Final Fantasy XIII ships 5 million units
Shipments pass 3 million outside Japan as fans turn out for launch events
New release Final Fantasy XIII has shipped 5 million units worldwide on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, according to publisher Square Enix.
The game was released simultaneously in North America, Europe and other PAL markets on Tuesday, 9 March with the game previously having been released, as a PS3 exclusive, in Japan on December 17, 2009. Shipments outside of Japan have already surpassed 3 million units.
Launch events were held in San Francisco and Paris on Monday, March 8 and in London on Tuesday March 9. Around 3500 fans gathered for the French event on the Champs-Elysees, while the US launch party featured "talk show" style discussion with Square Enix staff and displays of scenes from the game in 3D.
"The European launch of Final Fantasy XIII has been incredible," said Square Enix Europe CEO Phil Rogers in a statement to Gamesindustry.biz. "We hope this latest Final Fantasy adventure will excite our loyal fans and introduce this rich franchise to a totally new audience."
Cumulative shipments of the series have now reached 96 million units, since its inception in 1987. However the latest sequel has proven to be one of the most controversial, with a relatively mixed critical reception and the lowest Japanese debut so far for a numbered sequel in the series.