Final Fantasy is one of the longest-running and most respected franchises in video game history, but its many installments have been scattered across numerous platforms since its start in 1987.  With the release of PSOne Classics on Sony's Vita handheld, long-time Final Fantasy fans finally saw a chance for this beloved series to be consolidated on a single console, and new fans would have a way to enjoy the Final Fantasy legacy without purchasing outdated hardware.  However, Final Fantasy V remains the only game out of the first nine that cannot be enjoyed on the Vita.

Final Fantasy V was launched on PSN in November 2011, but it contained a game-killing glitch that affected players' save files.  This problem has never been patched in North America, so when PSOne Classics were introduced to Vita a year ago, Final Fantasy V was not among the compatible titles.  This appears to be the direct responsibility of Square Enix's North American division, as Europe has had Final Fantasy V on Vita since August 2012.

For North American Final Fantasy fans, this is a huge deterrent to collecting the series on Vita, since the absence of V is quite glaring when so many chapters are readily available -- Final Fantasy Origins (I&II), Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, and two versions of Final Fantasy Tactics.

Furthermore, the European market has also received PSP's Anniversary editions of Final Fantasy I & II, which are greatly improved over Origin's versions and much more optimized for the Vita platform.  These may not be as critical as V's omission, but they are part of the same problem.

With HD releases of Final Fantasy X & X-2 on Vita just around the corner, the idea of consolidating so many chapters on one platform will become even more compelling, and it seems like it would drive additional high-profit digital sales for Square Enix.  The decision to patch Final Fantasy V for Vita compatibility would make a lot of sense, both for the publisher and its consumers.

If you would like Square Enix to patch Final Fantasy V for North American Vita compatibility, or if you would like to see Final Fantasy I & II PSP versions make it to the North American PlayStation Store, please support this petition.  Vita is the one and only platform that has ever been capable of supporting Final Fantasy I-X and Tactics, and North American fans should be able to enjoy them just like our fellow gamers in Europe.

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