Final Fantasy 13, 13-2, and Lightning Returns are coming to Xbox One backwards compatibility. The Fabula Nova Crystallis trilogy will be available starting next week on Xbox One backwards compatibility.
Final Fantasy 13 and its direct sequels will be available on Xbox One starting on November 13. The trilogy will also be getting One X enhancements, like increased rendering resolution and better performance. Square Enix and Microsoft have not announced specific enhancements, but the rule of thumb has been 4k-resolution and rock-solid frame rates.
Final Fantasy 13 was originally a surprise for the Xbox 360 in 2010. Up until that title, mainline Final Fantasy games had been PlayStation-exclusive since 1997’s Final Fantasy VII. The game was derided by some fans for its linear design, but praised for its soundtrack, graphics, and fast-paced combat system. Lightning, the game’s main protagonist, was well-received by fans and critics. 13 sold incredibly well with over 7 million copies shipped by 2017.
13-2 followed in 2012, as a somewhat unconventional direct sequel. It followed Lightning’s younger sister, Serah, and the new character Noel Kreiss as they attempted to find Lightning. 13-2 sees its protagonists time traveling, and contending with antagonist Caius in an attempt to stop the end of the world. The time traveling nature of 13-2 allowed a greater amount of nonlinearity, world building, and showed characters at different points in their lives.
Lightning Returns was released in 2014 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The game is set several hundred years after 13-2‘s ending, and sees Lighting return 13 days before the end of the world. The combat system sees players in more direct control over Lightning, as there are no other party members this time around. Lightning Returns‘ 13-day time limit gives player actions a sense of urgency. It was not as well-received as the other titles in the trilogy, and we gave it a 2 out of 5.
All three games will be purchasable digitally, or the physical disc can be used to play on Xbox One.
