Yesterday we heard the news that Japanese gamers will finally get their chance to play Final Fantasy XIII on the 17th of December this year.

Now, Square Enix has released a statement on the European release for the game that may excite some fans of the franchise:

We plan to announce the PAL release timing of Final Fantasy XIII in the very near future. Yoshinori Kitase (Producer) has stated that the Western version will be released in spring 2010.

How soon they mean by the “very near future” is uncertain, but we should definitely get more news on the date before the Japanese release for Europe and North America.

The game’s producer has also been speaking to journalists at a premiere party in Japan, and he announced that the game will debut for the western markets within six to eight months, which leaves a May release at the latest.

Meanwhile, Kaz Hirai told the press at the same event that a bundle for the game and slimmer PS3 is planned for Japan, but they have nothing to announce right now. We all know how Final Fantasy crazy Japan are, and so the game and the PS3 in one value pack would do wonders to console sales.