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Final Fantasy XIII ships 5 million units

One day after JPRG's Western launch, Square Enix announces shipment milestone; Final Fantasy series stands at 96 million units shipped life-to-date; SF launch event video inside.

Nearly five years after it was first teased at 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Final Fantasy XIII finally launched in the US and Europe yesterday. And though the final day-one sales numbers have yet to be tallied, Square Enix wasn't shy about announcing the role-playing game has shipped 5 million units worldwide to date. The number is already 1 million units shy of the 6 million-unit lifetime sales estimate the publisher offered last September.

Lightning strikes 5 million times, apparently.

Lightning strikes 5 million times, apparently.

The global total includes shipments of the game in Japan, where FFXIII launched on December 17 exclusively for the PlayStation 3. There, the game sold 1 million units its first day on the market. In the West, Final Fantasy XIII is available for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, as first revealed at E3 2008. The company did not break down how many units the game shipped on either platform.

Final Fantasy XIII's 5-million unit haul now brings global shipments of all Final Fantasy games to 96 million units. The series debuted in 1987 with Final Fantasy for the NES, known as the Famicom in Japan. Since then, it has been featured prominently on a variety of systems, although Final Fantasy XIII is the first major installment to debut on multiple platforms at the same time.

For more on Final Fantasy XIII, check out GameSpot's video review of the game. For a look a Square Enix's launch party from San Francisco, peruse the video below.

162 Comments

  • chartovar

    Posted Jun 15, 2010 8:38 am GMT

    Yeah... but Chavez is the choice of my people, everybody seems to like him very much, even me, before this SH*T. Now i hate him...

  • immortal224

    Posted Mar 25, 2010 11:12 am GMT

    @chartovar: hey man, dont worry, video games are prohibited in my country too, and I hate the president of my country, but he is not the choice of my people.
    I am living in Iran.

  • ParisSun

    Posted Mar 15, 2010 1:41 pm GMT

    I have a 360 and I have to say this is a great game. I'm not even into JRPGs and I just love this story and the characters. With the sales that a game like this is getting, expect more exclusives to go multiplatform. In these economical times, it just makes sense. MS 360 owners will get MGS and expect PS3 owners will see a future version of Mass Effect. It's about the money people, not fanboyism.

  • chartovar

    Posted Mar 15, 2010 10:52 am GMT

    I am so MAD... I hate my president... Why he prohibited video games in my Country. I am from Venezuela and I have waited almost 4 years for this game and now I can not play it. Chavez I hate you!!!!

  • CanuckGamerzz

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 3:39 am GMT

    I just beat it, and am now working on Ultimate weapons and getting the Trophys!! The game is awesome. Oh - Just a tip! Chapter 13, When you get to a room with 2 Treasure Balls right next to each other.. Get the left one!!!! (You can only get one of them and the one on the left is better)

  • fire-afro

    Posted Mar 13, 2010 10:41 pm GMT

    ah, want this game sooooooooo much. I'm getting it in a few days

  • Jega__

    Posted Mar 13, 2010 9:33 pm GMT

    Hoping that Snow kicks Hope square in the nats, such a little sook..cmon just cause he dropped ya mum

    I keep thinking im playing killzone 2 when fighting Psicom, they sound/look so similar.. and those item containers are blitzballs !

  • chefstubbies

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 9:33 am GMT

    @kyle_360
    That's like insisting that the Phantom Menace is the best Star Wars of all time...Final Fantasy 10 had too many plot holes and continuity problems, the focus of awkward teen romance starring annoying screechy voiced Tidus and bashful Yuna, the fact that Auron remained after being killed because he had unfinished business...much like everyone else who had been killed by Sin...worst boss music ever...never once felt any challenge whatsoever...no emotional attachement to any of the characters...blitzball practically ruined the game...etc., etc., I'm not under-evaluating, I'm most likely over-evaluating.

  • kyle_360

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 5:36 am GMT

    @chefstubbies
    I say don't you dare! because the story and world in ff10 is so unique, and the stories twist's near the end are really awsome.....and it's not just a game, it's final fantasy,and IMO ff10 is the greatest game of all time.....of course it's just an opinion,but saying the story is weak....i think your under-evaluating abit.

  • lethalfate

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 11:11 pm GMT

    So far (Chapter 4) this game is amazing. Jaw dropping graphics & good chars, story, ect. I can overlook the linear game-play since it's nothing new to the FF series but the combat is too simple and kind of lacking in the beginning. There's little else to do but auto-attack over and over again. Since there's few abilities and ever fewer techniques its the best way to get 5 stars in battle. I do realize that later in the game strategy will come into play but they could have done something to make the combat more interesting. I would of liked a more classic style, controlling all the members of the party and a list showing the order of attack so you can formulate a strategy a la FFX. As of now, the 8.5 rating seems just about right. But that might change once I get deep into the game.

  • G3RK15

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:09 pm GMT

    Six hours in now and I take back the Hope comment. Kinda growing on me

  • G3RK15

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:08 pm GMT

    Got the Collectors Edition! W00t! Five hours in... So far liking Sahz, Snow and Lightning. Vanille's ultra-sonic voice is kinda getting on the nerves, and Hope just sucks.

    Linear game play is nowhere near as noticeable or frustrating as I thought it would be, which is great cos I like to feel like I have a bit of freedom in long RPGs. The marks seem like a good idea, but I haven't done any yet so I don't know. A pity that they're are no big towns or markets, loved that in FFXII, but maybe I won't miss it.

    The book and prints are a nice addition to the collectors version. All in all shaping up to be a great edition to the FF series.

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:14 pm GMT

    All I can say is so far is..... I need to go back and play, Im addicted. My favourite character so far has got to be Sazh followed by Hope, I dont like Snow.

    I dont care about the linear single player, it just reminds me of FFX (my favourite FF) and thinking about it, other than getting the aeons... I didn't really care for being able to travel everywhere towards the end of the game, so I dont see why I will be so annoyed with XIII.

    Would of been a nice feature to travel around and visit towns...but meh, this game is awesome, reviewers have got to stop following eah other.

  • awesome

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:11 am GMT

    Im 5:46 mins in and im already hooked..ZOMG this game is AMAZING!!..luving the story & everything... bleh!

  • kangaox

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:57 am GMT

    @ Franzkill
    lol thats coz she has an Aussie voice actor
    I dont think shes that bad! atm (im 9 hours in) Sazh is the only annoyin character coz of his defeatist attitude!

  • brian_13un

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:41 am GMT

    Great keep it up ^_^

  • xenoinfection

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:19 am GMT

    2 hours into the game and loving the story and everything!

    excited to see how they're gonna top this next-gen game in the future

  • squallgunblade7

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:09 am GMT

    about 20 hours in and loving every minute of it thx to this game i can't sleep lol

  • Trogeton

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:02 am GMT

    this game is awesome

  • Franzkill

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:17 am GMT

    Fantastic, brilliant, awe inspiring game so far, have not put it down! The only thing that gets on my nerves a bit is Vanille, not so much that I can't stand her just that she acts extremely weird and seems to have the most awkward speech diversity I've ever heard.

    Her accent is like a hybrid of American, Britsh and Aussie. But anyway LOL great game so far.

  • acerpg007

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 5:20 am GMT

    @santinegrete

    I see, ok thnx for the info..

  • Chickan_117

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 5:02 am GMT

    @slainta : Agree 100% with you. Was going to disagree about the 5 million considering the short period but it includes Jap totals so that probably accounts for at least 50% as they're a much bigger market than us for these games. I'm just happy I don't have to import them on my famicom anymore Would've been better if I could read Japanese of course...

  • slainta

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:23 am GMT

    We waited 3 years, 4 if one owns an X360 for the first FF game in HD. Whatever some haters can say this is technically the best videogame so far. Amazing graphics, great music, small loading times, glitches free. Then some people will love it, some others will dislike it. Like with every other FF game. 5 millions is not even that much, considering that the number should include both consoles.

  • pszone

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:45 am GMT

    well i got my copie and i like it better than the last one what it went wrong again this one great but somewere storyline bit better but wont each up to ff 7 to or ff8 but good news the part2 of ff13 ff8 creator doing the game whats meant to be reasle sometime this year but ff13 very great what fits in better than ff10

  • Breyant

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:18 am GMT

    Shipped may not equal sold, but SE still got their money from the vendors, and that's all that matters.

  • Hanzoadam

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 2:02 am GMT

    Geez thats alot of copies

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 12:32 am GMT

    Shipped ≠ Sold. How can a company brag about how many copies of a game that are perpetually sitting on store shelves?

  • toddx77

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:21 pm GMT

    This game is so fun I might do bad on my presentation tommorow in polysci lol.

  • Last4one

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:19 pm GMT

    22 hours now and I'm addicted!
    If you have a 1080p 40" HDTV!(PS3 High Resolution!)
    The Graphics can really hook you in!!!! ZOMG
    and the battle system!
    Story keeps getting better and better. Thats what keeps me playing and ending up falling asleep on the chair xD

  • lordallanon

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:55 pm GMT

    About 3 hours through it now and loving it.

  • toddx77

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:40 pm GMT

    I love the battle system

  • Elian2530

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:42 pm GMT

    @metalisticpain Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:03 pm PT "I like the constant plot points. Some people dont but im always sitting there saying, just 1 more section and video before bed... just 1 more bit of the story."

    Lol. Same here. =)

  • sagameister3

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:33 pm GMT

    I'm pretty surprised of the amount of "haters" replying about the sales of one of the most eagerly awaited games for the PS3. Just seems like people are knocking it before they even or barely tried it. Can't wait to play my copy of course

  • frazzle00

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:55 pm GMT

    I am 6 hours into the game (on the PS3) and I have had fun thus far. The combat is pretty good once you are allowed to "paradigm shift" and the cut-scenes are gorgeous. On the other hand in game graphics whilst pretty are not as earth shattering as some people have made them out to be; there are plenty of ugly textures (especially skin textures), and some blocky geometry (check out Lightning's fingers when she's trying to enter the Pulse Vestige).

    The story seems to be pretty decent (although not on par with some of the older Final Fantasies or for that matter Bioware RPGs), and Snow is just as annoying as Tidus. I could do without the Aussie voice acting as well but that's just me .


    All in all it FFXIII looks like a solid entry to the series, and is a welcome return to the more story-driven format that was abandoned by FFXII. There are better JRPGs out there. There are better WRPGs out there. But Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy, so these sales figures don't surprise me.

  • Ultrabeatdown55

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:53 pm GMT

    Game is EPIC!

  • chefstubbies posted Mar 10, 2010 6:24 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    chefstubbies

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:24 pm GMT (hide)

    @kyle_360
    yes, I played FF10 all the way through, hence why I consider it's story so weak. But "don't you dare"? They are just games...

  • CorruptAndrew

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:20 pm GMT

    I just got this game yesterday i have only played it for an hour so far i am liking it a lot at the moment the linearity dosent bother me

  • Xions-Fursy

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:04 pm GMT

    Love this game!

  • metalisticpain

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:03 pm GMT

    I like the constant plot points. Some people dont but im always sitting there saying, just 1 more section and video before bed... just 1 more bit of the story

  • Keiner

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:53 pm GMT

    Selling 5mill.....Daayum.... Its the COD for JRPG fans...

    The game starts off painfully slow. At least it gets good when you have the summons and the paradigm shifts. things go pretty nuts.

  • romedawg

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:51 pm GMT

    another 2 cents FF 7 to me was the better then 10...10 was great but I remember borrowing my friends playstation thinking I was gonna beat the game in one day like every other limited r.a.m. game before it and when midgar fell and the world opened up and I realized the scoop and size of ff7 and why there were 4 disk that it came with...I bought a playstation and FF7 with my next pay check

  • Elian2530

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:47 pm GMT

    In Final Fantasy 13's defense, the linearity isn't so bad. Actually, it's a nice change. It's more cinematic, revolved around story-telling, mixed with heart-felt and quirky dialogue, with a bit of humor. This was definitely catered more towards the casual crowd, but that doesn't make it bad at all. You don't have to worry about healing after each battle, mana consumption, and other hassles. My only gripe is I wish it was open world (map) like Final Fantasy 7. So much more could be done that way, but this is the new generation of gaming. What can you expect? I'm about 10 hours in, and I would rate FF13 a 9.5. Just because I think it's a fantastic game despite the linearity. Beautiful graphics, great voiceovers, and addictive battle system. It's simple, not quite deep as other predecessors but it makes up for it in many different ways. Lightning is awesome.

  • guitarist1980

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:44 pm GMT

    I wish SE would make an old school FF based on medieval fantasy instead of this pseudo futuristic bs with gun blades and spikey hair... Something about 4 and 6 I loved so much and who ever they replaced the lead designer with bring him back and make a new franchise based on legendary old school stuff please.. SE you are great developers but your new stuff is the same old linear stuff... to be fair I havent played this game yet but from the reactions I have been hearing its bascially the sequel to X.

  • VXLbeast

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:43 pm GMT

    I really want to get this game...but the linearity everyone is talking about sacres me, as well as the new battle system. Might rent first...

  • romedawg

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:41 pm GMT

    Oh yeah the jap\english translation is forth grade at best...Mom's are tough...Shakespear this is not

  • romedawg

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:33 pm GMT

    Im about 4 hours in and Im not far at all {the crystal ocean} but the opening of this game is the most linear final fantasy Ive played..and this includes the original nes final fantasy game...although the game has still been lots of fun and is just starting to open up the FF series in all other games have always had a feeling a reward for exploration from the very start of the game and the choices you make in the beginning affect the interactions and game play at the end of the game...I don't really feel that with this game so far...that being said this game {so far} is still better the 95% of anything else out there so please don't take my comparisons as critics

  • pete_merlin

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:24 pm GMT

    Combat gets much better around 15 hours in, maybe less, honestly cant remember

  • Fiotwo posted Mar 10, 2010 5:13 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Fiotwo

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:13 pm GMT (hide)

    Dont mean to offend fans, but the combat literally made me doze off...Im 5 hours in, hopefully it gets better.

  • lindz23

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:07 pm GMT

    Awesome!! I pre-ordered it and im going to pick it up tomorrow :-)

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