Hasta La Gadget!

SQUARE ENIX revealed that they will release the PS3 and Windows versions of “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” on August 27.

Advance orders started today, May 24. A bonus, as part of making an advance order, is “Early Access” where you can log in to FFXIV in advance and get 2 limited items that you can use in the game.

Also, “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition” will be out on August 27 as well. It comes with a special box designed by Final fantasy series illustrator Yoshitaka Amano, as well as other bonuses including a visual art book and special sound track, etc.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Price: PS3 – ¥3,300, Windows – Open price

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition
Price: PS3 – ¥10,290, Windows – Open price

Times are hard for some folks living around the world, as the economies of various countries are not said to be purring across all fronts actually. Some companies do find it difficult to remain afloat in such moments, and more often than not, it is not the “head” that goes, but rather, the “body”, so to speak. Case in point, it seems that Square Enix has confirmed that they will be laying off folks at European as well as UK offices. Just in case you thought that all is fine and dandy at Square Enix, they are not, never mind the fact that titles such as Tomb Raider, Hitman and Sleeping Dogs managed to move their fair share of copies, although those numbers fell short of Square Enix’s expectations.

Square Enix mentioned in a statement, “We are reviewing our business in Europe to ensure we have the right structure, content and skills for the changing entertainment landscape. We do expect changes to the UK office, which will affect personnel. We will update you when the time is right, but our priority right now is for the people within the business.” Hopefully those laid off would be able to get back on their feet, and fast!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Angry Birds Friends For Android And iOS To Release On 2nd May, Next Gen Xbox Expected To Be Called Xbox Infinity, Might Have Touch Controllers,

Just several days after Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello resigned, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada is also making the move. Square Enix announced today that Wada will be stepping down due to “a management reorganization.” However, the company also noted that they’re expecting a big loss in its next financial statement.

Wada has been the CEO of Square Enix for over 12 years, starting the role in 2000, but he’ll be officially stepping down in June, and will receive a 60% pay cut starting next month due to the company’s poor performance. Yousuke Matsuda, who joined the company in 2001, will take over as CEO. It’s not yet said if Wada will take on a new role at Square Enix, nor if Matsuda is just a temporary replacement.

The company’s expected net sales were reduced overall, and they now expect net income to fall from 3.5 billion yen ($37 million) to 13 billion yen ($138 million). Square Enix has blamed its poor performance on “slow sales of major console game titles in North American and European markets.” The company recently released Sleeping Dogs, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Hitman: Absolution, which apparently aren’t doing so hot.

While Wada is receiving a 60% pay cut, Matsuda will also be receiving a pay cut, but only 40%. It seems that the publisher has a long road ahead of itself, and if the newly-appointed CEO is getting a huge pay cut, that can only mean that other employees will be getting pay cuts as well, and it could possibly lead to lay offs at some point.

[via The Next Web]

Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada steps down due to financial troubles is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in December of 2012, thanks to a rather cryptic video, it was suggested that Final Fantasy V could be making its way onto iOS devices, although no specific dates were mentioned, but with Final Fantasy III already on iOS, it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination. However thanks to a report by FF-Reunion, it seems that gamers looking forward to Final Fantasy V might be pleased to learn that the game could be arriving for iOS come end of March. The downside is that the game will only available for the Japan iTunes App Store, at least for the meantime.

We’re not sure when an English version will be launched, but if you’ve played the game in Japanese or are fluent in the language, we guess you could go ahead and check it out, if not you’re probably like the rest of us who will have to wait. As expected the game will feature updated graphics and controls optimized for the touchscreen display. No word on pricing just yet but if Square Enix’s mobile games are anything to go by, it will not be cheap.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Original Metal Slug heads onto iOS and Android devices today, Final Fantasy IV heading to iOS 20th December,

The new Tomb Raider was released on Tuesday, which we’re sure many of you picked up your copy and are thoroughly enjoying Lara Croft’s adventures. But just how many people picked up Tomb Raider has yet to be officially announced by Square Enix, but Crystal Dynamics’ global brand director Karl Stewart clued us in last night via his Twitter account.

According to Stewart, a total of one million Tomb Raider-ers have been playing the game in less than 48 hours of the game’s release. We don’t think Stewart meant one milling concurrent players, instead we believe Stewart meant one million units were sold in 48 hours as it seems way more likely than one million people playing the game at the same time.

Considering the previous Tomb Raider: Underworld only sold a total of 1.5 million units, which resulted to a number of layoffs at Crystal Dynamics, we’re happy to hear a new Tomb Raider has been receiving the kind of attention and praise it deserves. Let’s just hope additional DLC could keep the game in our disc drives for months to come.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues Announced, EA Leaves SimCity Buyers Fuming As It Upholds Return Policy,