Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be a Day One Digital Download

As Sony goes ahead with their move to release every new game as a "day one digital" title, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is expected to join the growing list of games to embrace a fully digital release.

The "day one digital" program allows players with good internet connections to pick up these games without even having to set foot outside of the house, get into a car, and drive to a GameStop outlet 20 miles away only to find that they've given out the very last copy you pre-ordered just hours before—but I digress. It's a thing that happens and it sucks, and the "day one digital" program is an initiative to get games into the hands of gamers seamlessly and as quickly as their internet connections can handle—much like Steam for the PC.

In any case, a new interview on Final Fantasy Network, the game's director Motomu Toriyama confirmed that Lightning Returns would be a part of the initiative and allow PS3-owning gamers to get their hands on the game way before their counterparts on the Xbox 360, much less those who have to head to the store for their purchase. Granted, the game won't have a nifty case to go with it, but if you're more keen on playing the game instead of collecting boxes to put on your shelf, the digital download is going to be the quickest way to get the game up and running.

The development comes as no surprise to us given Square Enix's full embrace of Sony's digital program with its other recent releases like Tomb Raider and Hitman: Absolution.