FFXIII producer explains choice of Leona Lewis for theme song

Final Fantasy XIII Producer Yoshinori Kitase has told the Dutch version of Official Playstation Magazine that the choice of Leona Lewis for the title's theme song was partially due to issues translating the original tune.

“We tried to translate the song [Kimi Ga Iru Kara], but the singer had difficulties with that," Kitasie told the magazine (via TheLostGamer). "This is a new type of tactic, an experiment if you will. Why not use a different artist for every region?

"If both the content and atmosphere of the song would match with the game, then we would expect it will score better within that particular region. Square Enix as a company is thinking more and more internationally and localization plays an important part within that strategy."

So there you have it. Square was not trying cause a scab on the game, or p**s gamers off on purpose with Lewis' "My Hands" appearing in it.

The game's set for release on March 9 in Europe and the US, and DLC may or may not be released for it in the future.