Final Fantasy 15 Skips E3 for Gamescom

Following the recent release of the FFXV demo, Square Enix says it doesn't have time for a major E3 showcase.

Key new details on Final Fantasy XV will not be revealed at this year's E3 event in June, according to the game's director Hajime Tabata.

Speaking on the latest Active Time Report--a semi-regular video briefing presented by publisher Square Enix--Tabata explained that the team has instead targeted the Gamescom event in August for its next major promotion and marketing initiative.

"I think most people are expecting a big reveal around E3," he said in the video embedded below.

"E3 doesn't give us sufficient time to fully prepare [to release pertinent information about the game]. So I have been discussing with our marketing teams, and we've actually been considering Gamescom in August, instead of E3, as the target for the next major reveal.

"So we'll be taking a break from E3 this year," he said.

The news comes a week after it was revealed that publisher Square Enix will host its own dedicated E3 press conference on the Tuesday ahead of the official E3 opening. The lack of Final Fantasy XV information at this event will make room for several other big games from the publisher, including Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Just Cause 3, and a new Hitman title. It's not certain if Square Enix has another major game to announce at the show.

Sitting alongside Tabata in the video is Square Enix marketing manager Akio Ofuji, who added that Final Fantasy XV will not likely be completely absent from the Los Angeles event.

"I think we'll still prepare a short trailer for E3, but I think it'll serve as a segue into our Gamescom plans, and make you all excited for what's ahead," he said.

Tabata added that, while the FFXV development team will be relatively quiet in the months of May, June, and July, there are extensive marketing opportunities in the months that follow.

"Promotion for the main title will officially begin at Gamescom. Right after that, there is PAX Prime in North America at the end of August to early September. Then in mid-September, we have TGS in Japan. This group of events will be the platform for our reboot, or restart if you will, towards the release of the main game."

Elsewhere in the 84-minute video, Tabata and Ofuji outline fifteen feedback points that they are taking on board for the Final Fantasy 15 demo. A recent survey, issued to those who had access to the demo, sought feedback on what areas required more work.

Take a look below for the latest screenshots for Final Fantasy 15.