Hello to all the PlayStation.Blog readers! This is Yoshinori Kitase, the producer of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.

It’s been very busy this year, as Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII has already launched last month in Japan. But the team here is currently working hard to make sure the game is available in the United States without a hitch on February 11th, 2014.

One thing I’m particularly proud of is that there are many “firsts” for Lightning Returns. This is the first time we’ve created a trilogy in more than 25 years of Final Fantasy. This is also the first time we’ve introduced a completely heart-pounding, action-oriented battle system. Japanese voice-overs are something that all of you fans have been asking for. As a gift, we’ll be providing that to you all for free for the first two weeks of the game’s launch.

We’ve also shown you the behind-the-scenes development of the game from the Tokyo offices that you can re-watch here. And finally, players will be able to post screenshots of their very own Lightning through social media, so I’m very excited to see thousands of different versions of Lightning around the world.

There are only seven more days until the end of the year — how will you be spending the rest of 2013?

As for me, I will be spending the rest of the year playing lots of games I haven’t had a chance to play due to my busy schedule — with, of course, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster at the top of the list! I’m also playing these games in hopes for another great year in the gaming industry!

On behalf of the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII team, happy holidays, and we wish you all the best for the New Year!