Summary
Square Enixwill be overhauling how it produces games, according to comments made in the company’s most recent financial briefing. The gaming giant controls a number of prized IP, includingKingdom HeartsandFinal Fantasy, while also publishing games from other major developers like PlatinumGames.
WhileSquare Enixdevelops a number of projects in-house, it has also outsourced quite a bit, leading to a staggeringly large portfolio of games. In recent years, the company has sold off a few valuable franchises, includingDeus ExandTomb Raider, alongside some major studios like Eidos Montreal. It seems that these sales may have been connected to an effort to slim down overall gaming output, as a company financial Q&A earlier this month revealed that Square Enix would be focusing on both diversifying its portfolio while releasing fewer titles, pivoting from a long-time strategy of launching numerous mid-budget games in quick succession.
Square Enix seems to be doubling down on this initiative, emphasizing large-scale projects likethe ambitiousFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, per comments made during a recent financial briefing. As reported byBloomberg, Square Enix will be restructuring this spring, reducing its reliance on outsourcing and buttressing the development of internally developed games. In service of this end, the company will also be implementing new methods of quality assurance, evaluating titles at earlier points in their development. Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu states that an official announcement of these changes is forthcoming.
Square Enix Will Produce Fewer Games Moving Forward
The decision to slash external development follows a less than ideal year for Square Enix. Despite the success of thetradition-defyingFinal Fantasy 16, Square Enix suffered a decrease in sales during 2023, and the company has struggled to maintain profitability over the past few years. In light of this, it makes sense that Square Enix would want to decrease its overall gaming output, not only to reduce general development costs, but also to preserve the quality of its brand and not dilute its best-selling franchises.
Time will tell how much these changes will impact Square Enix’s gaming catalog, but the shift could benefit consumers. While some fans may be disappointed by the prospect of fewer games, it seems like Square Enix could be taking a quality over quantity approach, shipping more games like thehotly anticipatedFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, rather than attempting to pump out as much content as possible. Ideally, a greater focus on internal development will translate to better Square Enixgames, even if there are fewer overall.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a vibrant and vast world in this standalone entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the genre-redefining RPG across three distinct games. Iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII have escaped from the dystopian city Midgar and are now in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead. This new adventure can be enjoyed by all players, even those who have yet to play Final Fantasy VII Remake or the PlayStation original. Expect a new standard of cinematic storytelling, fast-paced combat and rich exploration across a vast world.
