It's been just over a week now since Square Enix launched Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and mobile devices, and well, let's just say it hasn't exactly worked out in some parts of the world.
We've already heard how the game was pulled from the local eShop in Australia and New Zealand after ongoing multiplayer and connection issues and now, the game's director - Araki Ryoma - has issued an apology to all players who have been inconvenienced in the game's launch week and says the development team and himself will "try to put things right".
Here is Ryoma's full message from the Square Enix website:
This is FINAL FANTASY CHRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Director Araki Ryoma. Thank you so much for playing our game.
We have received a lot of feedback from our players since the game was released and are moving to address all the issues raised as quickly as we can, but I must apologize for the delay in making an announcement about the situation.
I also make my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused during play.
First of all, the situation where players were unable to play immediately after launch was caused by our servers going over capacity. We ran maintenance to increase that server capacity on August 29, which has led to comparatively stable running thereafter. Going forward, we will move to address any further server issues as required.
We would also like to release rapid updates to address the bugs that are getting in the way of players’ experiences with the game and are working on the update schedule announced below.
We are also looking into making further updates in addition to those detailed below, once we have reviewed player feedback, and will make further announcements once the update content has been finalized.
I must again apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers and beg your understanding as we try to put things right.
Thank you for your continued support of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition.
As noted by the director, the development team intends to address "any further server issues as required" and to roll out "rapid updates" to resolve all the bugs as soon as possible. Here are some fixes in the immediate future that are on the way:
The following updates are planned: All platforms
-Fixes for the issue where players will count as already having spawned an unknown element hotspot after being matched with a player who has spawned one and completed a dungeon in multiplayer.
-Fixes for the issue where items can be obtained infinitely.
-Ability for the hosting player to skip boss introduction cut scenes and myrrh drop scenes in multiplayer.
If you have any issues with the game that need to be resolved, you can contact Square Enix via its support page. How was your first week with Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition? Any issues? Leave a comment down below.
[source square-enix-games.com]
Comments (66)
First order of business is to fix players getting too many items
Why am I not surprised
Region lock fix when
I haven’t played any multiplayer yet, so none of these have been issues on my end. But there are some other things they could do. Map favorite actions to unused buttons. I’ve never used the defend action, because by the time I can select it, I’ve either moved out the way or been hit. Let me see my moogle stamp card for more than half a second. I hear Rebena Te Ra can be annoying in solo. Maybe make that easier.
They seriously need to add local multiplayer, and fix the region block issue...
@Itsacardgame
Love your profile pic. I think that's the first time I cry with a videogame 🥺
Well, hopefully because it's been a cluster****, they actually implement as many improvements as possible...
They wouldn't have to waste money fixing server issues if they only just implemented a simple local multiplayer mode like what the GameCube has done. Everyone already had a second screens (there phone, 3DS, PS Vita) try implementing those into the game and make them compatible with the Switch and PS4 ports. Is it really that hard Square Enix? Use 3DS for the Switch version and PS Vita or phones for the PS4 versions. Simple as that.
@Benjinat we seriously need another Layton game. That game made me cry too.
I guess this is something. They are at least TRYING to fix it.
Now if they could remove the region lock, that would make so many of us happy. I'd settle just to have that removed.
Fix the loading times. I booted up the GC version and way faster than the switch version. Like how
I never had local multiplayer connection issues, unless you count friends farting and wanting to leave the room.
I guess developers apologising for the broken game they've just put out is slowly being set into a new norm. I can't even imagine the pressure put on them to release games as planned regardless of the global situation right now.
I feel like Square Enix put everything into FF7 left this project to the interns. They aren't a small indie company with a handful of employees. Just because FF7 is treated like the best thing since the wheel, doesn't mean they could not also do a good job on this release.
There was a time when SE was a name that meant quality. But this release shows they are just another studio these days.
@sonicmeerkat I have. Once, when I as trading Pokemon with my friend, the dog tripped on the link cable and I lost my Celebi.
@Heavyarms55 Square Enix isn't a "studio". They are a conglomerate that is most known for games but they work on Amusement, Merchandise and Manga as a publisher. Their gaming part has internal divisions and subsidiaries.
It's the game getting back at them for ruining the multiplayer.
Now patch in local multiplayer
we're training them, by buying a game before checking ratings. Buying garbage proves we'll buy anything they make, why should they work for their money when they don't have to? Stop buying day 1.
@Benjinat I'm still mad about having to cancel my pre-order for a physical copy on Play-Asia, all because I couldn't play with anyone I knew.
Do these 2 things and you’ve fixed the game!
-
Love when a game comes out and 1 week after the creator needs to apologise for the mess they released.
@KayFiOS You can though. Friend list people aren't region locked.
Too little, too late.
This game deserves to burn to cinders.
Everyone involved should be ashamed for working on such a loathsome project.
To be fair, the sole villain in this story was Square Enix itself but to see the creative/development team willingly deliver such a half rate product in the first place, just makes them accomplices to the fact.
I hope this game rots into obscurity forevermore.
No local multiplayer was a crying shame. It highlighted a lack of appreciation for the game the moment they mentioned it.
Sell now, fix later.
Seems like the MO for a lot of publishers these days.
And there is often no guarantee that it will be fixed. And why should they care if they already have your money?
Just started playing this game. I wish the inter-phase for finding/searching for other players was more streamed line vs needing in-game friend codes...... Does anyone know how the ps4 version works, are they able to find other random players to join or do they have use the same methods as the switch version?
Hopefully they'll add local multiplayer If anyone's looking to play co op online for the switch version, shoot me a message/reply.
@Aerona
That's it.
That's the thread, folks.
Nothing more need be said.
NEXT!
Never purchased or downloaded the trial of this game after I heard from the tidal wave of feedback of how much hot trash this game was at launch. Agree with prior post, they got the money already and at some point there had to be a quality control prior to shipping per se out the factory. They were getting drunk off their accomplishments on FF 7 to care.
I remember a boring game with barely any story and a lackluster gameplay with too many requirements for multiplayer. Never bothered to finish on on GameCube and had zero expectation for this one before even learning about multiplayer limits.
Can't one person buy the game, and the others download on their phones, and play together? Or every one with their own switches, in the same room?
At first I was bothered by the lack of local multi-player, but now I'm more bothered by everyone who pretend like it's impossible to create a local co-op setting.
When you check the articles about switch sales, everyone claims to have 5 switches in the commenta yet can't stop complaining about the local co-op here.
The internet negativity has taken over with this game big time.
Don't even know why, cause the original sucks.
Hopefully, this awful release convinces them to add some local multiplayer. And hopefully include the actual village building elements with the multiplayer. I won't be buying until the multiplayer and single player experiences are identical.
Not enough servers? You only gave people one way to play multiplayer in a game designed for 4-player co-op. Crystal Chronicles isn't much fun alone. How did you not see this coming?
@Gaymer90 I shouldn't need to route through SE's servers to play with people in the same room. Both because my home internet is not stable enough for online play and because I often have my switch in places where there is no internet.
@Gaymer90 Well, here's the thing. Even with mobile phones or multiple Switches, you can't really play together. You can join each other's dungeon runs, but that's it. After the dungeon, it's each on their own merry way again. You don't even get to progress through the story unless you are the host.
So no, it's not really going on an adventure together. It's going alone and run through dungeons together. It's just not the same.
@Daniel36 I see, so they completely removed the co-op story progression? Didn't know that, it really sucks
@Daniel36 Yeah I had been considering picking it up until I found this out. That's the whole point of playing a game co-op is advancing the game together.
@status-204 how to know if the game is finished or not without trying? As far as I'm concerned, these issues were not addressed in the review her for example...
Just seems like another load of corporate BS to me...
The damage is done. Even if they fix all these issues, I still will only pick it up on a deep discount.
@Nemesis666 how impressive. You read a Wikipedia article!
The demo seemed like it had button input lag too...
What they really should do is add an update for offline play with friends.
@Gaymer90 Yep. Completely removed the entire "caravan" idea. Now you are just a lonely traveler running into other lonely travelers and joining up for a dungeon...
Which is a fine idea for an MMO but was not what this game was about. So it therefore lost all its charm for me.
So now I am looking for GBAs, since I have the original plus cables.
I'm sorry, but that's all they're going to fix?
Sure, a fix is better than nothing, and it's great they're trying to set things right for Australia and New Zealand, but are they not going to solve the other big problems like host-only progression while in multiplayer? Multiplayer only being in dungeons, and they can't go on the adventure with you like in the original game? Are they not going to put in local multiplayer at all? Not fix the long load times?
I wouldn't mind these problems if this game wasn't focused on multiplayer, but it was originally made with multiplayer in mind. For them to mess it up this badly is a let down. While it's nice that there's more ways to play this game other than GameCube, they dropped the ball with this remaster.
You can only polish a turd so much.
@muscpt As soon as Square decided this would become a mobile port, all quality control flew out the window.
@Daniel36 To answer an old comment, the region lock applies to the friend code system as well. The one in the FFCC RE that is. An AUS buddy of mine and I tried to add each other, we got different people with the codes.
In order to play with anyone from a different region, both player must DOWNLOAD the game from the eShop that it in the SAME region. In this case, he either needs to download the NA version or I need to download the AUS version (which at the moment is impossible right now).
@Benjinat it’s such a heartbreaking moment. It sticks with me always.
The fixing mentioned is all about server issues. They seem to have left hints about "some other stuff" but didn't clarify.
I'll be waiting around. If they really patch in local multiplayer, I might get it. (Coop story progression would be nice but I don't mind)
They won't add local multiplayer though, so really, they only started listening when their metacritic scores fell through the floor. Was this written in good faith? Maybe, but it's probably still a worthless apology in the long run.
How about less trying and more doing?
I'm even more glad I didn't waste money on this game.
the game itself needs to be overhauled it shouldnt even have been released in its current state to begin with.
@Nemesis666 Semantics.
They will never win me over as long as only the host gets story progression.
An option to start a caravan with your friends like in the original would be nice too! Make it like Stardew Valley where host starts a new savefile and then your friends can join that save file. At least you'd travel together then!
@Shade_Koopa Ahh sorry.... missed that one I guess. Well... that makes it even worse...
I'm not surprised considering this is about the worst Final Fantasy game in the series. It was just so so on the gamecube. I was really surprised when a he version was announced. But go ahead and bring this and keep Dragon Quest X to yourself. Rolls eyes
I'm 15 hours into the game and I'm loving it so far.
I guess I'm weird
@Zimon Many would love that idea. Course that require them overhauling the current way multiplayer works. Low chance of that happening.
They should at least make it so you can swap host around or have characters that qualify get drops of Myrrth.
@Daniel36
But that requires everyone to be on switch. Doesn't this game support cross play?
@malcire At this point, it's anyone's guess what this game does and does not support...
@malcire The game apparently doesn't even support itself.
I decided not to pick it up with no local multi-player, no caravan option, and when I found out about the annoying friend codes (which are region locked, making them a thousand times more ridiculous).
This game is a dumpster fire compared to the original. Honestly I wasn't that fond of the original but I had some hope that they'd modernize it a bit and add some content. Instead, they took the best and most memorable parts out, threw in a few metaphorical monkey wrenches and cracked wooden cogs held haphazardly together by duct tape, and released it to the public, knowing all too well that this thing is a joke.
You would think Square Enix would have more respect for a project that carries the Final Fantasy name.
@Northwind yes.. it's very underwhelming
My issue is the ridiculous lack of local multiplayer.
Fixing a fundamentally broken product...yeah, have fun with that :/
Rereleasing a game build upon local multiplayer without it, botching the substitute online multiplayer as well, having server issues on top of all that and launching with an overpriced catalog of DLC nonsense...
Fixing the game is hard enough, fixing a first impression like that? That would take some "No Man's Sky" level of dedication and work...and we're sadly talking about SquareEnix here...
The fact this didn't have local co op is an absolute joke.
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