The developers have aimed for a world where the players would be able to reach almost everything visible on the screen, and there are no load times between areas unless the player either teleports, uses a vehicle, or there is a storyline event that transports the player somewhere new. Her abilities differ based on her elevated height.

She traverses freely over the game's variety of terrain and can jump on obstacles, such as telephone poles, and use elements of stealth. Players take control of Lightning, the main character from Final Fantasy XIII, as the sole playable character. In November the release date was announced for 10 December 2015. In June 2015 Square Enix tweeted that the game was still coming for Steam, but could not confirm a release date.

However, the stated Spring 2015 release window passed with no news. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was announced to come for Steam in the wake of Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Keywords for the world's design are 'gothic, mechanical, and fantasy.' Yuji Abe has stated that in Final Fantasy XIII many areas were places the player could only pass through, but in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, there are many places to explore. Nova Chrysalia has been designed similar to a 'tourist guide style' seen in MMORPGs, and each team presented the continents in this style. Players have a high degree of freedom and will see new roads and cities from tall landmarks and can easily get lost. The game's world, Nova Chrysalia, is an active open-world with some platforming elements. Also unlike its predecessor, the game has just one ending. Unlike Final Fantasy XIII-2, the game's retail version contains the complete story, meaning players won't have to purchase downloadable content. The game takes place five hundred years after the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2 where Lightning is tasked with saving the souls of humanity in a world heading for destruction.

Intended to end the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, it features Lightning as the main protagonist. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII-2, and a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series.

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