Looking Back on Final Fantasy XV's 10-Year Development Timeline

June 2006 - Final Fantasy Versus XIII is announced

Final Fantasy Versus XIII was officially announced at E3 2006 as part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis sub-series. This also included Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII, which would eventually become Final Fantasy Type-0. At the time, Versus XIII was labeled as a PS3 exclusive.

December 2006 - Final Fantasy Versus XIII Teaser Trailer Released

After its initial reveal at E3, there was very little information released about Final Fantasy Versus XIII, save for a few screenshots. Finally, in December of that year, the teaser trailer that press had seen was released to the public. It depicted a young man in black, who we now know as Noctis, battling a battalion of soldiers by summoning phantom swords. Take a look.

June-September 2007 - Versus XIII Is Absent from E3 and More

After the reveal trailer in December, Versus XIII went silent. It failed to appear at E3 in June or even receive a mention, and it also didn't appear at Tokyo Game Show in September.

December 2007 - A New Trailer Is Released

In December of 2007 Square Enix released a new trailer for Versus XIII. This wan't entirely new, as it was actually a new cut of the first teaser trailer but with added footage. We saw more of the main protagonists and his combat abilities. Watch it here.

June & July 2008 - Final Fantasy XIII Goes Multiplatform

In June 2008, Tetsuya Nomura, Versus XIII's director and also known for Kingdom Hearts, says that the team is putting development on hold in order to help finish Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix later denies this and says it was a mistranslation. At E3 2008, Square announces XIII is going multiplatform, but says they still plan to have Versus XIII as a PS3 exclusive.

August 2008 - New Trailer Reveals Female Character

At a Square Enix fan event, the company releases a brand new trailer for Versus XIII. The short trailer shows the protagonist battling a new female character, who uses a rapier and magic in battle. Take a look at it here.

October 2008 - Protagonist's Name Revealed and New Video

During Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix finally reveals the name of Versus XIII's protagonist, Noctis. Additionally, they announce the name of the woman he's fighting as Stella. The first in-game footage of Versus XIII is released, showing off a conversation between Noctis and Stella. Watch it with English subtitles here.

June 2009 - Versus XIII Once Again Misses E3

For the third year in a row, Final Fantasy Versus XIII is conspicuously absent from E3.

September 2009 - Footage Is Shown Off Behind Closed Doors

Footage of Final Fantasy Versus XIII is shown off behind closed doors at Tokyo Game Show. The footage shows Noctis exploring wide open areas like a grassy plain in real time. It does not, however, show off any combat.

March-June 2010 - New Info, But Versus XIII Misses E3

In March of 2009, Tetsuya Nomura revealed over Twitter that players could explore the world of Versus XIII via airship. The game would however, yet again, miss E3.

August & September 2010 - Voice Casting Begins, PS3 Exclusivity

Japanese voice casting for the game officially begins in August of 2010, and Yoshinori Kitase of Square Enix says the game may not release in 2011. A month later in September, Nomura reconfirms over Twitter that Versus XIII is a PS3 exclusive.

January 2011 - A Lengthy Gameplay Trailer is Released

Square Enix releases a lengthy trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, giving the public their first look at gameplay in action. The six minute trailer shows new story footage, while also showing Noctis and some new party members battling a Behemoth and other enemies. Watch it here.

June to September 2011 - Versus XIII Misses E3 and TGS

For another arduous year Versus XIII would not only miss E3 again, but also TGS as well. However, in August a new trademark is filed by Square Enix for Versus XIII, and in September Nomura states the game has entered full production.

May-June 2012 - Versus XIII Misses Another E3

After months of radio silence on the game, in May Nomura asks for fans' patience in an interview with Game Informer. He reiterates the same message at E3 to the magazine, thanking fans for their support. Square Enix does, however, show off a stunning new tech demo called Agni's Philosophy. The demo is branded as Final Fantasy and uses cutting edge technology. Take a look at it here.

July-October 2012 - Rumors Pop Up About Versus XIII Being Cancelled

Shortly after E3, rumors begin to pop up about the potential cancellation of Versus XIII. Square Enix president Yoichi Wada posts a tweet in July, dismissing the rumors. Tetsuya Nomura also comments about the game still being in production in October.

December 2012 - Hajima Tabata Takes Over For Tetsuya Nomura

This fact wouldn't be found out until later, but in December of 2012 Hajime Tabata takes over the role of director of Versus XIII from Tetsuya Nomura. Tabata was the director behind Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy Type-0. Tabata and Nomura, as well as the rest of the dev team, meet extensively about the direction of the title.

March-June 2013 - Versus XIII Is Officially Rerevealed as Final Fantasy XV

In March, rumors begin to pop up about Versus XIII being rebranded and moved to the PS4. In June, at Sony's E3 press conference, those rumors are confirmed, and Square Enix reveals a stunning brand new trailer. At the end the Versus XIII logo shatters and reforms into Final Fantasy XV. Take a look at it here.

Fall 2013 - The Luminous Studio and Final Fantasy XV Teams Are Merged

Luminous Studio was Square Enix's brand new in-house engine. In fall of 2013, the team behind the engine and the team behind FFXV were merged. Hajime Tabata insists on restructuring the game with an open world design, despite some hesitancy from the Luminous team. The game misses TGS this year.

February 2014 - Yoshinori Kitase Comments on Final Fantasy XV

Yoshinori Kitase was the director behind many games in the series including Final Fantasy VII and X. In February 2014, Kitase says that Final Fantasy XV is “quite far into development now and it is being given a very high priority within the company itself.” He also says that XV is not competing with Kingdom Hearts 3 for resources.

April-June 2014 - XV Misses E3 But Gets New Details

In April of 2014, official product pages put up by Square Enix say the title has been "designed as an action game." Final Fantasy XV does miss E3 however, with Shinji Hashimoto explaining that fans would have to wait to get more info.

September 2014 - Square Announces Tabata as Director and Episode Duscae Demo

Two big pieces of information come out of Tokyo Game Show, the first being the official announcement of Hajime Tabata taking over as the game's director. At the same time, Square Enix announces Episode Duscae, a demo scheduled to release some time in 2015. For North America, the demo will come with day one copies of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. A new trailer was also released that you can see here.

December 2014 - A New Trailer Releases Out of Jump Festa

A brand new trailer releases out of Jump Festa for Final Fantasy XV, revealing new information. Here we get our first look at the city of Lestallum and the massive archaen/summon Titan. Shortly after the event, an English version of the trailer releases, letting us hear the English voices for the first time. Take a look at it here.

March 2015 - Final Fantasy Type-0 and the Episode Duscae Demo Release

For the first time the public gets a playable version of Final Fantasy XV, both at PAX in March and with the release of Type-0. Episode Duscae gives players a few hours of playtime, as they hunt down a Behemoth to earn money for car repairs. The demo was only ever made playable to purchasers of Type-0.

June 2015 - XV Misses E3, Demo Update, and Luna Revealed

Sadly XV misses E3 again, but Episode Duscae does receive an update to a 2.0 version. This adds on new combat options, sidequests, and dialogue. Additoinally, Tabata reveals that the previous heroine and love interest, Stella, has been scrapped and replaced with a new character named Luna. This character has a different role in the changing story of Final Fantasy XV.

August 2015 - Gamescom Trailer and Story Details

The German gaming event Gamescom brings a brand new trailer titled "Dawn" for Final Fantasy XV, along with story details. The trailer is set 15 years before XV, and shows Noctis and his father King Regis. New details talk about the theme of bonds, and the relationship between Noctis and his father, as well as how Luna is a "stronger, more determined character." Watch the Dawn trailer here.

August & September 2015 - XV's Release Window Confirmed, Dawn 2.0

During a panel at PAX Prime, Square Enix confirms that Final Fantasy XV will finally be releasing in 2016. No exact date is given. The company also releases a new cut of the Dawn trailer, titled "Dawn 2.0." Watch it here.

January 2016 - Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV Is Announced

During one of their Active Time Report updates, Hajime Tabata announces that an event in March will unveil the game's final release date. He also announces a new tech demo will be released at some point. On the game's forums, lead game designer Takizawa Masashi discusses how Final Fantasy XV will have two different battle settings.

March 2016 - Uncovered Announces Date, Kingsglaive, and More

Square Enix has a huge blowout of news at their Uncovered event. The company announces a CG movie titled Kingsglaive, an anime miniseries titled Brotherhood, music by Florence + The Machine, a mobile game, the Platinum Demo, and a release date of September 30.The first episode of Brotherhood and the Platinum Demo release immediately. A new trailer is released that you can watch here.

June 2016 - Final Fantasy XV Makes It to E3

After missing what feels like almost every E3, Final Fantasy XV has a huge showing at E3 2016. There's a brand new trailer shown, as well as a demo of the Titan battle. The demo has some technical issues, but would be shown many more times over the next couple months. Watch the trailer here, and the demo here.

August - DLC Announced, Kingsglaive Releases

Square Enix announces a Season Pass and DLC for Final Fantasy XV. Three of the DLCs will let you play as Noctis' three friends, while the fourth will function as an expansion. We'd later find out that the expansion will add on co-op multiplayer. Kingsglaive also releases in select theaters to mixed reception. Fans seem to enjoy it however.

August & September - Final Fantasy XV Gets Delayed

With only a month to go until release, Square Enix delays Final Fantasy XV to Nov. 29. Hajime Tabata cites technical issues as the reason, and the team not wanting fans to have to download a day one patch. The mobile tie-in game Justice Monsters V is also released in September.

September-November 2016 - New Trailers and Announcements

At Tokyo Game Show Square Enix releases a new four minute trailer showing off new story for the game. Then at the beginning of November a gorgeous CG trailer called "Omen" is released. During this time Square also announces a new mobile tie-in game called King's Knight, and another mobile MMO being developed by Mobile Strike developer Machine Zone. Watch the TGS trailer here, and Omen here.

November 29, 2016 - Final Fantasy XV Releases

After 10 long years, Final Fantasy XV will finally release on Xbox One and PS4. Dates for the game's DLC have yet to be announced, but will be coming at a later date. Additionally, no date has been given for the mobile MMO developed by Machine Zone. We're nearly there now.

Looking Back on Final Fantasy XV’s 10-Year Development Timeline