LOS ANGELES (March 29, 2011) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, announced that The 3rd Birthday® for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system has shipped to North American retailers today. Continuing the story of Aya Brea, the main character in the hugely popular PARASITE EVE® series, The 3rd Birthday is a unique action–RPG that offers both the character development of a story–driven title and the fast–paced gameplay of a third–person shooter.

The 3rd Birthday drops players into Manhattan in the year 2012. Hideous creatures known as the Twisted have come from the future to feed on humans — a resource they exhausted in their own era. Aya, a strong yet complex female protagonist, is the only candidate compatible with the Overdive system, and the only hope humanity has against its looming annihilation. True to the tradition of Square Enix games, The 3rd Birthday delivers a uniquely told story with riveting visuals that are unmatched among portable games.

The 3rd Birthday features characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura, famous for his work with the FINAL FANTASY® and KINGDOM HEARTS franchises, and the celebrity voice talents of Yvonne Strahovki, of NBC’s Chuck, and Jensen Ackles, of the CW’s Supernatural. The talented cast creates compelling character development and storytelling that will keep players emotionally engaged as they help Aya fulfill her role as the only person who can save mankind from the menace of the Twisted and rediscover her lost past.

Story

Hideous creatures descend on Manhattan. Ground reports from the squad tasked with containing the pandemonium refer to these life forms as the “Twisted.” An investigatory team known as the CTI is formed within the year.

The Overdive system emerges as a means of opposition, but only one viable candidate exists — Aya Brea. A gift as she awakens from a lost past on this, the occasion of her third birth.

Features

• Exciting new chapter for Aya Brea from the popular PARASITE EVE series: An engaging, all–new tale of survival horror set in a ravaged New York City
• A true action–RPG hybrid: Resist the Twisted's vicious onslaught in a third–person shooter, with a heavy dose of character progression and customization
• Strategic gameplay: The new Overdive System gives players a tactical advantage as they make split–second decisions on the battlefield
• All–star production staff: Including producer Yoshinori Kitase (FINAL FANTASY series), director Hajime Tabata (CRISIS CORE® –FINAL FANTASY VII–), character designer Tetsuya Nomura (KINGDOM HEARTS series), art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANTASY XIII) and music by Yoko Shimomura (KINGDOM HEARTS series)

The 3rd Birthday will be available at North American retailers and the PlayStation®Network on March 29, 2011 for the suggested retail price of $29.99. The 3rd Birthday is rated M (Mature). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.

For more information about The 3rd Birthday, please visit the official website: http://na.square-enix.com/the3rdbirthday

About Square Enix

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix Group. The Square Enix Group operates a global network of leading development studios and boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property, including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 97 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 57 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/na/.