If Version 2.0 is good, maybe the word of mouth will help spread but that doesn't change the fact that the pay to play mmo model is dead outside of WoW. They're pretty much screwed unless they can make themselves a huge hit. Versus has the potential usher in a new found interest in the Final Fantasy brand, and that is nowhere to be seen. Final Fantasy XIII series is all over the place - XIII was received alright by critics, but fan response is mostly sour or negative, but sales were good especially for the first mult-plat FF; meanwhile, 13-2 pretty much bombed and was released to little fanfare.
I think Lightning Returns and Versus both have the potential to set the series right again, but they have to be executed with polish, finesse, and passion.