[Update] Added new information, including release window data, the first official screenshot, and a teaser trailer below. [End of Update]

After a tornado of rumours hit the ‘net earlier this year hinting regarding the existence of a sequel to Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII, the publisher has recently gone and officially announced that a follow-up to that RPG is currently in development.

Entitled Final Fantasy XIII-2, development of the game will once again progress under the watchful eyes of director Motomu Toriyama and producer Yoshinori Kitase, both of whom worked on the original Final Fantasy XIII.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is also scheduled for release on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this year, and will see the return of protagonist Lightning, while a new unnamed character will also star. You can check out the official Final Fantasy XIII-2 website for now, but it’s currently all in Japanese with no real new information to speak of.

[Update]

Square Enix has revealed that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will become available at the end of 2011 in Japan, and “next winter” in the US, while a full trailer for the game will launch this Thursday.

In addition: “We have a new story in store that stems from the previous title, a battle system that is evolved from “XIII” – and more…”

Here’s the first screenshot from the game:

And a teaser-like trailer:

From a report on CVG, Square Enix UK is already hyping Final Fantasy XIII-2, saying:

“Final Fantasy XIII-2 is currently in production with an aim for producing high quality game content which exceeds Final Fantasy XIII in every aspect; namely, a brand-new story which stems from the previous title as well as a battle system which has evolved further since XIII - and more.”

Wow.

[End of Update]

According to Square Enix, the original Final Fantasy XIII was a hit, selling over six million copies around the world, despite mixed responses to the title.

Because not much else is known about Final Fantasy XIII-2, and we’re currently ‘allowed’ to dream a little bit, what do you hope Square Enix will fix in the sequel to improve upon the previous game?