Square Electronic Arts, L.L.C. in a surprise announcement on Monday afternoon said that it would be showing Final Fantasy VIII for the PC and the PlayStation at this week's E3. The title is expected to release for the PC sometime this winter and will release for the PlayStation this fall. As an added bonus, the company will also be showing Final Fantasy Anthology for the PlayStation, which is scheduled to ship this winter. It offers gamers Final Fantasy V and VI in one package.

　　FFVIII was released to Japanese gamers back in February and has sold more than 3.3 million copies in one month. The series has sold more than 22 million copies worldwide. Square's oncoming tsunami FFVIII could take the US by storm, as it places gamers in control of Squall, an elite combat-team member who engages in a power struggle with another faction. As Squall makes his way, he'll cross paths with a free-spirited woman named Rinoa Heartily, the sorceress Edea, the instructor Quistis Trepe, and Squall's archrival, Seifer.

　　"The Final Fantasy franchise has been a game-industry phenomenon in terms of its popularity, and we are thrilled to bring more PC gamers into the fold to share in the excitement of the series," said Jun Iwasaki, president of Square Electronic Arts. "The PC platform has allowed Square's development team to significantly enhance the graphics in this already visually stunning game. Characters' detailed expressions and facial movements will be amazingly lifelike. Final Fantasy VIII promises to become the benchmark for RPGs on the PC."

　　All the Final Fantasy games for both platforms will be shown during E3 at booth #1506.