they waste their time? This game seemed to get a lot of crappy reviews from Japanese game reviewers.

  • Zombunny

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 5:41 am PT

    what about us in europe?

  • St_muscat

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 4:57 am PT

    What are talking about etcetcetc? According to my knowledge Valkyria was sold about 90k in NA and only 150K or so in japan. So I would like to see a link of where you got this 30K figure from.

  • etcetcetc

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 11:03 pm PT

    Valkyria is the best rpg released so far this gen but hasnt even sold much over 30,000 copies in the states

    so for those of you who think no rpgs is why the ps3 isnt selling have no idea what theyre talking about

    famitsu gave this 28/40 so im rather skeptical

  • 3D3

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 10:32 pm PT

    It's coming, the question is when?

  • rohver

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 9:25 pm PT

    This game was in my wishlist ever since I saw the very first trailer.

  • tu2pac

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 9:23 pm PT

    ...Keep it up Sony ... you wonder why the PS3 doesn't sell as well as you'd like ... no RPGs ...

    Final Fantasy isn't enough to save you this time ... I'll never buy another Sony gaming system if they don't start getting some titles in.

    How has the system been out this long and there are only a few decent RPGs ... and no ... fallout doesn't count.

  • Flame_Blade88

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 8:54 pm PT

    It better come to the States. Stop shooting yourself in the foot Sony and release more Japanese PS3 games in the States.

  • jessdevilboy21

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 8:39 pm PT

    sweet..

  • soulless4now

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 8:29 pm PT

    I hope WKC is released stateside. The ps3 could use some more rpgs.

  • higheclipse

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 8:16 pm PT

    @kerol_naim

    Haze didn't got 38, it got 34...but still famitsu must be in crack...and the 29 WKC got, was because of the online gameplay...that has nothing to do with the single-player campaign...it seemed thrown in and it was a touted feature...but since when those famitsu rates online gameplay...they must be really on something...

  • KillerFPS

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 7:58 pm PT

    This better make 2009 here in the US, I don't want to wait 2 years for it to get localized like Final Fantasy titles.

  • KH-mixerX

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    Rogue Galaxy "franchise?" Ya, I wish. Unfortunately it doesn't look like we'll ever see a sequel to that amazing game.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 6:17 pm PT

    @ Generic_Dude:
    A sequel to Dark Cloud? You mean Dark Cloud 2, which already came out back in 2003? Or a 3rd game?

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:57 pm PT

    Never judge a game by looks alone that is a lessen gamers learn very quickly and if Im not mistaken E3 also gave some prestigious awards to Too Human which received an average rating because of its repetitive gameplay will this be the next Lair or RedSteel or will it live up to the hype.

  • kerol_naim

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:42 pm PT

    @ ocdog45

    didnt this get bad reviews?

    Yeah...Famitsu rated it 29/40 but then again, they rated HAZE 38/40


    omg HAZE 38/40? Is Famitsu in on crack or something


    anyways, a Day 1 for me

  • ScreamDream

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:33 pm PT

    White Knight > Famitsu

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:21 pm PT

    yup

  • jobo030

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:17 pm PT

    by US does that also mean canada?

  • Pi_Face314

    Posted Jan 7, 2009 4:08 pm PT

    I want it!!!!!!!!

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