‘Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster’ Gets May PS4 Release Date, Plus Pre-Order Bonus
Square Enix has announced that the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be released for the PlayStation 4 on May 12, 2015 in North America. Those who pre-order at participating retailers, including the Square Enix Online Store, will receive an exclusive desktop calendar as a special bonus. The calendar’s artwork includes at least three illustrations from renowned Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano.
The announcement graphic tweeted by the official @SquareEnixUSA account showed off the calendar as part of a pre-packaged Limited Edition. Pre-orders are likely to be automatically upgraded to the Limited Edition that includes the calendar in a fashion similar to the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix release; however, verifying with the retailer when pre-ordering is recommended. Any additional details regarding the Limited Edition or the possibility of a PlayStation 4 Collector’s Edition have yet to be announced.
Via press release, Square Enix did confirm the North American Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster release would include some “system-exclusive features” on the PlayStation 4. One such feature is remote play utilizing the PlayStation Vita. Another is the cross-save functionality that allows players to save their progress and continue playing on a PS4, PS3 or Vita console. The game itself is not a cross-buy title; so, players wanting to cross-save will need to purchase the game for each console separately.
As with any generation upgrade, in addition to new features, improved graphics are expected. While the North American website has yet to provide additional details, the official Japanese website has a handy visual comparison screenshot gallery that can be easily navigated without understanding how to read a single character of the Japanese language. When viewing each screenshot in the gallery, the difference in graphics can be viewed by toggling between the clearly labeled “PS4” and “PS3” buttons at the bottom of the image.
Graphics were not the only focus of the PS3 HD Remaster, as the soundtrack was completely redone. However, the musical overhaul that Final Fantasy X received polarized critics and fans alike. In a clear effort to make everyone happy, new to the PS4 HD Remaster will be the option to switch between the remastered soundtrack and the original music tracks.
Final Fantasy X originally made its North American debut in 2001 on the PlayStation 2. Its popularity lead to a sequel, which was unprecedented for the Final Fantasy series at the time. Riding the wave of its predecessor’s success, Final Fantasy X-2 swiftly came to American shores in 2003. More than 10 years later, on March 18, 2014, the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster was released on the PS3 and Vita. The X/X-2 HD Remaster is the second Final Fantasy high-definition port scheduled for release on the PS4 in 2015. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD comes to North America on March 17, 2015.
