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Final Fantasy XIII is a console role-playing game being developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is due for release on PlayStation 3 in Japan on December 17, 2009 and on both consoles in PAL regions and North America on March 9, 2010. First appearing at the 2006 E3, the game features both futuristic and natural elements; it is set between a land of wilderness and the high-tech world above it. Final Fantasy XIII is the flagship title of the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection of Final Fantasy games.

During Microsoft's media briefing at the 2008 E3, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy XIII would be released in North America and Europe on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Furthermore, the Xbox 360 version will come on multiple discs. A Japanese release of the Xbox 360 version of the game is not planned.

A playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII is included in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete (released on April 16 in Japan and June 2 for North America) on Blu-ray Disc for PlayStation 3, along with new trailers of Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII. The demo, however, was only released in Japan and is not reflective of the actual game as it was created using an old build of the game.

Square Enix confirmed at a Japanese press event that Final Fantasy XIII will be out on December 17, 2009 in Japan. Suntory also plans to release the Final Fantasy XIII Elixir to promote the game's release. At the same press event, Square Enix also announced that it would be bundling Final Fantasy XIII in Japan with a limited edition white 250GB PlayStation 3 Slim with a pink colour print of Lightning on the surface of the console, which will release on the same day.

The game's producer, Yoshinori Kitase, along with other creators of the game, put together a video with interviews and new footage on November 13, 2009. The conclusion of the video announced that the game is to be released on March 9, 2010, for both Europe and North America.