Square Enix, the creators of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, has revealed that the highly anticipated action-RPG The World Ends With You will be released April 22, 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS. "The World Ends With You is a cutting-edge, fast-paced adventure that takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS functionality," states John Yamamoto, president and CEO of Square Enix, Inc. "Square Enix is excited to bring an RPG set in modern times and real-life locations to gamers of all ages and abilities."

Set in a modern-day Tokyo, The World Ends With You takes players to the streets of Shibuya, the city’s trendiest youth culture center. The game incorporates Japan’s latest cultural trends including music, fashion, food, and design. Players will take the role of Neku Sakuraba, an antisocial 15-year-old boy who suddenly wakes up in the Shibuya shopping district of Tokyo, Japan, with no idea of how he got there. To further add to his confusion, Neku receives a bizarre text message warning him that he will cease to exist unless he accomplishes a specific mission. Unable to comprehend what is happening, he begins his mission on the streets of Shibuya, a place where things are not always what they seem.

The World Ends With You features include: a distinct modern art style created by a team of artists led by Tetsuya Nomura, the character designer of the upcoming Fabula Nova Crystallis project which includes Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII; an innovative Stride-Cross Battle System, which allows players to control two characters simultaneously and unleash special attacks using the stylus; a vast collection of custom-designed pins, each with a powerful psychic ability that can be activated with the right touch or sound command; and a soundtrack combining a variety of musical genres from hip-hop to rock to electronica. Moreover, players can customize characters with Shibuya fashions and exchange items with other players via Mingle Mode, as well as battle with up to three friends in Tin Pin Slammer, a mini-game accessible through a local wireless connection.

The World Ends With You is rated T (Teen). It will be available at North American retailers on April 22, 2008 for the suggested retail price of $39.99 (USD).