MS paid them!!!!

[greenmedic88]

It's just a rumor at this point really, but not one without basis for possible truth.

From SE's POV, it makes a great deal of sense to open the game to the NA and EU 360 markets based upon the current userbase and the fact that there is a pre-established market on that console for JRPGs.

Even without any incentives from MS, it still means additional sales since not everyone with a 360 would have realistically bought a PS3 for that one game.

A lack of willingness from SCE to provide financial "help", would have been incentive enough to consider going multi-platform if rising development costs and a fairly modest user base in the PS3 had SE concerned.

Any offer from MS, whether it be a waiver on licensing fees for multiple discs, or for a set number of units, rebates on stock, development funds, etc. would have been reason enough to cement the decision.

The only consumers that are really getting the raw end of the deal are the Japanese 360 owners. But they were under the assumption that FFXIII was going to be a PS3 exclusive when they bought the console. Not that it still isn't a big slap in the face to say all major 360 markets get a port EXCEPT Japan.