'Final Fantasy 15' release date: Game almost complete, says director Hajime Tabata

"Final Fantasy XV" is almost complete, according to director Hajime Tabata.

According to Tabata, the game is almost 50 or 60 percent finished. He added that the first part of the game is complete. The recently appointed director inherited the job from longtime Square Enix Designer/Director Tetsuya Nomura.

Hajime Tabata landed the job of handling the new "Final Fantasy" game since Nomura is directing another game - "Kingdom Hearts III." It is still unconfirmed whether Nomura was kicked out of the project or if he left on his own accord for the sake of efficiency and fairness.

"I joined the project about two years ago, and around that time, we changed platforms," Tabata said in an interview with Kotaku. "We re-examined Final Fantasy XV's development structure. We had the gameplay team, the cinematics or CG team, and the game engine team. And we finally merged them all together to work on this game. I think we can deliver the best that Square Enix has to offer."

The new director on board is reported to salvage the game after its absence for eight years.

The production of the "Final Fantasy XV" started in May 2006 after it was unveiled under the title "Final Fantasy Versus XIII". But the game's long absence or lack of development sparked rumors that the game had been cancelled or thrown out the window. However, in June 2013, it was announced that the game will be renamed as "Final Fantasy XV" and will head to PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

"Final Fantasy XV" features the main protagonist Noctis Lucis Caelum who is a prince and a member of the royal family that protects the last crystal in the world.  They rule a city with very advanced technology. The story centers on the invasion by a war nation that tries to nab the crystal.